USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 21
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 21
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND. CALDWELL COUNTIES
Breckenridge Township was organized Nov. 4, 1869, and comprises Congressional township 57, range 26. The first resident of this township was Evan Odell, who settled in the southeastern part near the Livingston County line in the fall of 1835. The general surface of the township is the same general nature of other townships along the northern part of the county, the northwest portion being fine prairie while other portions are more or less rolling.
A rock quarry of extensive proportions was operated at Breckenridge for a number of years and a large demand for the product was found and much of it shipped out over the railroad. The building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad through this section in 1858, opened it up for settle- ment and the development has continued from that. time.
Davis Township was organized as a municipal township Nov. 4, 1869, and named for Samuel D. and John T. Davis, prominent citizens, and is comprised of Congressional township 55, range 26.
The township was first settled by the Mormons in 1837, along North Mud Creek, one of the first settlers being Elias Benner, who built a mill on that creek a mile and a half northeast of Black Oak. He never operated it, however, as trouble broke out and he was one of the victims of the Haun's Mill massacre. The general surface of this township is rolling and it is drained by Mud Creek which flows in a northeasterly direction. A large drainage ditch was digged along this creek a few years ago, in an effort to better carry off the water which flooded the bottom lands, the creek being very crooked and shallow. The ditch has been very beneficial.
Mirabile Township was organized May 4, 1870, comprising township 56, range 29. It was formed from a portion of Rockford Township which, until that date, comprised the western tier of townships up to Shoal Creek.
The first settler in Mirabile Township was David Quinn, who settled in the southeastern part in the fall of 1834, he was soon followed by others and this was the township that was destined to contain the new city of the Mormons, Far West, the history of which has been fully given in other chapters. The surface of this township is of the same general nature as the other parts of the county, rolling prairie with some timbered tracts and for the most part very productive.
Gomer Township was organized into a municipal township Nov. 4, 1869, and named for the town now called Nettleton, in honor of Geo. H. Nettleton, a former superintendent of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Gomer Township is nearly all prairie land and for that reason was the last
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
to be settled in the county, although it is said that the first settler was George Williams who came into the south part in 1836. There were few other settlers in that early day and even during the Mormon occupation the township was not settled to any great extent. Only after the build-} ing of the railroad, and in fact, until after the war, did the township begin to develop, and the railroad had difficulty in disposing of its lands. As late as 1886, a writer of that date said there were many large tracts in this township that had never been plowed though all of it was good and productive land, it was held for speculation. The surface is for the most part prairie land, and as a whole, lies better, perhaps, than any other township. It comprises township 57, range 27.
New York Township was organized Nov. 4, 1869, and called Grand River, but on December 30 of the same year it was changed to New York, because of the number of citizens of the township who had been former residents of that state. The general surface of this township is broken and hilly, but contains some very good farm lands. It comprises Congres- sional township 57, range 28.
The first settlers in this township cannot be stated, except that they came in with the Mormon immigration in about the year 1837, and settled along Shoal Creek.
Fairview Township was organized Nov. 4, 1869, and named for Fair- view school house which was built in 1867, and which, with the M. E. Church near by, were the beginning of the village Catawba. It com- prises township 56, range 26, and the general surface is rolling and con- tains much fine farming land.
The first settler was Robert White who made his home here in 1834. The next year came Jacob Haun, who built the ill-fated Haun's Mill and then a large number of Mormons who settled along Shoal Creek and else- where on timbered tracts.
Lincoln Township was organized Nov. 4, 1869, and named for Abra- ham Lincoln, and comprises Congressional township 55, range 27. The first settler was probably James Frazier, who came into this county in 1834. The greater portion of this township is fine prairie land gently roll- ing and very productive. The Mormons made scarcely no effort to settle in this township for the reason, probably, that there was too much prairie land and in that early day only the timbered lands near some water course were desirable as places for the pioneer cabins.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
Kidder Township was organized first in May, 1867, and then comprised all the territory in the county in range 29, north of Shoal Creek. In May, 1870, it was re-organized with its present boundaries, consisting of Con- gressional township 57, range 29. It was named for the town of Kidder, which was named for H. P. Kidder, of Boston, a member of the town company.
