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 83

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 83
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 83

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Ground was broke at Weston in the presence of a vast concourse of people, April 27, 1859. The occasion was one of singular re- joicing, and grand civic and military display, in which the cities of Atchison and Leavenworth, as well as other neighboring towns, also largely participated.

July 15, 1859, the Weston and Atchison and Atchison and St. Joseph Companies, finding that their means would be inadequate to accomplish more than the work of grading the road, for the purpose of an early completion of the same made a contract with the Platte County road, by which they transferred to that corporation the road- bed, franchises and right of way from St. Joseph to Weston, which company was enabled on the work so done, during the year 1859, to draw most of the State aid, and in January, 1860, the road was com- pleted and in operation from St. Joseph to Atchison.

In December, of the same year, the road was finished to Iatan, and by April 4, 1861, trains were running through to Weston.

In 1863, the name of this road was changed, the style " Platte Country " being substituted for the original, " Platte County."

In 1864, the road was seized by Gov. Hall for non-payment of in- terest on State bonds.

Immediately the Weston and Atchison and the Atchison and St. Joseph Railroad Companies commenced suits for their road-bed, on the ground that the original contract was illegal.

The Legislature of 1867 released this road to the Weston and Atchi- son and Atchison and St. Joseph Railroads, on condition of a re-organi- zation of the same under the name and style of the Missouri Valley Railroad . Company, and a completion of the road from Savannah, through Maryville, to the northern boundary of the State.

Under this act, the road was completed to Hopkins in 1869.

The road from Council Bluffs to Hamburg, Iowa, fifty-two miles in length, was built by Willis, Phelps & Co., and completed in 1867. It was styled the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph Railroad. Hon. James F. Joy and his friends then came to the front, and built the road from St. Joseph to Hamburg, 79 miles long, opening it for the traffic of 1868. This road was called the St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Rail- road.

Next in order came the consolidation of the St. Joseph and Coun- cil Bluffs and the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph roads, in 1868, under

796

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

the corporation name of St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad Com- pany.

In 1870, the Missouri Valley Railroad and St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad were consolidated, bringing the entire line from Kansas City to Council Bluffs under one management. Out of this union was born the present (1881) Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad. J. F. Barnard is the present general mana- ger.

THE SOUTHWEST BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC RAILROAD.

This road grew out of the old enterprise for building the Platte City and Ft. Des Moines Railway, which was chartered in 1859-60, as we have stated.

Among the leading men in the old enterprise were Judge James G. Spratt, Judge H. M. Allen, of Leavenworth ; Hon. Thos. Ewing, also then of Kansas, but now of Ohio, and Col. Durbin.

Private citizens in the county and all along the line subscribed quite liberally for the building of the road, and the survey of the route was made by Col. Durbin. But the war came on soon after- wards and nothing further was done with it until some years after the war had closed.

But with the renewal of railroad building following the return of peace, attention began to be directed to this enterprise as one of evi- dent public utility and, if properly managed, profit. It was taken hold of and built, and after passing through different hands became the property of German capitalists who still own it. It is leased to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Company for a period of ninety- nine years.

The right of way for the road was obtained for the company before the original building of it by Col. James N. Burnes, formerly of this county but now of St. Joseph, and the member of Congress from this district.

Maj. Ogden was the contractor for building it and it was completed in about 1870.

Under what was known as the strip township law, Green township, through the county court, subscribed $50,000 for building the road, or, rather, it was claimed that the township subscribed that amount, but the bonds issued were afterwards held to be invalid by the U. S. Supreme Court, and the debt or alleged debt was thus wiped out.

797

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

THE ATCHISON BRANCH OF THE CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC RAILROAD.

This road was built between Atchison Junction, in this county, and Atchison, Kansas, as a " feeder" to the main line by way of the Southwest branch. It is a road of local importance, and was built nearly altogether or quite without public aid. The Atchison branch gives the people of the northwest part of the county an outlet to Atchison, Kansas, and puts them in connection with railroads en- tering there, thus affording them competing lines in every direction. It is operated by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific.

THE PARKVILLE AND GRAND RIVER RAILROAD.

