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 82
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 82
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785
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
NOTED HORSES
The following are some of the noted horses contributed by Platte county : " Rich Ball," raised by James Dye. This horse, " Rich Ball," was sired by " King Pharoah." He was a pacer, and became the next fastest horse in that gait in the world. His best time was 2 :12, and his highest sale $10,340.
"Pineleaf," " Rich Ball's" brother, and raised by H. Swaney, also became a famous horse. His best time was 2: 27. He was sold to Mr. H. Tinsley. Price not known.
" Mary Lee" is a fine mare raised in this county. She is now owned by J. Elgin, of this county. Her best time is 2.18; she is valued at $5,000.
" Medley " is a noted racer owned by Elliott Miller. He is a thoroughbred, and is valued at $2,500. His time is 1.45.
" Lucy Johnson," another fine Platte county flyer, is now in New Orleans, La., for the spring races ; her time is half a mile in 481/2.
" Jennie L." was raised by Judge Norton. She made her debut on the turf at Kansas City in 1881 ; her time was a mile in 2.28. She is now owned by Mrs. Rosa Mattox.
" Bullet " belongs to W. T. Patton. He is a flyer of great promise ; his best time thus far is three-quarters in 1.17. He is 17 hands high and weighs 1,200 pounds. Recently he made a half mile in 50 seconds. Size and weight considered, he is the fastest horse in the world. Mr. Patton has been offered $1,000 for his horse but ever afterwards has refused to speak to the misguided unfortunate who thus offended him. " Bullet " was sired by " Orphan Boy," and the latter by the famous " Australia."
THE PLATTE COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION.
As remarked in a former chapter, the Platte County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized in 1858.
The officers of the association were Jefferson Williams, president ; A. Tribble, vice-president ; Wm. M. Paxton, treasurer ; N. D. Short, secretary, and Wm. B. Smith, corresponding secretary. The board of directors consisted of J. F. Porte, G. W. Jones, Simpson Park, J. W. Steele, Clinton Cockrill, W. K. Faulkner, Thos. Dorriss, R. D. Johnson, L. M. Pence, W. A. Fox and Levi Hinkle. The price of a life membership was fixed at $25. Life members could exhibit stock free of charge ; others were required to pay five dollars for each fair. Admission was fixed at 25 cents for footmen, 30 cents for horsemen,
786
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
50 cents for horse and buggy, $1 for carriages, and $3 for hacks per day, with an additional charge of 20 cents for each passenger. The grounds, still used by the Fair Association, in the edge of the present town of Tracy, were bought and improved for the purpose.
The first year temporary buildings were put up, and the first fair com- menced in October and lasted five days. It was attended by stockmen from different parts of the State, and $3,000 worth of premiums were distributed. It proved a great success.
During the first day of the fair an incident occurred worthy of men- tion. Temporary seats for visitors had been put up, and they were sup- posed to be strong enough to sustain any weight that might be placed upon them. Among the other visitors were the young ladies from the Platte City Female Academy, a hundred or more of the fairest flowers of all the field. They were invited to the seats, and a few minutes after they had ascended them and seated themselves, all un- expectedly a crash occurred, and down came the seats, young ladies and all. They were not so heavy, although, as a rule, they were not kittens ; but the trouble was the seats were wrecked, like many a young masculine heart that was all broken up that day. Fortunately none of the fair ones were hurt. They had only made a mash; that was all.
The fair of 1860 was another success. The grounds had been bet- ter improved by this time. It was attended by stock from other States, notably Kentucky, and proved one of the finest fairs in the State. Premiums in cash were awarded. Several thousand dollars were distributed.
From 1860 to 1866, on account of the war, but three terms of the fair were held. In the meantime a reorganization had been effected. In 1866 the officers of the association were David Johnson, president ; Andrew Tribble, vice-president; J. C. Greenawalt, secretary, and Addison Burge, treasurer. The directors were Levi Hinkle, Green K. White, Miles Harrington, Asa Smith, Jesse Miller, Samuel Pepper, H. M. Allen, William Singleton, W. K. Faulconer, J. W. Steele and Alfred W. Hughes.
