History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences, Part 111

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260

USA > Missouri > Livingston County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 111
USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri; a reliable and detailed history of Caldwell and Livingston counties--their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens; general and local statistics of great value; incidents and reminiscences > Part 111

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).

There were no churches and no regular religious services. A private school was in existence, but was not largely patronized. Grand River College, at Edinburg, Grundy county, presided over by Rev. I. B. Allen, received a liberal patronage from this county. The business directory of the town in 1851 was made up as follows : Attorneys, W. Y. Slack, Henry Slack, W. C. Samuel ; physician, Dr. J. H. Ellis ; hotel, by John Graves ; one newspaper, the North Grand River Chronicle, by James H. Darlington ; a carding machine, by Joseph Miller ; two blacksmith shops, by Elijah Hill and Joel Barg- doll, besides two or three general stores.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

John Graves, the landlord referred to, is called, and perhaps justly so, the founder of Chillicothe. At least he was closely identified with its origin and growth, and with its general interests. He was a man of much public spirit, but it is said of him that he was really not a first-class landlord. Yet this opinion was not frequently expressed in his presence, for he would not tolerate it. On one occasion a guest found fault with the bill of fare because it was composed of fat bacon swimming in its own grease, corn-pone bread, potatoes in their jackets, and black coffee. Mr. Graves caught the fault-finder by the collar, lifted him out of his seat, led him to the door, and kicked him off the porch, explaining his conduct to the bystanders as follows: " The d-d skunk insulted my boarders and I won't stand it. My boarders eat my fare and like it, and when a man makes fun of my grub it's the same as saying they haven't sense enough to know good grub from bad. I am bound to protect my boarders !"

In the summer of 1851 Mr. Graves determined to dispose of his hotel, or " tavern," and under the heading, " Valuable Tavern Prop- erty for Sale," placed the following advertisement in the Grand River Chronicle : -

The undersigned, wishing to turn his attention exclusively to farm- ing, offers for sale his tavern house in Chillicothe. The building is a substantial two-story frame, having three rooms on the first floor and four on the second. The dining-room, on the first floor, extends the whole length of the building. Attached to the main building is a family room, and two comfortable kitchens, with a fire-place in each ; also, two good wells in the yard, smoke-house and dairy. It is situated on the southwest corner, opposite the public square, and the ground attached embraces five lots, all of which is admirably situated for out- buildings and cultivation. Terms, one-third cash ; balance in one, two and three years, and immediate possession given.

JOHN GRAVES.

The first paper in the county, the Grand River Chronicle, was started at Chillicothe in June, 1843, by James H. Darlington. It was a four-page paper, with five wide columns to the page, 22x32 inches in size. Its terms of subscription were " $2 per volume of 52 numbers, payable on receipt of the first number, or $2.50 if payment be deferred till after the expiration of the year." The advertising rates were $1 per square of twelve lines for the first, and fifty cents for each subse- quent insertion. A liberal discount made on yearly and half yearly advertisements."

During the first ten years of its existence the Chronicle suspended three or four times, so that in 1856 it had only reached its eighth vol-

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

ume, when it should have been in its thirteenth. Though Mr. Darling- ton was a Democrat, the Chronicle was neutral, or independent, in politics, as it required the support of all parties to sustain it. Even then the subscription list was small, and, though the paper received considerable patronage, in the shape of legal notices and the like, from other counties, yet the editor was uniformly " hard up." In 1850, and for some time subsequently, he sold at his office " Dr. Bragg's Celebrated Indian Queen Vegetable Sugar-coated Pills," and " Sappington's Pills," both noted specifies in their day for chills and fever ; and he was also agent for a little medical work entitled " Sappington on Fevers," by Dr. John Sappington, of Saline county, a celebrated physician and prominent citizen in early days. But with all these sources of income Mr. Darlington never became rich. In 1855 his son, E. S. Darlington, took charge of the Chronicle and published it until about the outbreak of the war, when Col. L. J. Eastin became its editor and publisher.