The Parkville and Grand River Railroad, as already stated, was chartered in 1856-57. Its original terminal points were to be Park- ville in the southwest, and a point on the State line in the northeast part of the State, running there by way of Plattsburg in the general direction of Chicago, with that city as a final termination. The county court voted aid to the road amounting to $100,000, and $75,000 of that amount were issued prior to the war. The building of the road was thereupon commenced, and the line was graded to Plattsburg ready for the ties. But its funds became exhausted, and the war came on so that nothing further could be done at that time.

After the war the enterprise was revived, and it was hoped that the road would be completed. Judge Allen, the sole judge of the county court at that time, issued the remaining $25,000 of the original sub- scription of $100,000. But little or nothing was done to build the road. W. K. Faulconer, of Kansas City, now owns the right of way and the grade. From the foregoing it is seen that there are three lines of railroad in operation in the county, and one which is not yet completed, but which will unquestionably be built sooner or later. The county is well supplied with railroad facilities in all directions, andibesides it has its fine river transportation right at its doors. With Kansas City, Leavenworth, Atchison and St. Joseph close at hand, and with its superior transportation facilities, both by water and rail- way, it is favored above most of the counties in the State. These, with the fertility of its soil and the excellence of its seasons, make it a locality of great desirability to farmers and to all classes.

INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COUNTY.

Parkville and Grand River Railroad Company. - The first indebt- edness of the county, worthy of mention, was that to the Parkville and

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Grand River Railroad Company. It was contracted in 1860. The county, through the county court, consisting of Judges Broadhurst, Dunlap and Hayes, subscribed $100,000 in aid of the building of the road.

The subscription was made on the condition that the bonds were not to be issued until the eastern route of the road lying in the county was graded. The grade was made and the bonds were issued. Noth- ing more has ever been done towards making or completing the road.

There was strong opposition against the issue of the bonds. Not less than two-thirds of the people opposed the issue, and Judge Hayes protested against it. J. E. Merryman, county attorney at that time, and a prominent lawyer, led the opposition to the issue. But Judges Broadhurst and Dunlap, constituting a majority of the court, issued them nevertheless. Both, we understand, resided on the line of the proposed road.

A part of the $100,000 subscribed was not issued ($25,000) until June, 1866, when the court consisted of one judge, Judge Allen.

The validity of these bonds .was afterwards contested in the courts, but were finally held to be binding on the county. They were funded with accrued interest in 1869 at seventy-five cents on the dol- lar into 20-year bonds, with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, semi-annual payments. This measure was forced upon the county court by not having the money to pay them, and in order to raise it on the bonds this court had to submit to a rate of interest and manner of payment that would break any private individual in the world. The court refunded the debt in 1880 at six per cent annual payments.

Platte County Railroad Company. - The next subscription was the Platte County Railroad Company. This was for $50,000. The Platte County Company was subsequently known by different names including Weston and Atchison, Weston, Atchison and St. Joseph, Missouri Valley, etc., etc. It is now a part of the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad.

The $50,000 worth of stock in the above company, paid for by the county with its bonds, was afterwards, in August, 1870, sold for $2,850, which amount was applied as part payment on the bonds of $50,000 with which the stock had been paid for. Thus the county virtually lost its stock and still owed over $40,000 of the debt. But when the stock was sold it was considered little better than worthless. Now, however, it is quoted at nearly par, we understand.

Union Bounty Warrants. - During the time of the threatened draft

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

in the county in 1864-65, the county court, in order to fill out the quota of volunteers required of the county, offered a bounty of $300 in warrants to each person qualified for military duty who would come forward and volunteer, to the credit of the county, up until its quota was furnished. The law authorized this, and public sentiment sus- tained the court in giving the bounty. The great majority of the people would have voted any endurable tax on themselves in prefer- ence to going into the Union army. Warrants to the amount of $25,000 were issued on this account.

Weston Railroad Bonds. - Weston subscribed, or some of its officers attempted to subscribe, to the Platte County Railroad Company to the amount of $50,000, for which bonds were issued upon the municipality. They were afterwards held not to be binding upon the place.

Court-House Indebtedness. - In 1866 the court-house and jail were built at a cost of $88,500. The court-house yard was improved and enclosed, and other things done- largely " the other things " - which run the cost up to about $120,000. This sum, with some outstanding warrants and other liabilities, made a debt of $146,210.44.

