USA > Missouri > Caldwell County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 6
USA > Missouri > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Caldwell Counties, Missouri > Part 6
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Her children are sent to the best schools of the land and eventually many of them become teachers in our village and city schools.
The most beautiful bungalow in town is owned and occupied by Miss Kate Carver. Frank Guyton owned a beautiful home, remodeled from the Ross Chennoweth home on Centre street, which is lately owned by S. W. Shoemaker, of Brownton, Mo. G. B. Porter has a beautiful home and yard, drive and walks, very complete.
There are very many good, substantial, attractive homes over the town, of different sizes, shapes, and construction according to taste, needs, and ability, a number larger than our space would accomodate.
Lathrop reached her zenith in financial interests, in population and in stirring enterprise during British occupancy during the World War. Every room was filled, and temporary housing quarters, tents and mere sheds were put up on every available spot during the rush. Men came from every where, some with families, many without, facinated by the stories of work to be had here among the horses and mules.
The streets had the appearance of a wild west town with the many horsemen in the garb of their pursuit. There were beautiful thoroughbred saddlers for the officers and men in charge, and for the ladies attached to the Commission, reviving this exercise again very popularly.
There were droves of hundreds of horses and mules being driven from one field to another, but always someone thoughtful enough to politely pro- tect a lady driving or riding on the same road.
There were many inland young men who got their first sight of salt water as attendants of horses or mules out to Newport News down to New Orleans, to New York, and out to India and Africa during the Boer War and others during the European War until the Commission closed upon the entrance of the United States into the World War.
Immense sums of money were handled here during these wars-the largest checks, the biggest telephone and telegraph bills, farms rented or sold at high prices. Lathrop was known wherever the horse and mule industry was known, was written up, photographed into post cards, maga- zines, newspapers. Horses and mules died by the hundreds and their burial or destruction was a problem. A lot of sentiment attached to the sale of farm horses to be shipped to Europe for war, but this paled into insignificance when our boys were called out to make the world safe for democracy.
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Stretches of railroad spurs were set on, great chutes and lots built, pumping stations manned. Much of this has been torn away, the great barns remain, ghostly with the memories of the busy days with troops of men and thousands of horses and mules filling up the town and the lanes leading thereto.
Gower is a progressive town located in Atchison Township on the Buchanan County line. Daniel Smith laid out the town, in August, 1870, about the time the St. Louis & St. Joseph, now Santa Fe, was built to that point. The town was named in honor of A. G. Gower, division superin- tendent of the road. The place has a population of 419.
The first building erected in the town was a storehouse, which when first built, was known as the old Woodward store. In the fall of 1870, it was moved to Gower from across the line where it formerly stood in Buchanan County. The second building erected in the town, was a large two-story frame dwelling by James H. Harrod, which was, for several years, used by him as a hotel.
The first school house erected in Gower, was for the accomodation of a private institution. Miss Mollie Tillery, an enterprising and able teacher of the county, built this at her own expense. In this she taught successfully several sessions. The building was subsequently occupied as a dwelling.
The first postmaster of Gower was Ben. O. Weller. He was appointed in 1870 while clerking in the store of Daniel Sanders, the first established merchant of the place. The first meeting of the town board after the incorporation of Gower was held June 21, 1873. E. T. Smith was presi- dent ; R. T. Dusky, M. Duncan and John Westbrook, trustees. The board, in 1881, included John Westbrook, Dr. W. F. Stark, Jno. W. Hall, N. G. Cummings, W. B. Sanders and William Hammett.
One of the earliest physicians established in Gower, was Dr. San- ders, and Drs. Stark and Hutchinson were located there in 1881. B. F. Poe, at that time, was teaching the public school.