The northern part of the township is rolling prairie land while the southern part is more broken. The first settlement in the township was that of Lyman Wight who settled on lower Brushy Creek in August, 1836. Anthony Head located about the same time on Steer Creek. The township had many Mormon settlers and after their evacuation they were replaced by citizens from the East. After the building of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad the township took on new life and was marked by a rapid development thereafter.
Grant Township was organized May 4, 1870, and named in honor of Gen. U. S. Grant. It is comprised of Congressional township 56, range 28. It was formerly a part of Blythe Township. For the most part the sur- face is high rolling prairie land, although there is some hilly portions along the creeks.
The first settler in Grant Township was James Crowley in 1833, who came from Ray County and settled just south of the Cottonwood Church. He was followed the next year by Pleasant Yates who settled on Long Creek a mile east of Crowley. As in other parts of the county, the Mor- mons were largely the first settlers of this township and few Gentiles were located here until after they left the state.
Rockford Township was organized in 1860 and then comprised all of range 29, or what is now Rockford, Mirabile and Kidder townships. In May, 1867, the limits of Rockford Township was changed to include only that part lying south of Shoal Creek and in May, 1870, was changed again to its present limits, being Congressional township 55, range 29. The surface is about the same as other parts of the county, though perhaps a little more hilly in some parts. A great Indian battle is said to have taken place in early days near the Flat Rock Ford, on Crooked River, between the Missouris, who were the natural inhabitants of this section and some of the Northern tribes and early settlers found evidence of this conflict by the human bones, weapons, etc., scattered about the supposed battle ground. The township took its name from the famous Flat Rock Ford over Crooked River in section 33. Here the Mormons crossed when
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
they came up into the county from Clay County. It is believed that the first settler was Samuel K. McGee, who entered land in section 27 in Octo- ber, 1832. In 1836-37 nearly all the tillable land was entered by the Mor- mons who made considerable improvements at that time.
Other items of interest in each township such as cities, towns and villages, churches, lodges, etc., will receive attention in following chap- ters, it being the intention here of giving only a brief outline of the organi- zation, settlement and general description of each township.
CHAPTER XVIX.
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
HAMILTON - KINGSTON - BRAYMER - POLO - KIDDER - NETTLETON - MIRA- BILE-MISCELLANEOUS TOWNS-"THE G. A. R."
Hamilton .- The Hamilton Town Company was organized in 1854 and was composed of Edward M. Samuel, Greenup Bird, John Berry, Michael Arthur, Simpson McGaughey, Stephen Ritchey, John H. Ardinger, Ephraim B. Ewing, Albert G. Davis, Chas. J. Hughes, Thos. T. Frame, M. J. Thompson and John Burrows.
A number of these same men were interested in several other towns along the proposed railroad. Early in 1855 the town was laid off into lots and A. G. Davis was made the trustee of the Town Company, and built the first house in Hamilton and occupied it in April, 1856. The first sale of lots was held Oct. 5, 1855. It had been largely advertised and a big crowd was there to partake of the free dinner and liquor provided for the occasion, and the bidders were feeling pretty good when the sale began. The first lot sold to John Berry, of Liberty. The average price of lots was about $33.00 The second sale of lots was in June the year following. The streets were named for the various members of the Town Company, and still bear the same names.
To Albert G. Davis belongs the honor of being Hamilton's first and for a long time most prominent citizen, having more to do with its early progress than any other individual. He built the second house in the town, run the first hotel, had the first store, was the first postmaster, the postoffice beng established in 1858; he became the first railroad and express agent when the railroad was completed through Hamilton, Feb. 14, 1859, and for many years was very prominent in the affairs of the town. He died just a few years ago, still a resident of Hamilton and highly respected by all who knew him.