Life in Chillicothe in the first twenty years of its existence was un- eventful. The town was small and unimportant. Nothing but the fact that it was the county seat kept it alive for some years. Even Spring Hill was a place of more trade and importance at one time. It was on the State road from Hannibal to St. Joseph, and some time after the year 1850 a stage line was established between those two points. The eastern terminus of this line was gradually removed to the westward as the building of the railroad progressed. Nearly all the goods and merchandise brought to Chillicothe were hauled from Brunswick, and indeed large quantities were purchased there by the retail merchants of this county. Ballentine & Outealt were leading wholesale merchants in Brunswick in the '50's, and sold everything from hardware to millinery, from school books to whisky. To be sure many invoices for this county were bought in St. Louis and shipped to Brunswick by water; the river was full of steamboats in the boating season.

With the certainty of the building of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad by way of Chillicothe its trade and prospects increased, and its condition was largely improved. From 1852 to 1856 there were flush times. In 1855 the business directory of the place was about as follows : --

Lansing & Yager, dealers in dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc.

Jesse Hoge, dry goods, boots, shoes, etc.

L. & W. Humphry, drugs.

R. R. Mills, stoves and tinware.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

T. J. Winn and J. J. Eberly, tailors.

A. & B. Small, shoemakers. Carpenter & Clark, plowmakers.

John Garr, plowmaker.

Clark & Turner, livery stable.

J. Fitzmorris, Grand River Hotel.

G. W. Clarno, eating house.

Lawyers, W. Y. Slack, J. H. B. Manning, W. C. Samuel, E. Bell.

Physician, Dr. W. W. Woodward.

Grand River Chronicle, E. S. Darlington.

There were also two or three dram-shops, and the groceries kept whisky on hand. Mr. Clarno, in the advertisement of his eating house, said : " Crackers, cheese, cakes, bread, etc., always on hand. Also, ale and cider for persons opposed to strong drink." There were " persons opposed to strong drink " then as well as now; but there is also as much " strong drink " now as then.

In 1858 the Livingston County Agricultural and Mechanical Asso- ciation was organized and held an exhibition on its grounds, near Chillicothe, on the first Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in October. The officers of the Association were R. C. Carr, president ; Jere. Hutchison, vice-president ; L. T. Collier, secretary ; Benj. Berry, treasurer. Directors, R. E. Holland, B. B. Gill, James Hutchison, Geo. H. Liggett, Jere. Hutchison, Asa T. Kirtley, John Barnes, Spence A. Alexander, Benj. Edrington. Marshal, Ed. S. Darlington. Mu- sicians, Chillicothe Brass Band.

The first cemetery was established in August, 1839, when the county clerk ordered that two acres in the northwest corner of the southwest block " be set aside for a Berrying Ground." This was in the south- west part of the original plat.

In March, 1841, the citizens were allowed to use the old log court house, the first one built,'" for'a publick school house," and the first school in the town was taught here.

"THIE THESPIANS."

In the winter of 1857-58 some of the young men of Chillicothe organized an amateur dramatic association, which was called " The Chillicothe Thespian Society. The members were Charles H. Man- sur, Tilton Davis, J. C. Barkley, Minor W. Ycager, Dr. E. T. Yea- ger, Levi Lingo, Ed. Lingo, J. B. Haight, Jourdan Graves, Jacob Eberly, and the orchestra ( !), Dr. U. T. Greene, with his violin. At this time amusements were extremely rare, and diversions not numerous. There were no dramatie companies on the road in this

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

quarter, and the Thespians gave the first theatrical representation in the city. In the warm season an occasional circus, or circus and menagerie made its appearance on its perambulating tour through the country, and gave an exhibition, and sometimes a ventriloquist, or " slight-of-hand performer" came along and held forth, always to a good audience.

It will be noticed that there were no lady members of the society. So circumspect were the daughters of Chillicothe that none of them could be found willing te become even an amateur " play actor." Female parts were taken and female characters assumed by Tilton Davis, G. B. Haight, and Ed. Lingo, and so well did they render their impersonations that they uniformly received great applause. The ladies of the town furnished them with wearing apparel, and gave them many hints in regard to making up, and much useful and perhaps surprising information respecting certain devices and con- trivances, useful in the production of magnificent effect in the adorn- ment of the human form divine. The result was that the boys were au fait in the matter of costume, and Tilton Davis, especially, seemed every inch a lady !

The Society gave its first entertainment in what is now known as the Lauderdale building, on the southeast corner of the square (or southeast corner of Locust and Jackson) up stairs. Very excellent appropriate scenery had been painted by Amos Bargdoll, and all the stage appointments were very good. The hall was narrow, and it was lucky there was no need of dressing rooms. The stage and wings extended entirely across the room, and the boys changed their ward- robes in the flies. .