Osborn .- In the northeast corner of Platte Township, on the Burling- ton and Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City railroads, is the prosperous town of Osborn, with its population of 360. The town was laid out by the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, in 1857. The first house in the place was built by Col. Henry Baker, a civil engineer employed in the construction of the road. The town was named in honor of Col. William Osborn, of Waterville, N. Y. From being, at the period when first built,
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a terminal point in the then incomplete road, it early developed a con- siderable importance. The first shipment from this station was made by S. C. Duncan, in 1858, and consisted of several car loads of cattle shipped to Chicago. In 1859, the young town of Osborn was a live business cen- ter. At that time, there was a line of Concord Coaches passing from its station to Kansas City, by way of Plattsburg. Roberts & Company owned and operated this line. It continued to carry, besides passengers, the mail and express, each way, daily, for a period of two years. At that time, in the embryo town of Kansas City, not a steam whistle was to be heard, and the only sound of a steam engine that woke the echoes of its unsightly bluffs, was by the passing steamboat. In 1860, S. B. Hitt opened the first lumber yard in Osborn. He continued to do a large business till the breaking out of the Civil War. The first to sell goods in Osborn were Ferguson & Harbor, who opened a general store on Baker street, in 1858. The first blacksmith in the place was Ed. Alair, who opened his shop in 1862. Mrs. C. A. Perry opened the first milliner shop in the town-this was in 1868. One of the early settlers of Osborn, and for years an emi- nently representative business man of the place, was Asa Daniels. Major Robert Hill, at one time his partner in business, also an early settler and enterprising citizen of the town, died in 1874. Nannie Harbor, daughter of T. B. Harbor, was the first child born in Osborn, March 12, 1858.
Andrew Bunton kept the first eating house in Osborn. The first hotel, the Young American, was managed by Richard Wheeler. E. Goldsmith subsequently put up a hotel, which he kept many years. This was de- stroyed by fire in 1878. The first physician to locate in the town was Dr. I. B. Garrison, who came in 1859. The first sermon preached in Osborn was delivered in the railroad depot by Rev. Jesse Bird, of the M. E. Church, South, in 1860. The first flouring mill in the town was started in 1870 by Millbank & Cox. It was a steam power mill, furnished with two run of burrs. The first postmaster of Osborn was T. B. Harbor, appointed in 1859. The first railroad agent appointed for Osborn station was W. L. Ferguson, in 1858. Cattle were driven to this station for shipment from points as far south as Cass County.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Osborn, was organized in the fall of 1867, by Rev. J. Henley, who died in Breckenridge, in 1881.
The second church organized in Osborn was the First Presbyterian. This was effected June 6, 1868, by Rev. E. B. Sherwood, William E. Loring, Sidney J. Brownson, T. J. Edie, Mrs. Nancy Edie, by letter, they them-
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selves not being present; Mrs. Harriet W. Higgins, Miss Carrie W. Hig- gins, Mrs. Alice A. Loring. William E. Loring was, by ballot, chosen elder, and Rev. C. W. Higgins, acting pastor, was appointed clerk. The first minister was Rev. C. W. Higgins, of New York.
The Missionary Baptist Church of Osborn was organized by Elder Robert Livingston, Dec. 1, 1870, with the following members: Joseph Truex and wife, C. Hoffman and wife, Mrs. A. Peach, Silas H. Murray and wife, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas L. Brown and wife, Emery Sheak and wife, Mrs. J. L. Chapman and L. Toby. The first minister of the con- gregation was Rev. Robert Livingston, who organized the church.
The first Sunday school organized in Osborn was in 1867. It was a union school, held at the residence of Abel Lee. The superintendent, at the period of its organization, was N. J. Harvey. The assistant teachers were Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Charles McPherson, Miss Fanny Howard and Mrs. Abel Lee. The Sunday school was a success.
The first to teach a school in the town was Miss Sally Hitt, in 1859.
Turney is a town of 212 population on the line of the Burlington Rail- road. It is in Lathrop Township, five miles due north of the town of Lathrop, and includes in its site the east half of Section 25, Township 56, Range 31, its northern limits extending to the line of Shoal Township. It was laid out in 1869, when the first house in the place was erected by William H. Moore. This combined a store house and dwelling. James Murdock was the first to sell goods in the village. The first railroad sta- tion agent in Turney was Hugh Sturdy, and the first appointed postmaster Ben Byers. E. Dudley, in 1870, built in the place the first hotel, and a grain elevator, which he subsequently moved to Lathrop. He also at one time kept the railroad station. The first church built in the village was the M. E. South. Rev. Mr. Grimes was its first pastor. In the following year the Methodist Episcopal Church erected an edifice of similar dimen- sions and corresponding cost. Rev. William Hanley was the first minister in charge.
Grayson has a population of 121 and is located in the northern part of Hardin Township, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. The town was laid out in 1871, on land formerly owned by H. B. Baker. The town was called Grayson after Mrs. Baker, whose maiden name was Gray- son. The first business house was that of Eaton & Baker, succeeded by Mr. Jacobs.
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Perrin, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, located in Platte Township, is an old town, having been established in 1873. It has a population of 155.
Converse, located in Jackson Township, on the Burlington Railroad, has a population of 73. It has been a lively trading and shipping point for many years.