ENTRANCE TO NORTH MISSOURI FAIR GROUNDS, HAMILTON
ADV. CLUB SALE TO - DAY
GENUINE
Main St. Hamilton, Mo.
MAIN STREET, HAMILTON
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
The first school was taught at the home of Mr. Davis; the first religious meetings were held in the depot building prior to the war; the first school house was a log building; the first physician was Dr. Kavan- augh; the first resident attorney was Marcus A. Low, who afterwards became very prominent in Kansas; and the first child born is said to have been Joseph Davis, a son of Albert G. Davis.
During the Civil War, the town made no advance and there were not to exceed 100 inhabitants, but within a few years after the close of the war the town grew rapidly and soon contained several hundred popu- lation, and since that time there has been a steady and substantial growth. The town has suffered at times from fires, one of the most disastrous being in 1883, when the entire block north of the railroad on the west side of Davis street was destroyed. This contained many of the best business buildings in the town. It was soon rebuilt and the town con- tinued to advance.
Today Hamilton is a thriving city of the fourth class, with a popula- tion of about 1,800. It has five rural routes for delivery of mail to the farmers in adjacent territory, and also has city delivery. Hamilton is justly proud of a new school building built last year, the former one hav- ing been destroyed by fire. This building is modern in every respect, costing, equipped, about $75,000, and is a model of convenience and effi- ciency. Hamilton is also fortunate in having a Public Library, housed in a neat and substantial structure. This was made possible by a gift of $10,000 from J. C. Penney, a former resident of Hamilton, now known nationally as the founder and head of the largest chain of stores in the country. The Library complete has cost about $18,000 and is supported by a tax on the property of the city the same as other city enterprises.
Just recently Hamilton voted $75,000 bond for water works and now has 'the money in hand to put this project through and work will begin at once.
Hamilton has two fine bank buildings with solid banking institutions. The first to be built was in 1916 by the Hamilton Trust Company, which this year has been taken over by the Citizens Trust Company. The First National Bank, organized in 1889, built a new home in 1920, and is one of the best banking houses in northwest Missouri.
Only one newspaper now supplies the news from Hamilton and vicin- ity, the Advocate-Hamiltonian, being a consolidation of several papers into
(19)
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
one excellent paper, edited by C. F. Ridings, who has for several years been engaged in the publishing business here.
Hamilton has a large number of professional men, lawyers, doctors, etc., who are well in advance in their particular fields, and has a progres- sive lot of business men in all walks of life who are seeking to make the town better. It has some stores that are known outside the usual limit of towns of this size and all lines of business are represented here to such an extent that the scope of this work does not permit of more especial mention.
The North Missouri Fair Association is an enterprise that has put Hamilton on the map, and at the time this is wrtten is holding its 1922 session, and is much better and larger than any previous year.
Hamilton has a large number of lodges and societies, all of which perhaps are not included in the list here, but the principal ones are Hamil- ton Lodge A. F. & A. M., organized in 1868, Royal Arch Chapter, at about the same time; the I. O. O. F. also organized in 1868; the Knights of Pythias Lodge is about 25 years old, and the following orders also are rep- resented here: Modern Woodmen, O. E. S., Rebekahs, Maccabees, Pythian Sisters, G. A. R., Daughters of American Revolution, Royal Neigh- bors and the American Legion.
Hamilton has several well-supported churches, mention of which, with all other churches in the county, will be made in a succeeding chapter.
Kingston .- The county seat of Caldwell County has already received considerable mention in these pages because of the fact that it was the county seat. The town was laid out and platted in 1843, and Chas. J. Hughes, a young lawyer of Far West was appointed county seat commis- sioner to sell the lots. At this time there was only a little dilapidated cabin on the site of Kingston which was for the most part a brush patch, this cabin was located where the jailor's residence now stands and was unoccupied. Shortly afterward a two-story, part log and part frame build- ing was hauled from Far West and placed at the northeast corner of the square, where it is standing today, except that a few years ago it was turned around and changed in position and has been used as a garage. The next house was built on the corner where the Heiser furniture house formerly was located, which has been torn down within the past year or two. The first store was opened by a man by the name of Baxter in the building referred to above is still in existence. A postoffice was estab- lished in 1845, John H. Ardinger being the first postmaster. The mail
1
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
was received twice a week from Richmond and Plattsburg. Mr. Ardinger also operated a store at the time. One of the old land marks of the town was torn down a few years ago on the east side of the square, the shop then occupied by Ed Mack as a shoe shop. On the door post inside this building was posted a notice of sale of slaves, posted there in pre-war days.