The admission was 25 cents, and the hall was crowded. The com- pany opened with the old but ever popular farce of " Toodles," with J. C. Barkley in the title role, and Tilton Davis as Mrs. Toodles. The antics of the tipsy Toodles were admirably delineated by Mr. Barkley, while the vagaries of Mrs. Toodles, her desire to have some- thing " handy in the house," even if it were a second-hand coffin or a door plate inscribed with the name of Thompson, " with a p," were so well presented by Mr. Davis that the audience applauded again and again. Then followed "Slasher and Crasher," with C. H. Man- sur as Slasher, and M. W. Yeager as Crasher. This was also a great success, and enthusiastically received. " Box and Cox" was a great favorite. Indeed, the repertoire of the society was made of farces and comedies.

The society gave regular entertainments during the first winter and

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

also the next (1858-59). In the second season the theater was located in the upper story of the then new Craig House - now the Brown- ing - and here the actors had more scope, and gave even better per- formances.

In the winter of 1860-61 some other young men of the place attempted a revival of the Thespians, using the same old scenery and properties, but by this time Chillicothe was somewhat accustomed to play acting, and demanded a better quality than the amateurs could give them, and the attempt was not a success.

As elsewhere noted, from time to time steamboats ascended Grand river as high as the forks or to Chillicothe Landing. In the fall of 1858 the Silver Lake and the St. Mary were two steamers that came to Chillicothe. Two families came to the town on the former, and the Chronicle of September 24 said : " The steamer St. Mary reached our wharf on Wednesday last with a large quantity of freight for our merchants."

The building of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was of the greatest advantage to the town. All branches of business were stimu- lated and encouraged. Money was plenty and prices good during the construction of the road through the county, and those were flush times. The population increased from 800 to 1,200; many new houses were built, and those already constructed were crowded to their fullest capacity.

The progress of the town for two years thereafter was fairly rapid and substantial. From 1,200 in January, 1859, the population increased to 1,800 or 2,000 by January, 1861. Schools and churches were established, business enterprises were inaugurated, and a full tide of prosperity set in and was fast bearing the town on to permanent fortune. In 1858 a branch of the State Bank of Missouri was estab- lished, with John B. Leeper as president and Jas. A. Sherley cashier. This institution continued until 1866, when in November of that year it was succeeded by the People's Savings Bank.1

Rev. W. Ellington opened a seminary for young ladies and girls in September, 1858. Boys were admitted up to the age of 16, when they were compelled to leave. The Chillicothe seminary was estab- lished in 1857. It had two departments, male and female. S. A. Beauchamp and Jenny Beauchamp were principals ; J. H. Beauchamp was assistant male teacher ; Miss E. R. Chandler, assistant female

1 The first officers of this bank were Col. James McFerran, president; Sidney McWilliams, cashier; Spence H. Gregory, Preston H. Minor, Ed. Gudgell, J. D Sherman, J. A. Sherley, James McFerran, and Sidney MeWilliams, directors.

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

teacher ; and Miss S. C. Dumm music teacher, and instructor in the . primary department.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War the population of the town was about 1,800 or perhaps 2,000. Its condition was excellent and flourishing generally and its prospects bright and promising. But the war came and struck down its prosperity as it struck down many a strong man armed. It laid its heavy hand upon the business interests, and they shrank and dwindled or perished entirely. Only the stoutest bore up through it all.

A majority of the citizens at first were Secessionists, and did not hesitate to speak and act in defense of their sentiments. Even the ladies were as strong partisans as their brothers and stitched secession flags and made up clothing for those who were going forth to do battle for " Southern rights." The Union citizens were at first quiet and undemonstrative, but kept the Federal authorities fully advised of the situation and the progress of events, and after the troops came came fairly to the front.

After the 14th of June, 1861, when Slack and his troops left the town, and the 16th Illinois came in, Chillicothe was under complete Federal control, save for a few hours at a time. In the fall of 1861 - sometime in September - Capt. W. F. Peery came through with his Confederate recruits from Jackson township, and in the spring of 1862 some parties from " the forks" broke open the jail one night and rescued some rebel prisoners. These were the only " rebel raids " made on the town during the war.

From the fall of 1861 until the summer of 1865, there was not a day when Federal soldiers could not be seen on the streets in Chilli- cothe, with none to molest them or make them afraid. For a time the town was a base of supplies and operations for the militia com- manders. Next to Macon it was regarded as the most important post on the Hannibal and St. Joseph between the initial and terminal points.