Green Township Strip Bonds. - After the war an enterprise was set on foot to build a road through this county and through the State in a northeast direction, with Chicago as its ultimate termination. It was called the Chicago and Southwestern Railroad. The work of con- structing it in this county was carried forward to the extent of making the road-bed through Preston township.

But the company expected aid from that township, and when the election was over, at which they expected to have $50,000 voted to them, but which resulted in a refusal to extend them any aid at all, they were greatly disappointed. Many of the voters were opposed to issuing bonds under any circumstances, and not a few voted against the proposition, thinking that they would get the road anyhow, for the reason that it was already graded and could not be changed ; and hence, to vote the bonds would simply be paying for something that they could get without paying for it.

Seeing how this election resulted, some of the leading men of Green township began to coquet with the railroad company to get the latter to change the location of the road into their township. They promised that they would guaranty a vote for $50,000 aid if the com- pany would make the change. The company, in no good humor with Preston township anyway, agreed to it. The vote was taken and a majority of those voting favored the issue of the bonds. But the

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

trouble was that there were scarcely more than a baker's dozen who voted. There were also informalities and irregularities in the pro- ceedings which finally had the effect to invalidate the bonds.

But, in the meantime, the county court was called upon to issue the bonds. Some doubt arose about the right of the court to issue them, and Judge Norton was employed by James N. Burnes, on behalf of the company, to secure the issue of the bonds. The court issued them. Afterwards the county court, Hon. James S. Owens, sole judge, contested their validity, and employed Judge E. H. Norton and Gov. Willard P. Hall to resist them. For a fee of $5,000 paid by the county on the order of Judge Owens, they defended the township, in which Judge Owens resided, in the fight against the bondholders, and finally in the Supreme Court of the United States, won the case. The bonds were held to be invalid.

Recapitulation. - Thus the debt of the county in round numbers was : -

Parkville and Grand River Railroad Company

· $100,000 00

Platte County Railroad Company . 50,000 00

Court-house, etc.

· 146,200 00 Union bounty

· 25,000 00

$321,200 00

By the year 1869 the Platte County Railroad, the Court-house, and the Union Bounty indebtedness, with accrued interest, amounted to . $206,314 92 By the same time the Parkville and Grand River Railroad debt, with in- terest, amounted to 132,050 65 .

Total

. $338,365 57

Both soon afterwards were funded into 10 per cent 20-year bonds, as follows : -

The first (1st series), after the principal had been reduced, some at . $203,000 00

The second (2d series), on compromise pending litigation 109,000 0 .

Total

$312,000 00

These bonds continued to draw interest at ten per cent, semi-annual payments, until 1880, when they were again funded, in order to get a lower rate of interest and annual payments, by which time the prin- cipal of each had been apprecially reduced so that the funding resulted as follows : - -

1st series

· $194,300 00

2d series

94,000 00

Total

$288,300 00

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Whilst the above bonds were running a bitter fight was made by the people of the county, and very justly, against the injustice of paying 10 per cent interest, semi-annual payments ; or, in other words, double compound interest, when there was but another county in the State paying so exhorbitant and unreasonable a rate, and when no individual or corporation would think of paying it for a moment. The effect of the fight was to greatly depreciate the bonds, running them down as low as 84c on the $1, and the bondholders soon be- came anxious to have the bonds funded at a reasonable rate of interest, and with annual payments, so as to stop the fight and render their bonds of par value in the markets.

The debt is being steadily reduced.

CHAPTER XVII. CHURCHES AND LODGES.

Churches in Carroll Township-In Fair Township-In Green Township- In Lee Township - In Marshall Township - In May Township - In Pettis Township- In Preston Township -In Waldron Township- In Weston Township -Lodges in the County -A. F. &. A. M. - I. O. O. F. - Legion of Honor, Etc.

CHURCHES.

As this county was largely settled within a year from the period when it was first opened to immigration, most of the denominations in Missouri at that time were represented among the early settlers. Those numerically the largest, however, were the Primitive and Mis- sionary Baptists, the Christians and the Methodists.

