USA > Missouri > Gentry County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 21
USA > Missouri > Daviess County > History of Daviess and Gentry counties, Missouri > Part 21
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The Wabash railroad shops are located here and employ about 150 men. This point is also a freight division and many railroad men make this their headquarters.
The city has three banks, The Farmers and Merchants Bank, The Commercial Bank, and The Gentry Trust Company, and all are strong financial institutions.
The business of Stanberry is carried by five grocery stores, three dry goods stores, three clothing stores, three drug stores, two hardware stores, two hotels, and three restaurants, the Commercial Cable Manu-
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facturing Company, with several traveling salesmen, one elevator, and one meal and feed mill.
Wm. F. Sager is mayor; C. A. Greenlee, City Clerk, Seth M. Hink- ley, City Treasurer. With board of eight aldermen.
The Chamber of Commerce of Stanberry was organized May 4th, 1921. This organization succeeds the Commercial Club, which usually had about 40 members. The Chamber of Commerce already has 80 members. A board of eight directors with the following officers: Vic- tor Field, president; Cleo Gregg, vice-president; A. E. Tibbetts, treas- urer; F. A. Flader, secretary.
This body continues and enlarges upon the aims and efforts of the old club and its zeal is already manifest in good roads, park improve- ment and community welfare. All roads leading into the city have been given special attention. Seven miles of gravel road have already been built, which is one of the finest stretches of road in the state.
One of their achievements is a three acre free auto camping ground, located one block off the Jefferson Highway. There is natural shade, and city water is already in service. Ovens are provided for cooking and fuel is at hand. A double bath room and lavoratories are promised. All manner of tourists avail themselves and enjoy this open air hos- pitality.
The band is another success, greatly aided and encouraged by the Chamber of Commerce in engaging the full time of an instructor and paying the cost of lessons for every boy who can own an instrument. The band gives a free park concert every week during the season. For- est Park, fronting the business district, is the pride of the city, and justly so with its carpet of blue grass and splendid shade trees in variety.
Stanberry has one of the fine high schools of Northwest Missouri, with 135 pupils. The graded school is also of like high order and has an enrollment of 330 pupils.
Fraternities are organized and often become permanent elements in the general advance. Societies are formed with special aims, pursue their ways, attain their purposes, and in time yield to other unions with other aims. In all these Stanberry has had, and still has a fair share. The leading fratenities are : Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons Lodge N. 109, with nearly 200 members; Eastern Star Chapter; Independent Order of Odd Fellows with nearly 100 members; Daughters of Re- bekah; Knights of Pythias Lodge; Rathbone Sisters ; Modern Woodmen of America, and Woodmen of the World.
Fraternities in common with all things temporal suffer their ups and
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downs. But the present standing of Stanberry's various orders is satis- factory evidence of the desire for mutual and reciprocal fellowship among her citizens. Each citizen, both men and women, find the place and the opportunity to manifest a personal interest in community wel- fare, and in social enlargment.
In the various activities called into being by the World War, and which are properly treated as history belonging to the county as a whole -Stanberry had a worthy part. The city went over the top in the Y. M. C. A. drive, in the Red Cross work, and in the placing of United States securities up to the war's end.
Just out of Stanberry to the east, is the old home of the famous pio- neer pure blood stockman, L. E. Shattuck, and his unrivaled Merino sheep, more fully set forth in the chapter on agriculture ..
The Baptists erected their house of worship in 1880, and until June, 1882, it was the only house of worship in the town. The church was organized with the following and other members: James Stockton and wife, T. J. Stockton, Jr., and wife, Christian Buchanan, Daniel Allen and wife, Levi Long and wife, G. B. Cooper and wife, Oliver Long and wife, Thomas H. Swearingen, wife and two sons, O. Swearingen and wife, P. W. Stockton and wife. The first pastor was Israel Christy.
The M. E. Church effected its organization in April, 1880, with the following members: A. D. Hawes and wife, Solomon Hartzell and wife, M. A. Dunseth and wife, Dr. B. N. Bond and wife, J. C. Millory and wife, Jacob Burris and wife, O. P. Kutzner and wife, Mrs. N. A. Morris, Miss Lizzie Morris. Rev. J. R. Sassen was present at the organization of the church, and was the first pastor.