Of course under these circumstances the citizens did not regard the situation at all times as felicitous. The Confederate sympathizers, especially, found their lot an unpleasant one. Perhaps they were inclined to magnify their discomforts, but they certainly endured at times insult and something of injury. Union citizens in different parts of the country complained of Confederate occupation ; the sym- pathizing Confederates of Chillicothe complained of the Federal mili- tary, and perhaps both complaints were grounded.

Yet Chillicothe came out of the conflict remarkably well. None of

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

her citizens were ruthlessly murdered, only one building - the M. E. Church South - was said to have been burned by the Federal soldiers, and in this instance the charge was not proven ; and even the little acts of foraging were the work of graceless scamps such as violate the law to-day. The town was fortunate in her post commanders. Cols. Jacob T. Tindall, John H. Shanklin, and John B. Hale were men of high character, incapable of dishonorable conduct either in peace or war, and it is largely due to them that the lives and property of the citizens were so well preserved.

Immediately after the war a tide of prosperity set in. The popu- lation was largely increased, business interests were advanced, indus- trial enterprises were established, and the city flourished. It soon became the center of a large trade. Wholesale mercantile houses were opened and throve exceedingly. People came from off the Iowa line to buy goods. The public square was thronged with teams. Ad- ditions to the city were laid out and rapidly settled.

In 1870 the population was nearly 4,000 (3,978) while in 1865 it had been only about 1,500. But now a sort of paralysis struck the business affairs of the city and for years it stood still. The comple- tion of the Brunswick Railroad, in 1871, was of advantage, but the igno- minious failure of the Chillicothe and Des Moines counterbalanced this gain. The panic of 1873 added to the depreciation. Property sunk in value, and some enterprises were prostrated.

At the close of the war a system of graded schools was established under a special charter from the State, and in 1876 the present mag- nificent building was erected at a cost of $35,000. This was not effected without opposition, however, which all public enterprises must expect to meet. The bonds issued to build the school finally came into the hands of one Mr. Hazelton, of New York, who generously gave, in the settlement of a compromise, a considerable sum for the establishment of a library, which now comprises several hundred vol- umes. Many of these have been donated by citizens. One of the most efficient friends of the school and the library has been the Hon. C. H. Mansur. But in truth nearly every man in the city is their friend.

In 1869 a two-story brick building was erected to be used and occu- pied as a city hall, and to contain the city offices. This building cost about $20,000 ; in March, 1876, it was burned. Immediately after- ward the erection of another building, larger, handsomer, more im- posing, and much more convenient, was begun, and finished in less than a year, at a cost of $25,000. There were more buildings erected

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON . COUNTY.

and improved in 1877 than in the six years preceding. The old court house, which stood in the centre of the square, was torn down in 1865, and the brick used in building the structure known as Bell & Moore's Hall, on the east side of the square.

The population of the city in 1870 was 3,978, but in 1876 it was only 3,499, a decrease in six years of nearly 500! And even in 1880 the census showed a total population of only 4,078, an increase over the census of 1870, ten years before, of but 100. After 1880, how- ever, the population increased slowly, until it is now about 5,000.

In 1880 the city contained 9 dry goods and clothing stores, 11 gro- ceries, 5 drug stores, 3 furniture stores, 3 stove and tinware stores, 3 queensware stores, 2 book stores, 2 hardware stores, 2 jewelry stores, 6 millinery stores, 3 printing offices, 2 banks, doing a flourishing busi- ness, 3 hotels, 3 merchant tailors, 3 restaurants, 3 agricultural imple- ment houses, 1 planing mill, a Turkish bath establishment, 1 brewery, 3 photograph galleries, 4 wagon and carriage factories, 4 livery stables, 1 tobacco factory, 1 pork packing house, 1 woolen factory, 2 flouring mills, express office and two lumber yards, 8 physicians, 16 attorneys, 10 ministers, 9 churches, to wit: 2 Methodist, 1 Baptist, 1 Christian or Disciple, 1 Catholic, 1 Episcopal and 1 Presbyterian ; also, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist colored church. The Catholics had a large convent building in which they maintained a flourishing school.