As has been remarked elsewhere in this volume, the new comers had to clear away the forests and make homes for themselves before they could build churches and school-houses. But as soon as they had provided cabins to live in they turned their attention to the work of erecting houses of worship and school buildings. At first the churches were put up by members of different denominations, and were used as union meeting houses. But here and there, where a de- nomination was strong in numbers, a church building was erected for their own use exclusively. This was the case with the Primitive Baptists, in several localities. There were also several other ex- clusively denominational church buildings erected.

The earlier meeting houses were made of logs, hewed and put up in a neat style, and were comfortable and spacious for those times. The Primitive Baptists invariably built theirs with an alcove or recess in the further end wall, for the pulpit, like that made for a bay win- dow. The buildings were large, substantial structures, and some of them are standing to this day, in apparent contempt of the gnawing tooth of time.

As the country settled up and improved and the people became more prosperous and exacting in their architectural tastes, the style and cost of church buildings gradually improved, until just preceding the war Platte county could and can now boast of some of the best country church buildings in this part of the State. But having no large cities, of course there are no uncommonly expensive church

(802)

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

buildings in the county. Wealth and display go hand in hand in matters of religion as in everything else. Among the early preachers of the county the writer has been able to obtain the names of only a few. Of course the name of old Brother Cox has not escaped us. He was the friend of Brother Arnold Chance, and came into Barry to hear the news of the ratification of the treaty known as the Platte Purchase. Brother James Cox came here with the first settlers in 1837. Then there was Rev. Mr. Thorp, a man of earnest piety and an effective speaker. His greatest happiness was in the service of God and humanity as a Christian minister. He was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Another early minister was Rev. Jonathan Adkins, also a Primitive Baptist. He was a faithful servant of the Master and did a good work among his pioneer neighbors and friends in the early settlement of Platte county. Rev. Wm. Redman came here in 1837. He was a representative of the M. E. Church South and was a man of general culture, far above the average in those times. He was presiding elder for a number of years. Rev. Joseph Devlin, of the M. E. Church South, whose name still lives fresh in the memory of the people for the noble Christian work he did among them, came here at an early day and continued in the ministry in this county for many years. The Revs. Heath, of the M. E. Church ; Lewis, of the Christian Church ; Dr. Holt, of the Presbyterian, and Rev. Allen all came prior to 1840. There were, of course, many others, but we can not hope to name them.

On the following pages we give more minute facts in regard to the churches of the county their position, etc.

The following in regard to the general history and material con- dition of the Methodist denomination in Platte county may prove of sufficient interest to our readers to justify us in inserting the facts in this place : In the county are parts of four circuits and an entire one ; the churches are thus divided -on Weston circuit there are two churches, valued at $6,000, and a parsonage valued at $800 ; its mem- bership numbers 140. Parkville circuit has one church building with 80 members. Platte City circuit has four churches, valued at $5,000 and parsonage $1,000, and a membership of 167. Edgerton circuit has two churches worth about $5,000, and a membership of 155. Dearborn circuit has one church valued at $2,000 and parsonage worth $800, with a membership of perhaps 70 persons. A new church has been organized at Ridgely, with a membership of 30. This church building is valued at $1,500. Some of these churches were organized by Rev. M. R. Jones, that at Farley about thirty-five years ago, and

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

that at Edgerton, in December, 184 -. Rev. Thomas Hurst organized several and Rev. Joseph Devlin some others: Parkville circuit is in charge of Rev. William Barnett, who is now over 80 years of age and is still an active Christian worker. He also has a young assistant with him. Rev. T. A. Rucker is in charge of Platte City and Wes- ton, J. T. Winstead is in charge of Ridgely, H. S. Leeper, of Dear- born, and G. Tanquary of Edgerton circuits.

CARROLL TOWNSHIP .- Baptist Church of Platte City .- The follow- ing is a brief sketch of the history of this church as taken from the church record book.

A meeting of a number of persons, members of the Baptist denom- ination, was held in Platte City, on Friday, the 20th day of December, 1850, for the purpose of constituting a church in said city.

The meeting was organized by calling Bro. Joshua Boyd to the chair, and Elder A. P. Williams was chosen secretary.

After mature deliberation, it was determined to constitute a church and to meet on the third Saturday in January, 1851, for that purpose.

