USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay County, Missouri > Part 11
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CHAPTER XI.
FISHING RIVER TOWNSHIP.
LOCATION-SOIL-FIRST SETTLEMENT-EARLY SETTLERS-MISSOURI CITY-EX- CELSIOR SPRINGS-WILLIAMS' LANDING-FLOOD OF 1844-ST. BERNARD- TRAGEDIES LODGES-CHURCHES.
Fishing River township comprises the entire southeastern part of Clay County and consists of more than seventy-five square miles. Its boundary line begins at the Ray and Clay line, at the northeast corner of section 1-52-30, runs thence south to the Missouri River, thence west to the dividing line between sections 2 and 3-50-31, thence north to the northwest corner of section 14-52-31, thence east to the range line between ranges 30 and 31, thence north to the township line between townships 52 and 53, thence east to the beginning.
With the exception of the bottom lands along the Missouri River, the land is rolling. No richer land can be found in Missouri or elsewhere. In many locations these bottom lands are two or more miles in width. Only in times of great flood are they submerged by overflow from the river. The uplands are very fertile and like all other upland in Clay County, are of loess formation. For many years a large lake known as "Cooley's Lake" was a resort for sportsmen, not only to catch fish, but shoot ducks and wild geese. The lake has been drained and the greater part heretofore covered with water is now producing wheat and corn fields.
In the first settlement of the county, Fishing River township was one of the first permanently settled townships of the county. Among these first settlers were David McElwee and family, Thomas Officer and
PUBLIC SCHOOL, KEARNEY, MO.
VIEW FROM MISSOURI CITY, LOOKING TOWARDS THE RIVER
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
family, James Woolard and family, Alexander Woolard and family, Elisha Camron and family, John Camron and family, William and Thomas Slaughter and families, Winfrey E. Price and family and Napoleon Price. John and David Lisles were bachelors. In the fall of 1821, the trouble with several Indians at David McElwee's house occurred, an account of which is elsewhere given. During this year three "Forts" or block houses were built; one on the farm of Elisha Camron, another was at Gilmore's, on Rush creek, and another at old Martin Parmer's on the Camden road. These houses of "refuge" were never used for protection against the wily and murderous Indians.
The principal towns or cities in Fishing River townships are Excelsior Springs and Missouri City. The origin of the latter place was the estab- lishment at the mouth of Rose's branch, in 1834, at what was known as Williams' Landing, where a ferry was kept by Williams. A stock of goods was brought to this place in 1849 by Eli Casey, who opened a store and had as clerks Linneus R. Sublette and Dr. Frank Cooley. Several buildings, residences and store houses were built and the place named Richfield. The high water of the river in 1844, on its receding, left a large sand-bar in front of Richfield, preventing the landing of steam- boats and operation of a ferry. A joint stock company composed of Graham L. Hughes, John Keller, John Shouse and others laid out a town just below but mainly on the bluffs overlooking the river, giving it the name of St. Bernard. Below St. Bernard another town was laid out and called Atchison. The first store established on the hill was by Robert G. Gilmer, father of the editor and publisher of the Liberty Tribune and The Liberty Advance. The three towns of St. Bernard, Richfield and Atchison were incorporated by the Legislature as one and given the name of Missouri City, March 14, 1859.
Several tragedies have occurred in Missouri City. Wiley Herndon, an old bachelor, who lived alone in his store, was murdered some time before the war between the states and although it was not known for a certainty, it was believed robbed of a considerable sum of money. It was never known who committed the dastardly deed.
One G. S. Elgin, in November, 1866, killed two men by the name of Titus. After the killing Elgin fled to the house of a relative near Weston in Platte County, where he was overtaken by John C. Titus, Noah Titus and John Bivens, relatives of the murdered men, taken out and killed.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
All parties to the latter killing were indicted for murder in Platte County and as the jail in Platte County was deemed unsafe, they were brought to Liberty and incarcerated in the Clay County jail, from which place they escaped in 1867.
Missouri City M. E. Church South was organized in 1854 with the following as original members: O. P. Gash and wife, Joseph A. Huffaker, wife and one sister, Mr. and Mrs. Crasford and Mr. Bratten and wife and some five or six others whose names can not now be recalled. Rev. M. R. Jones, who organized this church, was the first preacher in charge. Next came Reverend Rich, followed successively by Revs. L. M. Lewis, Mayhew, McEwing, W. A. Tarwater, Samuel Huffaker, Wilson, Wilburn Rush, Joseph Devlin, E. F. Bone, Babcock, W. C. Campbell, F. Shores, L. F. Linn, W. B. Johnson, W. E. Dockery and last J. F. Frazer. The frame church building in which services are held, was constructed at a cost of about $2,000, in the summer of 1857. In 1882-83 it was remodeled at an addi- tional expense of about $1,500. The Sabbath school has been flourishing since 1867, at which time Joseph A. Huffaker was superintendent.