Describing the town this year, a local writer said : " The boast of the city is the magnificent public school building, which was completed at a cost of $36,000. It contains 12 school rooms, besides basement and cloak rooms, and is fitted up in modern style with special regard to the comfort, health and convenience of pupils. It is, beyond doubt, the most elegant building of the kind in North Missouri, and is prob- ably not excelled in all its appointments by any public school building in a city the size of Chillicothe, anywhere in the United States. The City Hall is a large and substantial two-story brick building that cost the city $25,000. The courts are held on the first floor, and on the second is a public hall that will seat 500 persons. Several business houses of the city do a large jobbing trade, and carry from $25,000 to $50,000 worth of goods. Chillicothe, having competing railroad lines, both to Chicago and St. Louis, enjoys the advantages of low freights, and consequently it is the principal shipping point for grain and stock in the Grand River Valley. Commercial travelers say more and better goods are sold here than at many places in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas of greater population and pretensions, and that the mer- chants here are remarkably prompt and honorable in their dealings."

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

In 1881-82 there was considerable excitement in the town and throughout the county over the proposed extension of the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad( called the Burlington and Southwestern ), from Browning through the county via Chillicothe. A line was sur- veyed - that portion south of Grand River being that now substantially followed by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. Mr. Henry Hatch, a former citizen of the town, was at the head of the scheme and made many speeches and did much other work to induce the citizens to sub- scribe a certain amount in aid of the contemplated enterprise. But after a great deal of talk and what is called " work," it turned out that the entire scheme was a " sell," having its origin in a desire on the part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Road to frighten the owners of the Hannibal and St. Joseph into a sale of that road to the " Q." interest. It was never intended to build the road through Chillicothe. It was built from Laclede into Carroll county, via Sum- ner, or Cunningham, and now has its western terminus at Bogard.

The winter of 1885-86 brought three new enterprises to Chillicothe. In the latter part of December, 1885, the town was first lighted by electric lights now in complete and successful operation. December 22 the town voted to adopt a proposition from J. L. Mastin to put in waterworks, which are to be established by August next. In March, 1886, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was indefinitely located through the town and county. It is confidently expected that the town will be made a division station, with machine and repair shops, upon the completion of the latter road.

THE SISTERS' ACADEMY.

The Sisters' Academy in Chillicothe was first started as a day school in January, 1872, in the Redding House, on the east side of the public school. Mother Mary Herman was the Superior, and her assistant were Sisters Mary John Baptist, Mary Margaret, Mary Wil- heltnina, and others. Early in the following spring a lot was bought from Thos. R. Bryan, in his second addition, and on this site the pres- ent academy building was completed the same year; the Sisters occupied it about Christmas Day. From the first they were liberally patronized by the public generally.

Mother Mary Herman was succeeded by Mother Mary Margaret, who was in turn succeeded by Mother Mary Wilhelmina, and she by the present Mother, Sister Mary Elizabeth.

The course of studies in the Academy is that in use in similar insti- tutions. The academy building, which together with the site, etc.,

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

cost about $12,000, is in a healthy locality, situated on the most elevated site in the city. Its rooms are well ventilated and suit- ably arranged. Every facility is afforded students to make their progress thorough, successful and agreeable. The average num- ber of pupils in attendance is 50. The terms are very reasonable and the advantages for obtaining an education are very superior.

The parochial school of the parish is taught by two of the Sisters.

SKETCH OF ST. COLUMBAN'S CHURCH ( ROMAN CATIIOLIC).

In the year 1857, this church was instituted with about twelve families. It was the fourth church of the diocese of St. Joseph, in Missouri, having a resident priest. The first pastor in charge was Right Reverend John J. Hogan, now Bishop of Kansas City, and ad- ministrator of the diocese of St. Joseph, to the latter of which Living- stou county belongs. Father Hogan was the founder of this church and was its resident pastor until his promotion to the newly erected see of St. Joseph, Mo., whose first bishop he became. This prelate erected the first Catholic church in Chillicothe, where he made his residence, and whence, from 1857 to 1868, he visited the scattered families in North Missouri, principally along the the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. Among the places visited by Father Hogan, as he was commonly called, were Breckinridge, Sturgeon, Huntsville, Hudson or Macon City, Brookfield, Cameron, Kidder, Milan, Union- ville, Bethany, Princeton, Eagleville, Laclede and Clarence.

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Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890- Publication date: 1886 Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company Number of Pages: 1260

Author: Pease, Ora Merle Hawk, 1890-
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: St. Louis, National Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1260