History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens., Part 81

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156

USA > Missouri > Platte County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 81
USA > Missouri > Clay County > History of Clay and Platte 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 Clay and Platte Counties --their pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens. > Part 81

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).

The third meeting of the incorporators was held on the first day of June, 1871, and at this time the success of the enterprise was beyond the expectations of its most sanguine friends. Under a provision of the charter it was necessary to raise and invest a certain sum, or the enterprise was to be abandoned and the amounts donated to be refunded ; but the report . of the treasurer showed that the sum had been fully raised, and duly invested, and that there could be no longer any doubt as to the " Female Orphan School, of the Christian Church, of Missouri," being a success, for the practical work of the school was such as to convince those who, at the first, were doubtful as to the propriety of such an institution in our State. At this meeting the officers were, in the main, re-elected for another year, Miles Harrington taking the place of John M. Railey in the board of directors.

At that time the board of incorporators were James W. Steele, Joseph .J. Wyatt, Thomas M. Allen, John M. Railey, Aytchmond L. Perrin, Miles Harrington, Joseph E. Merryman, William C. Wells, Alexander Proctor, Allen B. Jones, Thomas Beaumont, James J. Hitt, William F. Perrin, John C. Harris, Andrew Trible, Archie T. Leavel. The board of officers were James W. Steele, president ; William F. Perrin, Archie T. Leavel, Miles Harrington, directors ; Aytchmond L. Perrin, treasurer, and William C. Wells, secretary.

The Institution at Present. - The present board of incorporators are James W. Steele, Weston ; W. A. Gardner, Oregon ; John M. Railey, Weston ; Aytchmond L. Perrin, and Miles Harrington, Cam- den Point ; A. R. Masterson, Ridgely ; William W. Wells, Platte City ; George Dawson, Plattsburg ; John Owens, New Market ; John

775

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Ballinger, Gallatin ; Alexander Proctor, Independence ; John W. Mountjoy, Paris ; Thomas P. Haley, St. Louis ; William F. Perrin, Camden Point ; John C. Harris, Weston ; E. O. Waller, Platte City ; G. W. Longan, Plattsburg; M. G. Roseberry, Maryville ; J. R. Es- till, New Franklin; James Randall, Holden ; Asa L. Smith, Camden Point ; Stephen C. Woodson, Platte City ; Alexander Breckinridge, Grayson ; A. B. Jones, Liberty ; R. T. Miller, Sedalia ; T. R. Maupin, Camden Point.

The executive board of officers is as follows : president, Aytchmond L. Perrin ; directors, A. P. Masterson, John Owens, James W. Steele and T. R. Maupin ; secretary, Asa L. Smith, Platte City, Mo. ; treas- urer, John M. Railey, Weston, Mo.

The faculty for 1884-85 consists of Wiley Mountjoy, president, Moral and Mental Philosophy and Logic ; Miss L. Florence Berry, Rhet- oric and Literature ; Miss Lutie C. Palmer, Mathematics. Prepara- tory and Physical Science - Miss Temple Perrin, Painting and Drawing ; Miss Grace D. Matthews, Vocal and Instrumental Music. Domestic Economy - Wiley Mountjoy, Mrs. Wiley Mountjoy and Mrs. M. E. Henderson.

SITUATION AND SURROUNDINGS.

The college is situated on a beautiful, elevated site, half a mile from the Camden Point Depot, and 16 miles from Leavenworth, Kas. From the observatory a scene of varied and surpassing beauty presents it- self, embracing a large area of the finest country in the West. The grounds are large and beautifully ornamented with shade trees. The institution is surrounded by a refined and cultivated society for which Platte county has long been famed.

CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION.

Four classes of young ladies are admitted into the school.

First Class- Destitute orphans, who have no relatives or friends to aid them.

Second Class -- Orphans destitute of means, who have relatives, churches or benevolent societies to aid them, and are willing to sus- tain them at school.

Third Class - Orphans who have some means, but not enough to support them.

Fourth Class - Young ladies who have parents that desire to assist in our benevolent work.

Precedence is given to the first class, and as many of them are re-

776

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

ceived as the net income derived from day pupils, and the proceeds of the endowment, will justify. Out of the other three classes - giving precedence to the second over the third, and third over the fourth - the school will be filled to its capacity. Every application for the admission of a beneficiary should be presented in the form of a writ- ten petition, and should be made to comply with the following rules : -

First. No beneficiary will be admitted who is under 14 years of age.