The Presbyterians perfected an organization in the winter of 1880. Among others on that occasion were Mrs. A. P. Ambrose, A. R. Fye, L. A. Kimball, W. F. Miller and wife, and C. F. Gardner.
The Christian Church was organized in 1880, with 61 members, now disbanded. The first preacher who labored for the congregation at this place was Elder J. H. Coffey.
The Catholics erected a house of worship in 1880. Rev. Robert E. Graham is the present pastor.
King City-King City, near the south line of the county on the Bur- lington railroad is one of the three cities of the county, and notable above its fellows for at least three things : blue grass seed, pure bred seed corn, and poultry products. It has a Commercial Club of which F. A. Hobson is president and T. H. McElroy is secretary. It has two newspapers, The King City Chronicle and The Tri-County News. It has an American
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Legion Post. It has a first class high school. It has four churches, each in its own home of brick, the Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Christian. It has three banks, with aggregate capital and surplus of nearly a quarter million dollars, First National Bank and Trust Com- pany, Citizens National Bank, and Farmers Trust Company. It takes nearly forty business houses to handle the city's activity.
King City is one of the greatest centers for the collection and dis- tribution of blue grass seed in the nation. This industry brings much outside business to the county, and carries with it a considerable trade in other seeds as well. A large number of our farmers participate.
It is also true of poultry and dairy products, that a large volume of business originates here. Everything is favorable. The climate is ideal for poultry, and the conditions are splendid for the dairy man. The pro- duction is high, and the enterprise of King City, both wholesale and retail sees to it that the business shall center there. King City enjoys the reputation of making things agreeable for business transactions.
As might be expected, the usual orders, fraternities, and social groups, flourish in King City. A fine public spirit prevails, and benevo- lence is an active virtue.
The churches are earnest in purpose, and faithful in performance. Each in its own sphere doing a worthy share of the work that delivers the world from evil. The Presbyterian Church of King City, is the largest of the denomination in the county. Dr. E. E. Stringfield is pas- tor. They have six elders and five decon-trustees, and a membership of 284. The congregation is finely organized for Sabbath School work. young people's work and missionary work. In 1868 the Cumberland Church was organized in King City. The first pastor was P. H. Crider, In 1872 the Presbyterian U. S. A. was organized. The first pastor, J. W. Morrison. In July 1906, the two churches were united, both pastors resigning. Rev. Geo. E. Newell became the first pastor of the United Church.
Their present commodious $18,000.00 church home was dedicated June 14th, 1914.
Jefferson Highway passes through the city, and Jackson Township has voted $85,000.00 bonds for road improvement.
King City was laid out in July, 1869, and plat filed November 1, 1869, by John Pittsenbarger, on section 32, township 61. range 32.
Kate Carter's first Addition made October 14. 1879 ; Kate Carter's Second Addition made June 7, 1880; Trotter's Addition made April 19, 1880.
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Closely identified with the history of King City, is the old pioneer, John Pittsenbarger. He pitched his tent upon the original town site, in the spring of 1856, emigrating from Clinton County, Indiana. He pur- chased the quarter section upon which the town is located. John Millen lived five miles north, Joel Taylor six miles south, and John McDaniel three miles west. These were his nearest neighbors. In 1858, a post office was applied for, and the name "Petersburg" was chosen, but Post- master General King replied that there was another name similar to that in the state, and the matter of selecting a name being left with him, he called it King City, after himself. Mr. Pittsenbarger was the first post- master. At that time there were but a few persons to receive mail, the country surrounding being six or seven feet high in wild grass and abounding in wild game.
Pittsenbarger was the first blacksmith, A G. Barton, first saddler, J. N. Taylor, first livery stable keeper, and Bela M. Hughes kept the first drug store and was the first physician.
The next settler to build a house where the town now stands was James McDaniel, who came from DeKalb County, Missouri, in 1859. He built a small house for a grocery store. McDaniel went to Indiana dur- ing the war. The third building was erected by Abner Clark, from Iowa, about the year 1860-general merchandise. Clark was in the Union army, and settled in Ohio after the war.