Missouri City Christian Church, as its name indicates, is located at Missouri City, where on Main street there was built in about 1859, at an expense of some $2,500, a good brick edifice, in which the present mem- bership of about 150 persons worship. As organized in about the year 1856, the members were E. D. Bell and wife, T. C. Reed and wife, Nancy Reed and two daughters, Richard Funk and wife. B. F. Melon and wife, George W. Bell and wife. Merritt Fisher and wife and Milton Hull. Rev. Richard Morton, who was prominent in this formation, was the first pas- tor, and he was succeeded by Revs. F. R. Palmer, J. W. Waller, Preston Akers, Bayard Waller, Henry Davis, Jacob Hugley, Revs. Perkins and Carter and others.
Angrona Lodge No. 193, A. F. & A. M .- The dispensation of this lodge was issued in March, 1858, under which it worked until May 28, 1859, when a charter was issued. The first members and officers were A. L. Chapman, master; Jno. W. Collins, senior warden; Newton Fields, junior warden; T. Everett, secretary; S. Elgin, treasurer; R. H. Moore, senior deacon; William Adams, junior deacon; T. Y. Gill, stewart and tyler; J. M. Allcorn, John A. Prather, Joshua Vaughn, S. Charlston, J. Johnson, John Linn, J. M. Donovan, Victor W. 'Tooley. D. E. Yarbrough.
Fishing River Baptist Church, situated at Prathersville, was organ-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
ized in about 1868. Its constituent members were L. T. Pettz, P. G. Smith, N. H. King, Richard King, Thomas W. Wilson, Nancy Wilson, John McCracken and Martin Price. The present membership is about eighty- five. The ministers who have served as pastors to this church are Revs. John Harmon, William Ferguson, S. H. Carter, T. H. Graves, Doctor Roth- well, Asa N. Bird and S. J. Norton. The present frame structure was erected in 1874, at a cost of $700.
Erin Church, in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 24, in Fishing River township, was organized October 16, 1877, with Joseph Turner, Jantes M. Hill, Simon Hutchings, Marion Harris, Nancy Hutchings, Sarah Thurney, Susan M. Harris, Nancy Lewis, Mary E. Wyatt and Sarah E. Summers as its original members. The names of the ministers who have served this church as pastors are Revs. Joseph Prather and Lafayette Munkers. The present frame church was erected in 1878 at a cost of $1,000.
Pleasant Hill Baptist Church .- In 1857, T. N. O'Bryan with four members, Jefferson Turner and wife, Elizabeth Free and Jane Quick organ- ized the above named church. At first meetings were held in school- house No. 1, and, in fact, until 1883, when a church building was erected in section 23, four and a half miles southeast of Liberty, the cost of which was about $600.
German M. E. Church, located on section 14, four miles southeast of Liberty, was constituted an organization in 1847, by Rev. Henry Hog- refe, with the following original members: William Unger and wife, George Elliott and wife, Peter Elliott, Jacob Weber and wife, Henry Free and wife, Rudolph Irminger and wife, Samuel Weber and wife. In 1870, a church house, 22x32, was erected at an expenditure of $900. After Mr. Hogrefe, who was the first pastor, came the Revs. Elders Neidermeier, Rouse, William Shreck, Holzbeierlein, Muehlenbrock, William Maye, Prege, Brunly, Brinkmeier, Steinmeier, Bower, Menger, Eichenberger, Korphage, Buchholz, Koenig, and Rev. Kaltenbach.
Mount Zion Baptist Church was organized in April, 1853, its con- stituent members being John G. Price, William B. Hoges, James T. Withers, William H. Price, James Munkers, Thomas Holdes, Daniel H. Sans, Thomas Y. Gill, George H. McNealy, Elizabeth L. McNealy, Louisiana Hogen, Sarah E. Withers, Amanda Mosby, Agnes Munkers, Susan G. Withers, Margaret S. Gaur, America Price, Julia Gill and Martha Withers.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Those who have served as pastors are Elders William H. Price, Henry Hill, William T. Brown and James Duvall. The present brick church build- ing was erected in 1853, at a cost of about $1,500. This was the first brick church built in the county outside of Liberty. It is located on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 30, township 52, range 30. James P. Withers and William Price are the only male mem- bers living that were members at the constitution, and Amanda Mosby and Mrs. T. P. Withers were the only female members.