Hemple, located in the northwest part of this county, in Lafayette Township, on the Burlington Railroad, is another town well worthy of mention. It has a population of 132.
There are a number of other villages and railroad stations in the county, making shipping and trading easily accessible to every part of the county.
CHAPTER VII.
CHURCHES.
RURAL CHURCH LIFE-LARGE RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS-PLATTSBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH-PLATTSBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH-SAINT ANN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-LATHROP CHRISTIAN CHURCH-WALNUT GROVE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN-EBENEZER CHURCH-OLD ROUND PRAIRIE CHURCH-METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Rural Church Life .- The steady decadence of the rural churches all over the land is known and felt as a real fact in Clinton County, and is one of the lamentable occurrences of the last 15 or 20 years.
There were many churches over the county, often ministered to by some of the most eminent men of the state. These churches perhaps were at their zenith 30 to 40 years ago. The arrangement was generally quarter time work; preachers living at a distance would come out into the neighborhood on Saturday evening, hold a well attended service that night, and on the following day, morning and evening. "Preaching Sunday" at that church was the local event of the month, and if weather and roads were favorable, the whole country side would turn out, coming from across country from other neighborhoods whose "preaching Sunday" didn't hap- pen to conflict. Indeed, in employing a minister and arranging the day, the utmost courtesy was manifested toward nearby churches so as to have preaching fairly distributed during the year.
Visits were dated for that day or the part remaining after the service was over, and many a home has had from 20 to 30 guests on that day, and a proportionate number of horses in the barn. Sunday school was often dispensed with on that day on account of extra work in the homes for guests either expected or presumed to appear. The churches were full, morning and evening; hitching room was often a problem, as well as seating room. Life-long friendships were made and fostered in the shadow
(8)
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of the country meeting house, and the mating of the young people was often another happy contingent, and the laying of the new hearthstone, fraught with sweet memories of the sacred hours when the minister held sway, was the promise of home ties faithfully kept.
Nearly every church had its annual "big meeting," as the protracted meeting was often called, and summer, fall or perhaps cold winter weather would be the time. It was the event of that locality for the year, and would last two or three weeks, preaching night and morning every day, and the same co-operation and cross-country visiting would take place, making large crowds of men, women and children. It was often the occa- sion of what we now call "house parties," several young people gathering at one place for part or all of the session, to jog over to the church in the family horse-drawn conveyances of the time, or provided for otherwise by the gallant young men of the neighborhood, who always learned of the gathering of the young ladies.
Evening meeting was generally set for "early candle lighting," long after candles gave way to kerosene lamps. Musical instruments were extremely rare, the tuning fork very common, and many more people sang by the note system, so the singing school was a necessity. Baptising was done in creeks and ponds.
Under the subject of the lighting systems of churches, this is what happened at Lebanon Baptist Church, in LaFayette Township, when it was locally alluded to as "The Brick," some 35 or more years ago. The spirit of progress was alive with this little congregation, and the subject of a new article of furniture was under discussion at the church meeting. Everybody was invited to express an opinion upon the advisability or non-advisability of installing a chandelier. William ("Billy") Mayse known for his devotion and constant attendance, rose very deliberately, and with utmost diplomacy said: "Brethren and sisters, I have been a member of this church for many years, and have always been for any- thing that was for the good of the church, and I am not objecting to a chandelier, but if we were to get it, I have my doubts if there is a lady in the house could play on it."
A great deal has been written and spoken presumably to unravel the rural church problem, but its status does not return to that of the preced- ing generation. Concentration of land ownership, and young people leav- ing the farms, may probably partly explain. But this we know, the largest crowds, with deepest interest in rural church life, was when we
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had the least equipment, the poorest roads, and the slowest modes of travel. And even then attendance was shifting from one church to an- other following preaching service, and less responsibility felt for people and conditions outside the immediate vicinity.
Large Religious Gatherings .- It was often said of country people that we went to church to see people and to visit in the old days. No doubt much of it is true, for man is a social being, but it is also true that oftentimes a rich spiritual experience, a lesson learned, a prayer followed, or a hymn sung, mean much more to us from the presence of others whose lives are attuned to such measures, and whose hearts never fail to respond.
There used to be camp meetings at "Morrow's Chapel," which was a Methodist Episcopal Church southwest of Perrin-the church organiza- tion later built a church at Perrin. But the greatest camp meeting ever known in the county was the Sam Jones camp meeting at the Mineral Springs in 1882, when thousands of people gathered every day to hear this wonderful man from Georgia, famed for his boldness in fighting sin, his plain speech, irresistable humor, and scathing sarcasm, fascinating oratory were intensely human and convincing. He came two seasons for the camp meeting, and 24 years later he came to speak at the first annual chautauqua assembly, Aug. 27, 1906. His labors ended Oct. 15, 1906, but his impress upon the life of Clinton County lives on.