Second. No young lady will be admitted as a beneficiary unless some respectable physician shall certify, in writing, to the soundness of her constitution and her freedom from hereditary disease.

Third. No young lady will be admitted as a beneficiary unless some responsible person, church or corporation shall enter into written obli- gation to receive her when dismissed from the institution.

Fourth. The charter constitutes the directors the legal guardian of a beneficiary, therefore no interference of friends will be allowed during the time such pupil remains at school.

Fifth. The directors claim, and will exercise the right to dismiss any pupil at any time, if, in their judgment, the interests of the school require it. Parties becoming responsible for the reception of a bene- ficiary when dismissed, whether the dismission be regular or irregular, must clearly understand this condition and acquiesce in it.

Sixth. Every pupil, when she enters the school, will be required to pay the secretary all charges for a term of five months, or she will not be admitted into classes of the school. Pupils entering after the term has commenced will be charged from the beginning of the month in which they enter, to the close of such term.

Seventh. A blank agreement will be furnished each young lady who receives the benefits of this school, which she will be expected to sign, with the person who becomes responsible for her, and return to the board.

The number of orphans admitted free as day pupils during the past year was 3; number of orphans admitted as beneficiaries, 5; number of orphans admitted as half beneficiaries, 19 ; number of orphans with some means (2nd class), 42; number of young ladies who have parents, 33 ; number of day pupils, 28 ; total number of matriculates, 130.

The graduates of 1884 were Miss Mattie Dodson, Rocheport ; Miss Mattie Dykes, King City ; Miss Rebecca Grimes, Paynesville ; Miss Lizzie George, Camden Point; Miss Lida Powell, Paris; Miss Claudia

777

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Triplett, Paynesville, Mo. Painting and drawing - Miss Emma Rob- inson, Miss Adah St. John, Miss May Eliner, and Miss Claudia Trip- lett. Wax work - Miss Louise Rourke and Miss Minnie Todd.

MALE ACADEMY AT CAMDEN POINT.

The founding of the Female Seminary of Camden Point, in 1851, for the higher education of the daughters of the county, gave rise to a move, resulting in the erection of a commodions building in 1852, for a male academy at the same place. This school opened under the most favorable auspices, Prof. Donnelly having charge of the scientific department and Prof. Yonley, the classical. There was a regular attendance of some one hundred and fifty students from this and adjoining counties. The school under this able management furnished such a thorough course of study as to contribute several honored members to the different professions in northwest Missouri.

The fourth year of the college's existence brought a change in the teachers, Prof. Yonley yielding to Prof. Daniel R. Wood, a graduate of William and Mary's College. This change enlarged the course of study and secured an increased attendance. The college enjoyed a widespread reputation and patronage up to 1857, when the distin- guished teachers were offered greater inducements elsewhere and the school was then placed under the management of Prof. Howel. It finally deteriorated to a high grade school and suspended at the outbreak of the war.

The Platte City Male Academy. - The building of the Platte City Male Academy was put up by subscription of stock. It was erected on lots 11 and 12, block 30, in Platte City. Elisha Green was the pro- jector, and other liberal subscribers were Dr. Wm. Baldwin, Amos Rees, Capt. Andrew Johnston, Dr. H. Bleallahan, Moseby N. Owen, Wm. M. Paxton. The house erected was 25x50 feet, two stories high.and of brick. This house was burned in the war.

Pleasant Ridge Academy. - This was erected by Prof. Brice Vin- yard. It was a large brick building, and for several years he had a fine school of both boys and girls. Prof. H. M. Allen and his brother succeeded Prof. Vinyard and up to the war kept a fine school. Since the war it has not been resuscitated.

Platte City Female College. - In 1857 Prof. H. B. Todd left Cam- den Point and offered to keep a female boarding school near Platte City if the people would erect a house. The people responded readily, and raised $10,000. Prof. Todd had a large school, consisting some sessions of over two hundred young ladies. In 1861 Mrs. Todd died

778

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

and Prof. Todd resigned his position. Prof. A. B. Jones taught dur- ing the war and Prof. McKinnis followed. The academy was then purchased by Prof. F. G. Gaylord, who still maintains a fine school under the name of Daughters' College.1

THE WESTON HIGH SCHOOL.