The fair of 1866 commenced September 25, 1866, and continued four days. This was one of the most successful fairs in the history . of the association. Some of the finest horses in the United States were exhibited. Stock from Kentucky and the Eastern States was present, and from Illinois, Kansas and the other Northern States. From that time on, for a number of years, the fair increased in repu- tation and success. It is still in existence and has survived all of its
.
1
787
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
competitors in this part of the country, outside of a large city. It is one of the oldest fairs in the State.
But in late years the tendency of fairs as well as everything else in the way of public exhibitions and enterprises of importance to center at large cities has been a great drawback to the Platte county fair. All around it are the fairs at Kansas City, Leavenworth, St. Joseph, Hannibal and St. Louis, and by the time these are all visited by stock men there is not much left for the Platte county fair. Still it is going ahead with courage and resolution and the following fall it will hold its twenty-third annual exhibition. It has a fine race track and offers liberal premiums in cash for all classes of stock and goods. Its premiums range from $350 cash down and all premiums, except diplomas, are in cash.
The officers of the association are James Adkins (recently de- ceased ), president ; James Dye, vice president; W. F. Norton, treasurer, and E. C. Cockrill, secretary.
BRIDGES.
It has always been the policy of Platte County to make substantial, creditable public improvements whenever any at all are made. As with her court-house, so with her bridges. The bridges spanning the streams in this county are of a superior class, and especially is this true of the iron bridges across the Platte at Platte City and the Bee creek bridge on the road between Platte City and Weston. There is the bridge at Smith's Fork, the Live creek bridge, the one across the Platte at Union Mills and the New Market bridge. All are fine iron bridges and each is a credit to the county. Besides these there are a large number of combination bridges in the county, iron and wood.
WESTON AND PLATTE CITY TURNPIKE.
The Weston and Platte City turnpike was made in about 1868. For several years toll gates were established on the road and tolls collected ; but the road was not a financial success, and it was aban- doned by the company. As a matter of fact turnpikes, as constructed here, are not successful or popular as roadways. The soil is too loose and loamy to sustain the stones above on the road, and it soon be- comes disfigured with innumerable depressions, presenting a rough surface that no one will travel on if he can avoid doing it.
The Weston and Plattsburg road also proved a failure.
Good dirt roads, however, tessellate every part of the county, and
788
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
in many places where it is necessary causeways are made over marshy lands to prevent teams from miring.
The public improvements of the county, as a whole, will compare favorably with those of any of the western counties of the State.
Since the war many handsome and commodious private houses have been built, and the whole face of the country has undergone a marked change, indicative of the steady advancement of the people in wealth and culture. Lands have advanced in value and all the varied inter- ests of the county have improved.
The following table shows the valuation of the county and the amount of revenue paid in 1885 : -
VALUATION AND TAX FOR 1885.
Class of Property.
No. Acres.
Value.
State Rev.
State Int.
County Tax.
Land.
258,080 $3,000,705 00
$6,001 42
$6,001 42
$32,849 96
3,790
85,803 00
171 60
171 60
891 94
'593,335 00
1,186 67
1,186 67
6,526 70
25,790 00
51 58
51 58
257 90
4,727 00
9 46
9 46
47 27
925,243 00
1,851 29
1,851 29
12,288 49
Totals.
Railroad.
$ 4,639,951 00 796,292 00
1,592 59
15,973 59
Totals
$5,436,243 00
$94,314 61
$94,314 61
$68,833 90
RECAPITULION ..
Total Valuation.
54,362 43
Total Tax.
257,463 12
We conclude this chapter with a description of the county, prepared by a committee of the Council of Patrons of Husbandry, which is in all respects truthful, succinct and in no wise over-wrought.
Platte county is the most southerly of the six counties of Northwest Missouri, known as the " Platte Purchase." It is bounded on the north by Buchanan county, of which the city of St. Joseph, with a population of 40,000 inhabitants, is the chief commercial town; and on the east by the counties of Clinton and Clay ; while on the west and south it has for its boundary the Missouri river. It lies inside the tri- angle formed by the Missouri river, where it is deflected from its south ern course and flows eastwardly. Therefore its entire western and southern boundaries are swept by this noble stream.