Resolved, To invite Elders Franklin Graves, of New Hope, Clay County, W. H. Thomas, D.D., of Camden Point, and Elder A. P. Williams, of Pleasant Ridge, to attend and to assist in the constitution.

Adjourned.

J. BOYD, Moderator.

A. P. WILLIAMS, Clerk.

SECOND MEETING.

In January, 1851, the congregation which met on December 20, 1850, again met on the 3d Saturday, pursuant to adjournment, the following delegates from other churches being present, viz. : Elder W. H. Thomas, D.D., Elder A. P. Williams, Brothers T. Herndon, James Stockton, T. D. Herndon and Jno. W. Vinyard.

A sermon by Brother Thomas on " The Church," was preached at . 11 o'clock a. m., after which the meeting was called to order. Brother Thomas was chosen Moderator, and Brother A. P. Williams Clerk. The Church Covenant, as prepared by Brother Williams, was then read, and on motion adopted. (See Record Book 1, pp. 9-10. ) The Articles of Faith (see Book 1, pp. 4-8) were read and adopted. On proper motion the church was then and there organized.

The Constitution was then performed in the following order: 1st. Prayer by the Moderator; 2d. Charge by the Clerk ; 3d. Hand of Fel- lowship given by the Council.

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HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

The church then transacted the following business : -

1st. Agreed that this church should be styled the Platte City Bap- tist Church.

2d. Rules of Decorum, prepared by Elder A. P. Williams, read and adopted. (See Rules, page 13, Book 1.)

3d. Called Elder W. H. Thomas to the pastorate ; call accepted.

4th. Agreed to hold church meetings on the 2d Saturday in each month.

Adjourned.

W. H. THOMAS, Moderator.

A. P. WILLIAMS, Clerk.

The following is a correct list of the constituent members of the Platte City Church :-

Joshua Boyd, Nancy Boyd, James Stone, Mary Boyd, William Boyd, Minerva Stewart, James M. Pollard, Elizabeth Pollard, Brax- ton Pollard, Sarah J. Norris, Ed. Y. Perkins, Mary Ann Stone, Smith Alnutt, Sarah Stone, Nancy Prewitt, Elizabeth Prewitt and Nancy Blanton. Total, 19.

The pastors of this church have been Eld. W. H. Thomas, D. D., who served as pastor once a month from January, 1851, to Novem- ber, 1855. During his pastorate the church grew in numbers and prospered greatly. During the year 1854 the present church house was built, and a debt incurred that troubled the brethren until March, 28, 1867, when Deacon John H. Wilhite raised by subscription the sum of $1,390, and paid off the debt ; the citizens, without respect to denom- ination, subscribing liberally. Eld. Josiah Leak became pastor in January, 1856, and served until the following December. Eld. Ed- ward I. Owen, D. D., at that time President of William Jewell Col- lege, at Liberty, became pastor for half his time in Janu- ary, 1857, and served very acceptably until May, 1858, when he went to Europe. Returning, he took the care of the church in the month of October, 1858, and continued until October, 1859. Wm. H. Thomas, D. D., supplied the church from October, 1859, until May, 1860. No regular services were held from the last date until September, 1860, when Eld. S. H. Olmstead was called and served the church until August, 1861. Dr. E. I. Owen again supplied the church from September, 1861, until January 26, 1862. No regu- lar services were held from the last date until February, 1863, when Eld. Wm. Thompson, L. L. D., President of William Jewell College, was called and met with the church as pastor a few times as the

806

HISTORY OF PLATTE COUNTY.

Civil War was raging to such an extent that religous meetings were nearly impossible. There appears to have been no regular services from September, 1865, to May, 1866, when Eld. Jerre Clay was chosen pastor and served faithfully until November, 1868. Eld. J. J. Felts was called and served as pastor from November, 1868, until December, 1869. No regular services are recorded from the latter date until May, 1871, when Eld. J. W. Brown was called and served the church until November, 1875, two Sundays in each month.

There was no pastor from the latter date until August, 1876, when Eld. W. A. Crouch took the care of the church for two Sundays in the month, and continued until July, 1878. No pastor was had from the latter date until April, 1879, when Eld. G. W. Everett, was called and served until February, 1881. No pastor from this until November, 1884, when Eld. Robt. H. Jones was called, for half his time, and served until March 18, 1885, when he resigned.

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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