Kingston was a place of interest during the civil war as has been related elsewhere and made a slow but sure growth for several years until 1890, perhaps, it reached the height of its prosperity in the completion of the Hamilton & Kingston Railroad. This road was opened for traffic in December, 1890, and a great celebration was held at Kingston when the ceremony of driving the last spike was observed. The population was perhaps near 700 at this time and for a few years the town seemed to pro- gress. But the railroad, being built in a cheap manner soon began to need repairs and new equipment and the rails were rented from the Bur- lington and proved a constant drain in the resources of the little local company so much so, that in about 10 years the road was abandoned, the Burlington pulled up their rails, after having blocked the efforts of the local company to extend the road south to Polo, and the town was again without railroad facilities. This was a blow from which the town has never recovered, and although efforts have been made time and again to re-establish the road or build a trolley line, nothing has ever come of it and the town has gradually dwindled in population until the last census gives it less than 400.
Kingston has this year built a new school building in keeping with the needs of the community which will make a very great advance in the school spirit and bespeaks well of the enterprise of the people. It has one bank or trust company, The Caldwell County Trust Company, which is one of the strongest banking institutions in the county. It has several stores, a bakery, hotel, restaurant, and other places of business.
The lodges in Kingston are the A. F. & A. M. organized in 1866 and the I. O. O. F. organized the same year. Ben Loan Post, G. A. R., estab- lished in 1882 was forced this year to return its charter as all but two or three of its members have passed to the last roll call. The Eastern Star has an active membership as also has the Daughters of Rebecca. The American Legion has an organization here.
Religious activities now surround a Community Church Federation of the Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian churches at present without
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
a pastor. There is also a M. E. South Church here with services once a month.
While the population of Kingston is small, yet it has many citizens who are intensely interested in the betterment of the town and always hoping for and endeavoring to assist in its advancement. One of the recent expressions of this interest is the fact that after being without a newspaper for some time, sufficient encouragement was received for the establishment of the Caldwell County News, a weekly newspaper, now being published by O. G. Bratcher, and filling a very great need of the community.
Braymer .- The survey for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Rail- road was made in 1885 and in the year the construction of the road began and in June, 1887, the first train came into Braymer. The citizens of Davis Township donated to the road the right-of-way and. owing perhaps to the fact that Daniel Braymer held such large tracts through which it passed and not only donated the right-of-way, but was untiring in his efforts to secure the road, the new town was named in his honor. The first building erected in the new town was an office building on the cor- ner now occupied by the Bank of Braymer. From the first Braymer gave promise of a thrifty town and it has had a steady growth. Business buildings and residences sprang up almost over night and soon new addi -; tions were laid out and the town continued to spread out and prosper. Antioch Church was established several years before the town was laid out. The first school building was a frame four-room house which soon gave way to a larger and more commodious structure, and this, too, has been augmented only recently by another large building, as Braymer is alive to the necessity of good schools.
Spencer Atkins ran the first hotel, L. C. Jones was the first post- master and Joseph V. Mowder founded the first newspaper, the Braymer Bee, which has been published continuously since that time, being now ably edited by A. J. Martin, and has always been a potent factor in the life of Braymer. The first number of the Bee was issued July 8, 1887. At that time there was no postoffice at Braymer and the Bee's address was Elk Grove, Mo.
Today Braymer is the best shipping point on the Milwaukee Railroad between Chillicothe and Kansas City and transacts a larger volume of business than any other town in the county. For the year 1921, the total
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
shipments including merchandise was 47,607,442 pounds, a gain of several tons over any preceding year.