S. M. Martin meetings was also in this direction. A large tent was erected upon the lots owned by J. M. Clay, on Broadway, Plattsburg. People came for miles in their horse-drawn conveyances and packed the tent to its utmost capacity. The result was that 200 converts, many of whom continued devout until death, or surviving, are active, reliant church people. Rev. Martin was called again, and a tent erected on the public school ground.
During the Lincoln McConnell meetings a large tabernacle was built just in front of the Presbyterian Church the fall of 1907 and drew from a large territory, people of every religion and no religion, to hear him preach. His style was simliar to that of Sam Jones.
Plattsburg Christian Church .- Perhaps the very first Christian preacher to live in the vicinity of Plattsburg, and to preach to the people, was Elder John Hill, of Kentucky, who came here Nov. 5, 1842. His home was what is now known as the Baker place, five miles north of Plattsburg, and he preached in homes round about, and being also a carpenter, he supervised the building of Old Log Church.
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Elder Duke Young, of Filmore, Andrew County, was a visiting minis- ter who organized the church of about 25 members, at Plattsburg, in 1843 or 1844. The early meetings of the church were held in the Court House. Among the first members were the Biggerstaff brothers, the Youngs, the Clays, Porter, Paynes, Hills, and of all these families, except the latter, there are still representatives who are members of this church. It was with the labors of Duke Young, S. S. Trice, and itinerant ministrations of others, that this body held together without a house of worship until 1857. July 6, 1847, the congregation bought from James E. Hughes, the lot, corner of Second and Locust streets, one block west of the Court House square. A plain, substantial brick, costing $4,000, was built that year. Early officers of the church were Charles Young, Wilson Bigger- staff, Joseph B. Biggerstaff, and J. M. Clay. Miss M. Lucille Payne, first state secretary of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, was a mem- ber of this church and organized its Auxiliary Society, which, under an- other name and other mode of operation, still flourishes. The old house was outgrown, sold, and has since been torn down. A new one, costing $18,000, was built, with a seating capacity of 600. For several years the church has maintained a missionary in China, Mrs. Ethel Haskell, formerly Miss Ethel Plunkett, a teacher in Plattsburg public schools.
George T. Winn is the oldest member of the board in point of service, having been an officer since 1891. Mrs. Mattie Riley alone remains of all the congregation of the time of her reception into it. Mrs. Rosanna Hill, St. Joseph, Mo., 94 years of age, baptised by Duke Young, 1844, is the only living charter member. The church bought a parsonage on Clay avenue; it is occupied by Rev. Burkhardt and family.
Pastors from the beginning to 1922 are given here, as nearly in order as could be furnished: Duke Young, 1842; S. S. Trice, Dr. W. D. Jourdan, Preston Aker, J. J. Wyatt, J. W. Cox, T. J. Williamson, W. C. Rogers, Elder Rice, Allen Wright, T. M. Allen; G. W. Longan, 1872-1873; C. B. Edgar, 1877 to 1879; G. W. Longan, 1879-1883; J. W. Perkins, 1883-1885; J. C. Creel, 1885-1888; G. W. Terrell, 1888-1893; R. S. Fife, 1893-1895; T. H. Capp, 1895-1902; B. F. Hill, 1902-1904; J. P. Pinkerton, 1904-1911; L. H. Otto, 1911-1912; J. W. Smith, 1912-1916; J. A. Denton, 1916; Carl Burkhardt, 1917-
In this connection may it also be stated that J. W. Perkins, who came in 1883, lived on until his death at Plattsburg, and J. C. Creel, who came in 1885, is still living there. It was the home of W. F. Parker also,
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and of Dr. J. W. Ellis for many years, and all of them have lent their invaluable support to the work of this body and over the county. James C. Creel is dean of Christian ministers of Clinton County.
In the latter eighties there were seven Christian ministers living in Plattsburg at one time. They were T. H. Capp, - - Ammons, J. W. Ellis, J. C. Creel, J. W. Perkins, W. F. Parker, R. C. Watson.
Others of early days, called for special meetings, some known nation- ally, and all entered into their final rest, were Moses E. Lard, Jacob Creath, G. R. Hand and A. H. F. Payne; later meetings were held by S. M. Collins, Simpson Ely, J. S. L. Romig, and H. A. Northcutt. The first wedding to take place in the new church was that of Margaret McPhetridge and W. S. Herndon.