Mount Pleasant Church was organized September 18, 1830. The original members were Joseph P. Moore, William B. Slaughter, Andrew B. Baldwin, Abram (a servant of J. P. Moore), Jonah Moore, Elizabeth Slaughter, Jane Welton, Mary Storz, Jane Posey, Mary Baldwin, Lucy (a servant of James P. Moore), and Catherine (a servant of William B. Slaughter). The present frame church was built in 1879, its cost being about $1,500. It is located on the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 15.
Woodland Christian Church was organized in about 1870 or 1872. Some of the first members were James M. Bohart, Richard P. Funk, Solo- mon Welton, J. W. Bradley and A. J. Roberts. The names of the ministers who have served this church are Elders Josiah Waller, Baird Waller, Wil- liam Stephens, John Perkins, J. Trader and Revs. Williamson and Akers. The church building is a frame and was erected in 1872, its cost being about $2,000. It is located on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 29, in township 52, range 30. Near this church is a cemetery.
Zoar German M. E. Church was organized in 1845 by Rev. Heinrich Nuelsen. The original members were Rudolph Irminger, Susanna Irm- inger, John Irminger, Heinrich Irminger. Elizabeth Irminger. Anna Irm- inger. Samuel Weber, Henry Weber, Jacob Weber. Maria Weber and Mar- garet Frey. The pastors that have served this church have been the same as those of Bethel German M. E. Church, both churches being under the same charge. The church building is a frame and was erected in 1873 at a cost of $700.
CHAPTER XII.
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS.
DISCOVERY OF SPRINGS-J. V. B. FLACK-FIRST HOUSE-RAPID GROWTH-VIL- LAGE INCORPORATED-FIRST OFFICERS-A FAMOUS RESORT-HOTELS -- PARKS AND DRIVEWAY-MORE THAN TWENTY SPRINGS-MINERAL PROP- ERTIES OF WATER-REGENT SPRINGS-SILOAM SPRINGS-BATHING-GOLF CLUB AND COURSE-AN UP-TO-DATE TOWN-PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PRIVATE ENTERRISES-AMUSEMENTS AND RECREATIONS-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
According to an historical and descriptive booklet issued by the town company of Excelsior Springs, Excelsior Springs was discovered in June. 1880, and was found by the merest accident to possess medicinal prop- erties. Harvesters engaged in cutting wheat where the city now stands found a stream of clear cold water issuing from the bank of Fishing River and remarked that there was a mineral taste to it. A negro standing by, who was badly afflicted with scrofula, heard the ensuing discussion on the healing qualities of mineral springs and resolved to try the water of this one on himself. A few weeks' use of the water effected a com- plete cure, to the great astonishment of all who knew the circumstances of his case.
It may be stated as an historical fact that long prior to 1880 the healing properties of the springs were known, but only to a limited num- ber of persons who lived in that immediate section and who occasionally made use of the water for the cure of minor skin eruptions or disease. It was only when the Rev. J. V. B. Flack, a wide-awake, enterprising mer- chant, living at Missouri City, who having heard reports of the efficacy of the water in healing, determined to have the water tested to ascertain
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
its common parts and having secured a sufficient quantity thereof, sent it to St. Louis for an analysis. A report from the chemists showed that the water was impregnated with such minerals that science always at- tributed the greatest curative value.
The owner of the land upon which was the chief or largest spring was A. W. Wyman. Mr. Flack induced Mr. Wyman to lay out a good part of his farm into town lots, which accordingly was done, under the super- vision of Mr. Flack. When this was accomplished, the springs were pub- licly advertised, whereupon people flocked in large numbers from all parts of the country to avail themselves of the health-giving qualities of the springs. There being no hotel or boarding house accommodations, invalids were encamped in the surrounding groves and provisions made among the farmers for their care and attention. There was not a house near the springs when T. Benton Rogers, the county surveyor, surveyed the town in the early part of September, 1880. Had it not been for the interest, activity and enterprise of J. V. B. Flack in making known to the world the almost marvelous curative properties of Excelsior Springs, in all probability its wonderful reputation for the healing of the people would be to this day "unhonored and unsung".