About the same time that the Platte City Female Academy was erected the Weston High School was built. This fine house was sold to the city and has been used for the public school for many years.

MENTAL CULTURE AND LITERATURE.

In this county there have been but few or no candidates for the learned professions or for distinctions in any of the departments of letters or the fine arts who were natives of the county. The county is yet new and it is hardly to be expected that within so short a time it should have built up a literature of its own or brought forward rep- resentatives of the learning and literary progress of the age.

But unquestionably the day is coming when the people may hope for higher attainments. At first they were without the means of edu- cating their sons and daughters ; and when in 1861 they had made some progress, their young men were all called to arms. In the long and bloody contest which followed the means of educating the youth of the county were swept away, and when peace again smiled upon the land the cause of education and of letters had to be re-entered up- on at the beginning.

But already some progress has been made. An appreciable literary atmosphere is formed at Camden Point and Parkville and Platte City and Weston, and several other localities in the county have felt the breeze. Among those of the generation now just entering or soon to enter upon the activities of life, there are not a few whose future seems bright with promise. But of these it is yet too soon to speak.

Among the senior residents of the county, those who although not natives to the soil have been identified with the community for years, and are as much its citizens and representatives as if the accident of birth had made them such, there are numbers whose names justly de- serve a place among those of the learned of the State in their respec- tive spheres - in law, letters and statesmanship.

We may mention a few whose names occur to us as we write. But there are others equally worthy, with whom, however, we have not sufficient acquaintance to enable us to speak of them with intelligence.

Judge William B. Almond was educated at William and Mary Col-

1 See biography of Prof. Gaylord in Carroll Township.

779

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

lege, in Virginia, and received the highest honors of the institution. His attainments secured for him a place on the bench, both in Cali- fornia and at home. He was a fluent speaker and a chaste writer.

His Excellency, Peter H. Burnett, the first Territorial Gov- ernor of California, started his professional career in Platte county. He has already published two volumes, which place him in the fore- most rank of American authors. His first book was a lawyer's reasons for joining the Catholic Church. He subsequently published the recollections of a pioneer. Not only the logic of the first volume demanded attention from the theological world, but its literary excel- lencies were much admired. His reminiscences possess rare interest, and the style is as much approved as its details are applauded. Mr. Burnett is now engaged on the great work of his life, and is expected to soon publish a book on the evidences of Christianity. His writ- ings suit the ordinary capacity, and for clearness and force are scarcely equaled.

Hon. John Gardenhire commenced his professional career in Platte county. He died young, and crushed the hopes of friends who expected him to attain the highest round of the ladder of success. As an orator he was unrivaled. His earnest and irresistible appeals carried conviction to the candid and confusion to opponents. His conscientious regard for truth inspired confidence and disarmed doubt. He had already arisen to eminence ere he had attained the noon of life.

Hon. Willard P. Hall came to Platte City as a youth, and lived there for some years. His superior judgment and clear reasoning powers soon called him to a wider stage of usefulness. He reached the gubernatorial chair at a time of our greatest need, and his wise coun- sel saved the State from disaster. As an orator and jurist he had no superior in the State. We may here remark that Platte county has no large cities, and nearly all our rising young men, as soon as they at- tained distinction, left us for richer fields of usefulness. They be- come eminent, and for this very reason leave us.

Prof. Hugh B. Todd came to Camden Point about 1850. After building up that noble institution, he gave Platte City the bene- fit of his labors. In energy he had few equals. His persuasive powers in public and private, and his fascinating manners charmed our people, and for years he wielded almost regal power. As a dis- ciplinarian he was unrivaled. He ruled not only his schools, but the whole community. Whatever he asked for was bestowed. There was a charm in his manner, and a witchery in his address that won all

780

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

hearts. Our people have never done Prof. Todd justice for the blessing he bestowed on the county. Prof. Todd yet lives in Kentucky.

Prof. F. G. Gaylord has done much for this county. He came to Platte county about 1853, and built up the first academy in Platte City. After teaching here a few years he was called to Camden Point, and thence returned to Platte City. He is now the principal of Daughters' College at Platte City. No one has done more work for the education of the youth of our county than the venerable and be- loved President of Daughters' College. He is still laboring for the enlightenment of our youth, and in his old age and bereavment we acknowledge the great debt of gratitude that is due him.