Brett and Bundle were among the early settlers of the place, and put up a house for groceries. Bundle afterwards went to St. Joseph, and Brett was killed about 1866. Brett kept in connection with his grocery, a house of entertainment. About noon one day, during 1866, three strange, rough-looking men, from Grand River, stopped for dinner, and while eating one of them remarked that Brett was no better than a horse thief. An orphan boy that Brett was raising was in the dining room at the time, and hearing what the stranger said, went immediately and repeated it to Brett, who took his revolver and requested the stran- ger (Cogdell was his name) to take it back or apologize. Codgell at once drew his revolver, and both commenced discharging their weapons, Brett being finally killed and Cogdell having his finger shot off.
King City made but little, if any, advancement until the fall of 1879 and the spring of 1880, just after the completion of the St. Joseph and Des Moines Railroad. The building of this road gave the town a new impetus, and it has been steadily increasing in population and importance ever since.
King City was incorporated in May, 1881, under the village act, with G. P. Bigelow as president of the board, the names of the remainder
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or the board being W. H. Alexander, C. P. Stowe, M. E. Brown, and James McCarty. E. C. Shepard, Clerk; W. J. Woodside, marshal; George Ward, treasurer.
Gentryville .- Gentryville, the largest town in the county without a railroad was laid out August 2, 1848, on the southwest quarter of section 36, township 62, range 31, by Charles Gay. About the same time, Rob- ert Givauden filed his plat of an addition to the town.
Whedbee filed his plat of an addition, February 6, 1872.
Taylor filed his plat of an addition, February 17, 1874.
Crane filed his plat of his first addition, January 1, 1870.
Crane filed his plat of second addition, February 26, 1872.
Frisbie filed his plat of an addition, March 20, 1871.
The town is handsomely located on the south bank of Grand River, upon an elevation gently rising towards the east and south. The river, at this point, after flowing in a westward direction by the principal busi- ness portion of the town, makes an abrupt turn to the south, continuing on its course for several hundred yards, when it again deflects in a south- westward direction. The river is from 60 to 100 feet in width and abounds in a variety of fishes. Its banks are still covered with much of the native forest, whose quiet and cooling shades are enjoyed by the inhabitants of the little town. Gentryville has a population of 200.
William Weese, from Tennessee, built the first house, a log cabin, about the year 1838, on the original town site. The next building was erected by Gay and Hunter, and the third building was put up by Robert Boggs, a carpenter, who came from Pennsylvania, among the early set- tlers. Boggs, from 1856 to 1862, was one of the county judges of Gen- try County ; he moved to St. Joseph, Mo., in 1864. He was a nephew of Governor Boggs, of Missouri. The first business house was erected by Francis B. Robidoux, in 1843. Robidoux, was the son of Joseph Robi- doux, of St. Joseph ; he dealt in general merchandise and was succeeded by another Frenchman.
John Hunt, from Kentucky, was the early "village blacksmith," the Rev. E. W. Dunegan being the next, in 1848.
The first minister who proclaimed the word of God in the new set- tlement was Reverend Melise, of the M. E. Church; this was about the year 1841-services being held at the residence of a man named Milton Foster.
The pioneer physician of the town was Dr. Uncle, from Jackson County, Missouri, who located there in 1842. After remaining one or
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two years he went to California. Dr. L. C. Whedbee came in 1844, and resided in Gentryville till 1858, when he moved to Texas.
The Rev. Mr. Cline, from Buchanan County, Missouri, organized the first church (Baptist) in Gentryville, Oct. 26, 1850, at the school house. Among those who were present at its formation were I. N. Car- son, O. B. Ferguson, Elder T. R. Ferguson, James Fuller, N. Mothersead and E. W. Dunegan.
T. R. Ferguson was the first pastor, and was succeeded by Elder Benjamin Wheeler, Isaac Christie, N. M. Allen, E. W. Dunegan and others. Elder Dunegan has labored more or less in the pulpit of this church.
A house of worship was built by the Missionary Baptists in 1857.
The M. E. Church, M. E. Church, South, and Christian denomina- tions each have an organization.