As soon as the survey was completed, Jim Pearson, of Liberty, erected the first house on Broadway, a lot only intervening between his lot and the "old spring". This building, a small frame or box, he used principally as a restaurant. The second building was Flynn's grocery store. In the winter of 1880, Doctor Flack erected a store building and removed his stock of goods from Missouri City and occupied it. The first hotel was built by Mr. Riggs, on the west side of Broadway and Main in 1880. Near the "old spring" Wyman and Wert built the "Excelsior House", which for several years was a leading hotel and conducted by Mr. Wert. Doctor Flack preached the first sermon in the fall of 1880, in a grove near town. The first school was taught by Mrs. Robert Caldwell and Miss Susie Hyatt. During this year was the contest for Congress between Hon. D. C. Allen and Col. John T. Crisp. Speeches were made by Colonel Crisp, Judge George W. Dunn and Doctor Flack. The post-office was established in March, 1881, and for about two years was officially known as Viginti. J. Brack Holton was the first postmaster.
No town in Missouri ever grew more rapidly in any twelve months' time than Excelsior Springs. Unquestionably the town was on a boom in
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
1881. Although no census was taken, the increase must have reached to 2,000 inhabitants. The first church built was The Christian Union, of which Dr. J. V. B. Flack was pastor. The doors of this church were always ready to be opened for the accommodation of ministers of other denominations to hold religious services .. In the fall of 1884, the Bap- tists began the erection of their church building, which was completed the year following.
Excelsior Springs was incorporated as a village at the February term of the county court 1881, the site comprising all of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 1, township 52, range 30-40 acres. The first trustees were W. B. Smith, J. D. Graham, W. C. Corum and W. P. Garrett. The town was incorporated as a city of the fourth class, July 12, 1881. Mayor, E. Smith; clerk, J. C. Dickey ; aldermen, first ward, N. L. Rice and J. C. Dickey; aldermen, second ward, Philip G. Holt and L. W. Garrett; attorney, John H. Dunn; marshal, J. D. Halferty. These were the first officers of the city of Excelsior Springs.
The following from a brochure issued by the enterprising Commercial Club of Excelsior Springs is history worthy of record: For many years the friends of Excelsior Springs have claimed that nowhere else could be found so varied and valuable a group of mineral springs. This merited claim now has thirty-five years of good record behind it and Excelsior Springs has advanced to the foremost rank among our national resorts; its prosperous growth and the continued increase in the number of its visitors year by year is proof of the value of its waters. They have made the town; they guarantee its future. The surroundings are inviting and fortunately its location is central both as to climate and population. These favoring conditions have lengthened the first short summer seasons- each month has brought its increasing number of patrons, until there is now only one long season and Excelsior Springs is distinctly an all-year- round resort.
Because of the all-year-round guests the town has naturally made more substantial provision for their comfort and pleasure than most places which are under the necessity of reaping a quick profit during a brief summer or winter season. One readily recalls many of these well known resorts so alike as to be uninteresting; but the people of Excelsior Springs have, indeed, built a real town, a real health and pleasure resort.
-
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It is interesting and different, and thousands of its visitors tell that it has the home appeal which attracts them again and again.
The resident population of more than 5,000 comfortably fills the Y- shaped valley of Fishing River with its active, up-to-date business dis- trict, spring parks, hotels and residences, then spreads upward along the picturesque timbered hills and beyond-to the rolling upland with its commanding views of the most charming landscape to be found in the great Middle West.
The hotels, boarding and other houses have heretofore met the needs of visitors, and the recent demand for a higher type of accommodations has been met by the erection of the Elms and Snapp's and the rebuilding and enlargement of the Royal, representing an investment of $800,000. A careful estimate shows that during the past four years more than $2,000,000.00 have been expended in improvements and public utilities that make for attractiveness and add to the comforts of residents and visitors.
The attractive environment has been from the start protected by the residents. As an instance, they acquired a tract of land for park purposes extending over a mile through the town along both banks of the stream. This was placed in the hands of George E. Kessler, the well- known landscape architect, for development and the construction of the spring pavilions and Siloam Gardens. $100,000 has already been ex- pended on this civic beauty plan in addition to the sums already spent by the city for concrete arch bridges and paved drives which form a part of the extensive park and driveway system.