Braymer supports three banking institutions, the Bank of Braymer and the First National Bank began business almost with the beginning of the town, while The Farmers Trust Company is a recent organization and all are doing a nice banking business.
The churches will be mentioned in a later chapter, but it is proper here to state that the Methodist Church of Braymer is as fine a struc- ture as may be found in any town outside the large cities and is certainly a credit to a town the size of Braymer. This organization also has a fine parsonage.
Braymer is well supplied with stores, of all kinds, and is a trading point with a large territory to draw from. It has a large elevator and much grain, as well as many cars of live stock are shipped to the markets.
The town has many lodges, the A. F. & A. M., O. E. S., I. O. O. F., Daughters of Rebecca, Knights of Pythias, Knights and Ladies of Security, M. W. A., and several others adding their share to the social welfare of the community.
Cowgill .- Cowgill is another town that came into existence with the building of the Milwaukee Railroad and was platted as a town in March, 1887, to which plat several additions have, from time to time, been added. It was named in honor of Judge James Cowgill, formerly a resident of that part of the county. While not so large or progressive as its neighbor on the east, it has a very fine community spirit and has shown fairly good progress in the past few years. It has several stores of more than ordinary importance, has a good school and all trades and callings are fairly well represented.
It has two newspapers, the Cowgill Chief, edited by Hon. George B. Cowley, and the Cowgill News, edited by George E. Jones.
Cowgill has one bank, the First National Bank, which has been doing business for several years and is a conservative and reliable banking in- stitution.
Among the lodges represented here are the I. O. O. F., the A. F. & A. M., the O. E. S. and the Daughters of Rebecca.
Polo .- The first house in the village of Polo was built by Isaac Webb, in 1867, on the spot where the drug store of Dr. W. T. Scanlon is now situated. George Wilkinson built the second house in the spring of 1868, where the Farmers' Bank is now located, and about this time the village
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HISTORY OF CLINTON AND CALDWELL COUNTIES
was named for a town in Illinois of the same name. The town did not grow very rapidly until the building of the railroad and at that time con- tained only about 100 inhabitants. The first train into Polo arrived on the 4th of July, 1887, and there was a great celebration held there on that day. Polo was not platted until about this time, which accounts for the fact that much of the land in the old part of town is yet sold by metes and bounds. Since the coming of the railroad Polo has slowly but steadily ad- vanced, and in the past few years has made very good progress. It has two banks, the Farmers' Bank and the Polo Trust Company, both well established and doing a very satisfactory business. Several stores of all kinds, shops and other places of business receive a good patronage. The News-Herald, the only newspaper in the town, is ably edited by Clyde Sid Jones, who has been in the business here for several years and gets out a paper that is out of the ordinary for a small town.
Polo has good public schools and a commodious building. Polo does not have as many lodges as most towns, but lends willing support to those represented here. The A. F. & A. M., O. E. S. and I. O. O. F. being the principal lodges which are active in Polo.
Kidder .- Prior to 1860, the only railroad station in Kidder Township was at the residence of P. S. Kenney, more than a mile west of the present town of Kidder. Here was also a postoffice called Emmett, and a store, both operated by Mr. Kenney, who was also the station agent. In August, 1860, the town of Kidder was laid out by George S. Harris, for the Kidder Land Company, and the town was named in honor of H. P. Kidder, a member of said company. The first house was built a few weeks later, and in September of the same year a hotel was built by A. W. Rice and called the Kidder House. The depot was built in August, 1860, and the postoffice was moved to Kidder.
When the Civil War broke out the town contained about a dozen houses. A schoolhouse was built in 1862, and after the war other improve- ments were made. Thayer College was built in 1869, and was conducted as a college for about five years. After going through various vicissitudes the property was finally taken over by the Congregational Church and the Kidder Institute was established in 1884, since which time it has been an active educational institution, and the past year a two-year college course has been added.
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