President John A. McAfee is one of the most eminent and success- ful educators and disciplinarians on earth. Through his energies, supplications and prayers he has built up Park College and made it a miracle of success. His undoubtable faith and irresistible earnestness have gathered 225 youths, of both sexes, at Park College ; and with- out one dollar of endowment, his institution is doing more for human- ity and religion than the colleges endowed with millions. He is indeed the American Muller, and his school is built on faith, hope and charity.

Prof. A. F. Smith, late principal of the Camden Point Orphan School, is a chaste and agreeable writer ; his religious novel, "Earn- est Leighton," Christian Publishing Company, St. Louis, 1881, is chaste in diction, pure in morals, and interesting in its details. By this work Prof. Smith has shown himself possessed of rare literary merits.

Judge Elijah H. Norton enjoys more of the love and esteem of the people of Platte county than any man that ever resided on this soil. He has represented her in Congress, has served a term on the circuit bench, and is now a Supreme Judge of the State. As a law- yer he has enjoyed a larger and more lucrative practice than any mem- ber of our bar. Indeed, we doubt whether there is another man in the State that can rival him in the affections of the people of Mis- souri. If we examine his decisions with the enlightened eye of the jurist, the discriminating and pondering balance of the logician, or the scrutinizing attention of the literary critics, we must pronounce him a master in thought and diction. Judge Norton is one of the clearest reasoners of the day, and our system of jurisprudence owes much to his intelligence, purity, judgment and integrity.

Norton B. Anderson came to Platte City a young man, and has become a permanent citizen ; he is yet young, and a field of useful- ness and honor are before him. In purity of thought and chasteness

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

of diction, he is the first writer of the county, if not of the State. His classical education and varied reading give him a command of words and thoughts which few attain. He has always been a student, and a constant contributor to the periodical press ; he seldom puts his name to an article, but the authorship is exposed by its excellencies ; - he writes deliberately, and weighs every word ; he polishes every sen- tence, and every phrase is a gem of thought ; he has not ventured into the fragrant fields of poetry, but when he makes an effort his produc- tion is a garden of flowers. There is no one in the county that is such a master of rhetoric. But Mr. Anderson's powers are not con- fined to beautiful phrases ; he is a lawyer well grounded in the prin- ciples of jurisprudence, and prepares his cases with the utmost care ; he is learned in the Masonic art, and a favorite speaker at the celebra- tions of the various orders of Masonry and Knighthood.

Mrs. Swaney is a native of Platte county, a daughter of Hilaman Hurlbut. She has published in the Landmark two continued stories that were highly complimented ; she is much admired, and stands at the head of female writers in Platte county. Her style is easy and nat- ural, without any attempt at ornament, her diction is elegant and her stories meet with great favor. Her friends and admirers predict a bright future in her career as a novelist.

CHAPTER XV.

MATERIAL PROGRESS SINCE THE WAR-1865-1885.

Assessed Valuation in 1865 - Platte County Fair Association-Its Officers - Bridges - Weston and Platte City Turnpike - Valuation and Tax for 1885 - Description of Platte county.

Capital, all property and values are sensitive to the touch of public affairs. They rise and fall, improve and depreciate with the variations in the political condition of the country.

So, early in 1861, on account of the excitement of the times, and the manifest approach of war, property at once began to depreciate in this county, as it did in all the Border and Southern States.

The assessment of the county in 1861 showed a depreciation in the value of slaves alone of $115,000, as compared with the assessment of 1860. Other property had depreciated to the amount of $586,853, or in all, $701,853.

But the worst was to come. From 1855 to 1860 property increased in value nearly 30 per cent. From 1860 to 1865 it decreased nearly 53 per cent ; or, not even counting what it would have increased but for the war, there was a clear falling off of $3,815,925, or largely over half the valuation of the property of 1860.

In the chapter on the " Progress of Twenty Years," from 1841 to 1861, we have given the assessment valuation of 1860. That com- pared with the following, will show the depreciation during the war more clearly than we have explained it.

1865.

WHAT RETURNED.

NO.

VALUATION.

TAX.

Polls .

2,127

$ 2,127 00

Lands

Acres 243,594

2,431,870

12,159 35

Town Lots

1,810

301,620

1,508 10

Stocks, Moneys, etc.