This park and driveway system now provides for the uninterrupted passage of pleasure traffic between the extreme eastern and western town limits without entering the business district-few cities can boast of a similar system with more pleasing points of view. Dunbar and Kimball avenues wind around the rim of the valley and by easy grades descend the face of the western hills; the South Valley road, which in Siloam Park runs along the stream-an ideal shaded mile of luxuriant foliage- merges into Golf Hill Drive, ascends through a forest glen and around the brow of the eastern hills, a new vista at every turn, to the club house of the Excelsior Springs Golf Club.
True artistic feeling is evident throughout the completed work, there
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
is no hint of the artificial, the drives flow along lines that display the region's native beauty and leave the charm unspoiled.
These drives will connect with the 202 miles of oiled macadam roads, for the construction of which Clay County voted a bond issue of $1,250,000.00 in June, 1916. These roads radiate in every direction from the Springs, and its residents and visitors will have for their use one of the most extensive and attractive driveway systems to be found anywhere.
The municipal developments are being sensibly worked out from carefully matured plans, and their scope has been greatly expanded by the friendly co-operation of various private interests. Much has been ac- complished in a few years and on every hand are evidences of a con- tinuance of the energy and well directed effort which has built a resort that for varied charm and true usefulness invites comparison with the famous watering places at home, or abroad.
Many invalid patrons of foreign watering places who were compelled by the war to seek a counterpart of their favorite spring nearer home, have been surprised to find at Excelsior Springs a group of springs with a range of curative value not to be found in any European resort.
This distinguished group of more than twenty springs includes four distinct types classified as follows: Iron-Manganese, Sulpho-Saline, Soda- Bicarbonate, Calcic-Bicarbonate.
The Siloam and Regent are two of the six well-known iron-manganese springs, and the only ones used commercially in the United States. The four others of this type are at Pyrmont and Schwalbach, Germany; Spa, Belgium and Mont St. Moritz, Switzerland.
The value of manganese, when associated with iron, lies in the fact that it renders the iron more digestible. Iron has been prescribed for more than a century for the purpose of increasing the red blood corpus- cles, but until its association with manganese, was unsatisfactory, because its continued use deranged digestion. The combination, however, in per- fect solution, as in the Siloam and Regent, is digestible in the most delicate stomach.
Therefore, the iron-manganese waters are invaluable in the treatment of the many ailments arising from impoverished and impure blood. They also stimulate the action of the kidneys and aid in the elimination of uric acid, hence are effective in cases of rheumatism, either inflammatory,
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
muscular or sciatic, and the chronic kidney and bladder troubles, includ- ing Bright's disease, diabetes and cystitis.
The discovery in 1888 of the Sulpho-Saline water at a depth of 1,460 feet, marked a most distinct advance in the city's claim for distinction as a watering place, and others of similar properties have since been found.
These waters relieve promptly ordinary attacks of indigestion, acid or gaseous conditions of the stomach ; inflammatory and catarrhal condi- tions of the mucous tissue of the respiratory and digestive tracts; dys- pepsia, biliousness, constipation, jaundice and the ailments caused by a torpid liver.
The Soda-Bicarbonate waters, of which there are several, are most useful in the treatment of derangements of digestion, dyspepsia, bilious- ness and intestinal troubles, and are largely prescribed by the local physi- cians.
The Calcic-Bicarbonate waters are prescribed where a uric acid con- dition exists ; for rheumatism, kidney and bladder troubles, and especially in many ailments where the physician recognizes that in the patient's condition the use of the more "positive" waters is contra-indicated.
To get the combined alternative, eliminative and tonic blood building effects of these waters one would, elsewhere, be compelled to visit two or more resorts. For example, the Carlsbad patient, if too much weak- ened by the eliminative action of the water and baths, is frequently urged to go to one or another of distant iron springs and there take a "building- up" treatment. This means additional time and expense. Similar condi- tions obtain in the treatment of chronic ailments at other resorts.
In confirmation of the above statements, the analyses of world famous European Springs of the Iron-Manganese type have been tabulated for ready comparison with one typical Excelsior Springs water. Only the valuable and active mineral constituents are given, but in no instance has either a valuable or an objectionable constituent been omitted.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
IRON-MANGANESE
ANALYSES OF REGENT SPRING AND FAMOUS EUROPEAN WATERS OF SIMILAR TYPE.
Location
Excelsior
Spa,
Schwalbach St. Moritz Pyrmont
Springs
Belgium
Germany
Switzerland Germany
Name of Spring
*Regent
Pouchon
Stahl-
Alte-
Haupt- Quelle
Chemist
* (Mason)
(Struve)
(Fresenius) (Huseman) (Fresen's)
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