By virtue of its geographical location, the character of its soil, which in the bottom is entirely alluvial and in the uplands the richest
$92,722 02
$92,722 02 1,592 59
$52,860 31
1
789
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
marl'underlayed by a clayey formation, by its favorable topography and its climate, it is justly known as the " Garden of Missouri."
Platte county is nearly immediate between Arkansas on the south and Iowa on the north, and lies between those parallels of latitude which constitute the great routes of travel from east to west. It is, in fact, the most delightful halting place on our international highway. By reference to the map, it will be observed that the belt between the thirty-eighth and forty-second degrees of north latitude, tracing it from the Atlantic to the Pacific, embraces within its limits more wealth, more population, more enterprise and more large cities and towns than any other corresponding geographical division of the American continent. Along this highway flows the emigration of the world, which, reaching the great Platte Purchase, must find the center to which it gravitates.
Occupying the intermediate geographical position north and south that it does, Platte county naturally enjoys the equable climate peculiar to its location. It is exempt from the rigor of Iowa and Nebraska winters which make agricultural pursuits unremunerative and ex- tremely uncertain. It likewise experiences none of the parching suns and winds of the less favored States South. We are, therefore, exempt in a remarkable degree from the epidemic diseases that prevail in the extremes of climate, and no equal area on the habitable globe can truthfully be said to be more healthful. Such a consideration should have no little weight with those who are seeking homes and fortunes in the Great West.
The soil of Platte is peculiarly adapted to the growth of the cereals and grasses. Its depth and durability of soil are well nigh unlimited, and can not become exhausted or barren for hundreds of years to come. The extensive bottom lands of the Missouri and Platte rivers, it is safe to say, produce more corn per acre than can be produced on any other equal area on the globe. The uplands and prairies are scarcely infe- rior in their adaptibility to the growth of wheat, oats, barley and rye. All the nutritious grasses flourish and do well all the year round, and especially is the blue grass as much at home here as in the famous Blue Grass regions of Kentucky. It readily usurps the place of our native grasses and furnishes excellent grazing even during the winter months.
We believe that with equal care and attention our blue grass will not only rival that in Kentucky, but will excel it in the luxuriance of its growth.
Timothy yields throughout the country not less than two tons of hay per acre. Our soil appears to be the native home of the clover.
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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Under the most unfavorable circumstances its yield is wonderful. Millet, Hungarian, orchard grass and " red top," as well as all other varieties, flourish finely. In a brief word, Platte county defies com- petition in respect to all the desirable grasses.
All kinds of fruits peculiar to the climate flourish without a rival.
In fact, fruit growing is rapidly becoming one of the chief in- dustries of the county.,
The apple crop never fails. And the perfection this fruit has at- tained in Platte county was fully demonstrated in the year 1872, when our apples successfully competed with the far-famed California fruit region, and were awarded the first premium at the California State Fair for the same year. Not only are all the standard varieties of this fruit successfully cultivated, but many new varieties already world-renowned have had their origin in this county.
Peaches, being less hardy, do not thrive so well, but still they are a successful crop under ordinary circumstances, and attain a remark- able size and rare flavor.
Grape raising is destined at no distant day to become one of our principal industries and one of our best paying crops. Quite a goodly number of vineyards are already noted, and their profits are encour- aging. All the varieties do well, but the Concord appears to be the most hardy and prolific. All the native fruits grow spontaneously, and our nut-bearing trees comprise all those that are peculiar to our latitude.
Platte county has a diversity of timber and prairie, timber predom- inating largely. We have here in their sturdiest development all the varieties of white oak, burr oak, pine oak, hickory, maple, linn or basswood, hackberry, pecan, sycamore and the finest walnuts on the continent. Of the latter thousands of feet are annually exported to Eastern markets and manufactured into an endless variety of furni- ture and shipped back to us for sale. In a word, as regards our tim- ber for purposes of manufacture, we defy the world to successfully compete with us.
The principal of our building stones is the limestone and sandstone, extensive quarries of which are almost everywhere accessible.
Our extensive pastures make this a county peculiarly well adapted to the raising of cattle and sheep. Especially is its capacity for cattle raising almost unlimited, and from this source is derived a great part of the wealth of the county. Our breeds of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs are yearly being improved, until we already enjoy a reputa- tion for such stock equal to the older counties of Kentucky, Ohio and
791
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Illinois. Large numbers of cattle are annually fattened on our ex- tensive pastures and shipped to the Eastern markets.