In "Dawn of the Reformation" (in Missouri), by T. P. Haley, 1888, one of the grand old preachers who passed away within the last decade, he has this to say in his sketch of Plattsburg Church: "The preachers' home in Plattsburg has always been with Uncle Joe and Aunt Mary Big- gerstaff. It is doubtful whether or not any preacher has visited Platts- burg in the last 30 years who has not shared their hospitality." Miss Sallie Alexander their niece, still lives there, and keeps alive the spirit of the home as manifested in all good works.
Plattsburgh Methodist Episcopal Church, South .- As early as 1838 Plattsburg Circuit appears on the list of the Missouri Conference appoint- ments. Preaching was held, as the new circuit had 203 white members and one colored, and it was called the Lexington District. In 1839 it appears as Richmond District, with W. W. Redman as presiding elder, and William G. Caples as pastor, Plattsburg Circuit. Rev. Caples was killed in the Civil War by a Confederate cannon ball, in 1864. In 1840 Thomas D. Clanton was pastor of Plattsburg Circuit. In 1841 Edwin Robinson was pastor, and was murdered by soldiers for no other reason that that he was a Southern Methodist Episcopal preacher. In 1842 John Thompson Peery was circuit pastor.
Preaching had been maintained here previously, but the organiza- tion was completed in 1841 and consisted of four women, Mrs. Hannah McMichael, Mrs. Israel Jones, Mrs. Isabelle Palmer, Mrs. Barbara Palmer, and the meeting place was at the hotel of Thomas Palmer's, or the Court House. In 1843 the district changed to Weston, with W. W. Redman, elder, and boundary extended to Iowa line. J. A. Tutt appointed to Platts- burg circuit. In 1844 T. W. Chandler was appointed presiding elder, and
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W. M. Rush pastor of the circuit. In 1844 was the year the Methodist Church in America was divided North and South by the General Con- ference. The Missouri Conference went South. In 1845 Joseph Devlin's first Missouri appointment was this circuit. He was pastor at Plattsburg three different times. During the first pastorate of Joseph Devlin, a log church was built, and during his second pastorate the brick on Maple street, now owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church, was built. In 1847 came Alexander Best as pastor; 1848, P. N. Hufft; 1849, Edwin Rob- inson sent back second time; 1850, J. W. Ellis; 1851, M. R. Jones. The year 1851 was an important era, for W. G. Caples, presiding elder, con- ceived the idea of building a district school in each presiding elder's dis- trict, a high school preparatory to Central College at Fayette. The place raising the largest sum of money to have the school. Plattsburg and Weston almost tied and it was decided to build one at each place, which was done.
At a cost of $17,000, the Plattsburg school was launched, and manned by the best men that could be secured. The old building stands out there on the Chautauqua grounds, a silent witness to the faith of our fathers. J. S. Todd came in 1852; in 1853, William Bradford and Thomas Hunt ; 1855, M. R. Jones and L. Rush; 1856, R. H. Jordan and W. A. Tarwater. In 1858 the district appears as St. Joseph District; Joseph Devlin and James E. Bryan were circuit preachers, and Jesse Bird's name appears as head of the school. In 1859, district again was called by the name of Weston, with Jesse Bird as presiding elder, and agent for Plattsburg High School. In 1860 W. Perkins and T. F. C. James were circuit preachers ; 1861, John Stone was pastor; 1862, no minutes, on account of Civil War; 1863, called St. Joseph District, M. R. Jones presiding elder, and W. A. Tarwater circuit preacher; 1864, pastor Daniel Penny; 1865, W. M. Rush pastor for second time, with H. H. Hedgepeth as presiding elder; 1868, district name changed to Plattsburg and so continued to 1915; 1868, Jesse Bird presiding elder, and D. R. Shackleford pastor; 1869, D. R. Shackle- ford pastor, with S. W. Cope presiding elder. In 1870 C. Babcock was pastor; 1871, Joseph Devlin returned for the third time, Ebenezer Church was built; 1873, W. E. Dockery was presiding elder, and J. C. Davis pastor; 1874, J. S. Hyder; 1875, name of charge appears as Plattsburg and Mt. Moriah, with S. V. Bayley as pastor; 1876, Dr. W. H. Lewis, with C. I. Vandeventer presiding elder; 1878, W. S. Hanna, pastor; 1881, M. B.
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