329,806

1,669 03

Other Property

393,598

1,967 91

Total

3,456,819

19,431 39

(782)

783

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

While the war was in progress of course all kinds of industries were paralyzed. Little or no improvements were made or attempted. But little was produced, hardly enough to sustain even those who re- mained at home. The male population fit for military duty, or most of them, were in one army or the other. Others, who desired to take no part in the war, left in large numbers. Hundreds and thousands of families also left.

Besides, large quantities of stock and other personal property and effects were stolen and taken into Kansas. The county was virtually stripped of live stock. Household goods, farming utensils, every- thing, that a pilgrim from the land, whose motto is - " Through Difficulties to the Stars," needed was seized upon and carried away in the name of loyalty. Even ladies' wire skeleton hoops and hair-pins were carried off. Horses, cattle, grain, etc., were taken out in whole trains. Wherever a pilgrim from Bleeding Kansas passed he left a trail of destitution, and too often of death, like the wandering Jew. It is estimated that they stole and carried out of this county over $1,500,000 worth of property, not counting the negroes. They even did worse with other counties along the border - all from the Indian Territory to the Iowa line suffered. It is said that after the Nile overflows Egypt is rich for years. Kansas was in fine thrift after the war.

But with the return of peace the people of this county went to work again. Few of them had any ready means, and generally they were without stock with which to resume farming. Most of them were in debt, for during the war their property had been taxed to pay for the imaginary destruction of the still more imaginary, hypothetical estates of loyalists in the county indefinite. They had also been taxed to pay bounties and commutation taxes and various other claims with strange and ingenious names, gotten up more to confiscate their pro- perty by indirection than for anything else. But those of the tax- payers who survived the war went to work to repair their farms and pay their debts, and they worked faithfully and hard, economizing at every point where a cent could be saved. Generous soil and favor- able seasons were on their side, and, Phoenix-like, they soon rose out of the ashes of their ruin prosperous again. The waste places of the county were made to smile with abundant harvests, and an air of thrift was felt on every hand. Within eight or ten years the county had made good most of the losses caused by the war, except the loss of negro property, and since that time its progress has been one of substantial thrift.

784

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Wheat growing and stock raising have been the principal industries. During this period the major share of the attention of farmers has been directed to raising wheat. But now, and for several years past, stock raising has steadily increased, and it promises to become the leading interest of the county. There are as fine wheat lands here as are to be found in the whole country, if they are even equaled else- where. But the price of wheat has showed such a downward tendency in recent years that farmers have been gradually withdrawing from raising it and converting their farms into stock farms.

All the grasses do well, especially blue grass, which covers all the uncultivated lands of the county. Springs are numerous in all parts of the county, and a glance at the map shows great multiplicity of water courses, which not only afford an abundance of stock water, but thoroughly drain the lands. In a word, no county in the State is better adapted to stock raising. In the township chapters, further along, we give a more particular description of the county -the topography of each township and the character of its soil and products.

The stock principally raised are hogs and beef cattle, which are fatted for the markets. This has already grown to be an important industry, bringing into the county hundreds of dollars annually.

Fine stock are also receiving much attention. There are several handsome herds of registered Jerseys in the county, the best of which is probably the herd of Hon. R. P. C. Wilson.

Thoroughbred short horns are raised in every township and in nearly every neighborhood. Among the leading short horn raisers and dealers are called to mind at the moment Capt. Wm. Chesnut, A. D. Blythe, R. F. Duncan, James C. Alderson, Thomas Stone, John W. Jack, Philip Robertson, Thomas Cockrill, B. F. Risk, Sidney Risk, Simpson Park, Jefferson J. Park, M. C. Park, James W. Hardesty, Robert Hardesty, the late Hon. James Adkins, Dr. A. T. Gutherie, E. Dillingham, Oliver Swaney, Wm. Tatman and W. J. Miller.

The raising of fine horses and of mules has also long been an im- portant industry of the county. Even before the war this county was one of the large mule-raising counties of the State, and continually large numbers of mules were shipped to St. Louis and the Southern markets. The county having a heavy percentage of Kentuckians among its settlers, the raising and herding of fine horses of course became a favorite interest. When it was commenced there were some of the best horses here in the State, and since the war interest in fine horses has revived. Several noted horses, or horses that afterward became noted throughout the United States, were raised here.

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Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1156

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1156