Formerly Platte county was the greatest hemp growing county in the State, and according to the census of the United States and the statistics bearing thereon for the year 1860, it produced more hemp than any other equal area on the globe.
This county is highly favored with water courses, furnishing an un- limited amount of water power and superficial drainage. Little Platte river flows almost directly through the center of the county from north to south, furnishing an absolutely unlimited water power for purposes of manufacture.
No county in the world offers better inducements to the employment of capital in manufactories. To those who desire to engage in such enterprise the amplest encouragement and pecuniary inducements will be extended.
At present, aside from flouring mills at Weston, Platte City, Wal- dron, Parkville, Iatan and on Bee creek, and a pork packing establish- ment and furniture factory 1 at Weston, there are no extensive manu- facturing establishments in the county. The field is therefore open and inviting to the employment of capital in this direction. The falls of Platte river, at Platte City, is without question naturally the most desirable site for manufacturing establishments in the State of Mis- souri. The water power is inexhaustible and sufficient to supply large quantities of machinery. Especially would a woolen manufactory and a manufactory of agricultural implements be vastly profitable and meet with strong encouragement from the people. Likewise would an establishment for the canning of fruits and vegetables be highly remunerative to those who would engage in such an enterprise. A pork packing establishment would be a mine of wealth to those embarking in it, and would be backed by the capital of the county.
The Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad runs along the entire southern and western boundaries of the county, passing through the towns of Parkville, Waldron, Beverly, East Leavenworth, Weston, Iatan and Sugar Lake, connecting those towns with Kansas City, Leavenworth, Atchison and St. Joseph. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad bisects the county from northeast to south- west, passing through the towns of Edgerton, near Ridgely, Camden Point and Platte City. The Atchison branch of the same road runs east and west through the northern part of the county, passing near the once flourishing village of New Market and connecting with the main
1 1 This latter has recently been discontinued.
45
792
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
line at Edgerton Junction. The projected Parkville and Grand River Railroad, yet in an inchoate condition, will at no distant day be com- pleted, the road-bed being already graded, and will furnish ample facilities for transportation for all the eastern part of the county.
The population of the county is about 18,000, and is cosmopolitan, being made up of emigrants from every State and foreign government. The bulk of the population, however, originally emigrated from Vir- ginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Several flourishing German settle- ments are notable features, and have added materially to the general wealth.
Our society is in all respects equal to that of any county in the State. Nearly every religious denomination boasts its churches, which are well sustained. Public schools flourish in every school district in the county.
There are four banking establishments - one at Platte City - the bank of Wells & Co. - the banking house of the same firm at Ed- gerton, one at Parkville, under the presidency of W. J. Fulton, and one at Weston -the Weston Savings Bank and the banking house of Messrs. Railey & Bro.
Many of our largest land owners are desirous of selling their sur- plus lands and to the thrifty immigrant they will be sold at prices ranging from $10 to $35 an acre, depending upon location and im- provements. The industrious farmer can actually pay for his lands from the products thereof in from three to five years; therefore we offer unparalleled inducements to this class.
Aside from the Chicago and St. Louis markets, with which we are directly connected by rail, we have also the ready markets of Kan- sas City on our southern, and Leavenworth and Atchison on our west- ern, and St. Joseph on our northern boundaries. The markets of these cities furnish a ready sale for everything grown in our county, and besides these markets and the railroad lines running through the county we have within easy access the Burlington and Missouri River, Central Branch, Atchison and Nebraska, Kansas Pacific, Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, and Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroads so near our doors that the whistles of their locomotives almost reach our ears.
In conclusion we only say to the immigrant that no county in Mis- souri boasts a better soil, more healthful climate, favorable society, more accessible markets and more natural advantages than Platte county.
And especially would we cordially invite those desiring to engage in manufactories to examine our natural facilities, convinced that they will then be anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity and the favorable condition for investing capital in enterprises that will meet with ample pecuniary rewards, as we are to have them come.
CHAPTER XVI.
RAILRODS AND BONDED DEBT
Early Railroads - Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad - Southern Branch Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad - Atchison Branch Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad - Parkville and Grand River Railroad - Indebted- ness of the County -Parkville and Grand River Railroad Company - Platte County Railroad Company - Weston Railroad Bonds -Court-House Indebtedness -Green Township Strip Bonds - Recapitulation.
The river early afforded the people of the county cheap and reason- ably expeditious communication with the South. But with the North- east and East there were no means of transportation, except by the slow and expensive process of stage travel or wagon freighting from and to points in communication with the businees centers of those sections.
The more sagacious and public-spirited citizens of the county, appre- ciating the great disadvantage which this imposed upon them all as a community, set about with commendable enterprise and liberality to secure one or more railroad outlets to the markets of the Northeast and East. Various railway enterprises were set on foot, and although some of the earlier ones assumed to be of only a local character, they were all intended to be the beginning of more extended lines.
The following are some of the earlier charters obtained from the Legislature for railroads in the county : the Weston Railroad in 1850-51, the Weston and Platte City the same year, the Platte County in 1852-53, the Parkville and Ridgely in 1854-55, the Weston and Clinton County the same year, the Weston and Randolph the same year, the Parkville and Grand River in 1856-57, the Platte City and Des Moines in 1859-60, the Weston and St. Joseph the same year.
The charters of several 'of these were afterwards merged into the charters of others, and two of the roads were ultimately built.
KANSAS CITY, ST. JOSEPH & COUNCIL BLUFFS RAILROAD.
This railroad, now one of the most important lines in the State, is the outgrowth of several consolidations.
February 24, 1853, the Legislature of Missouri granted a charter for a road to extend from St. Joseph to Kansas City. This, under
(793)
794
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
the name and style of the Platte County Railroad, was organized in 1857, by William Osborne, Davis Carpenter, M. Jeff. Thompson and others.
Under the auspices of this company, a line was surveyed from St. Joseph southward through DeKalb, in Buchanan couuty, Platte City and Parkville, in Platte county, to Kansas City.
The Legislature of 1856-57 granted aid to this road in the sum of $700,000. A subsequent act provided that none of the bonds of this road should be available till the year 1859. The charter also author- ized the extension of the road to the northern boundary of the State, under which provision it was completed to Savannah in 1860, and graded to Forest City.
December 11, 1855, the Atchison and St. Joseph Railroad was in- corporated. The articles of association provided that Benj. String- fellow, John H. Stringfellow, Peter T. Abell, John Doniphan, Stephen Johnson, Elijah H. Norton, Harvey Collier, Robert W. Don- nell, Reuben Middleton, Bela M. Hughes, James H. Lucas, John Simon, or any five of them, constitute the first board of directors.
In the summer of 1858, Gen. Benjamin Stringfellow, Dr. J. H. Stringfellow, Peter T. Abell, Harvey Collier, Reuben Middleton, John Doniphan and Robert W. Donnell met in St. Joseph, in the Metho- dist Church, which then stood on the northeast corner of Third and Felix streets, the present (1881) site of the National Bank of St. Joseph, and there organized the company. At this meeting, Sam- uel C. Pomeroy, of Atchison, was elected a director and president of the company. Charles West, of St. Joseph, was also at this meeting elected a director.
Stock was taken by the parties present, and, in a short time after, the city of Atchison subscribed $100,000; Abell and Stringfellow, $10,000 ; John Doniphan, $1,600, and Samuel C. Pomeroy, $10,000. Other parties contributed liberally, swelling the aggregate of subscrip- tions over and above the city stock to about $60,000.
Contracts for grading were immediately let along the entire line of the road, and work commenced at Winthrop, opposite Atchison. By July 1, 1859, this grading was completed between St. Joseph and Winthrop, a distance of 20 miles.
In March, 1859, the Weston and Atchison Railroad Company was incorporated under the general laws of the State. The officers of this corporation were John Doniphan, president ; James N. Burnes, vice-president ; Fielding H. Lewis, secretary, and Daniel D. Burnes, treasurer.
795
HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.
Private subscriptions were forthwith made to the road to the amount of $44,000, and the city of Weston issued her bonds to the amount of $50,000 in aid of the building of the same.
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