Elder Samuel Trice, from Clinton County, Missouri, was one of the earliest ministers of the Christian denomination at Gentryville, Hiram Warnier being the first.
The first school was taught in 1849 by A. G. Whitton, who was succeeded by David Cranor.
L. C. Whedbee kept the first hotel.
Gentryville Lodge, No. 125, of A. F. & A. M., was organized in November, 1849, and worked for a while under dispensation from the Grand Lodge till it obtained a charter, in 1851. It is the oldest lodge in Gentry County, and, indeed, in the Grand River country. From it has been organized, in part, the following lodges: Athens Lodge, of this county; Bethany Lodge, Harrison County; Rochester Lodge, An- drew County; Pattonsburg Lodge, Daviess County; Maysville Lodge, DeKalb County; Havana Lodge, Gentry County, and Berlin Lodge, Gentry County. The first officers were as follows: N. P. Thompson, W. M .; D. C. Conway, S. W .; William Raines, J. W .; J. R. Conway, S. D .; W. A. Blackwood, J. D .; John Hunt, Tyler.
Although not a national or state holiday, the 3rd of August is as well established and as highly regarded as the 4th of July. For over forty years it has been the date of the Annual County Picnic at Gentry- ville.
In 1889 after years of experience, articles of incorporation were granted to the Gentryville Picnic Company.
McFall-McFall was laid out by the Western Improvement Com- pany in the fall of 1879, the plat of the town being filed on the 8th of October. It is located on the southeast quarter of section 1, township
ยท
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61, range 30, on the Wabash Railroad. Hamilton & Phillips, of Beth- any, Harrison County, Missouri, built the first house in the town. F. M. Brown, from Daviess County, Missouri, furnished the lumber, having at that time just established himself in the lumber business at McFall. Several buildings were commenced at or about the same time. Among these was an office built by Mr. Brown.
The town of McFall received its name from John McFall, Sr., who owned the land, where this town is located. He settled here about 1843 and later went to Phoenix, Arizona, where he died in 1893.
McFall is a thriving town of 447 population. All business found in the average town is here represented. The town is noted for its good schools and its progressive and enterprising spirit of its citizens.
Ford City .- Ford City is located on the Burlington railroad in Jackson Township. It has a bank and a number of enterprising busi- ness houses. The population is 185.
Alanthus .- Alanthus is located in Wilson Township and has a pop- ulation of 104. The nearest railroad is the Wabash at Stanberry, about six miles distant.
Island City .- Island City, another inland village is located in Jack- son Township, about six miles south and a little west of Stanberry. It is about the same distance northwest of Ford City.
Darlington .- Charles G. Comstock, Esq., filed the plat of Darling- ton, March 31, 1879, locating the town site on section four, township 62, range 31. A. H. Bennett laid the foundation for the first residence in the town. John Livingston built the next house in April, 1879 which was used for a restaurant. Horace J. Bennett was the first black- smith, and George B. Marshall was the first shoemaker. John Living- ston sold the first goods. T. J. Welford was the first doctor.
Darlington is located at the intersection of the Wabash and Bur- lington railroads and has a population of 311, census of 1920. It is an important shipping and trading point.
Berlin .- On May 1, 1874, Samuel Robertson filed the plat of Ber- lin, locating the town on the southeast quarter of section 26, township 61, range 31. Peter Cline, who had been in business (general merchan- dise) at Buhlville, as soon as the new town of Berlin was founded, moved his goods and house to that place and opened the first business house in Berlin. Samuel Levy and others soon followed. Berlin is located in the midst of a fine farming country, one mile north of the DeKalb County line. The population is 69.
Gentry .- The town of Gentry is located on the Burlington railroad, on sections 19 and 20, Bogle Township. It is a progressive town located
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in the center of a rich agricultural district and has a population of 217.
Evona .- Evona is located on the Wabash railroad three and one half miles south of Albany. In the early days when the Wabash rail- road was built, this was a town of more importance, but now its busi- ness interest is represented by one store. The town was laid out in 1879. The first house was built by Richard L. Smith and used for a hotel. Baker and Hatfield, Barton and Hamilton and William Donil- son were early merchants here.
A number of other small towns in the county have ceased to be of any importance.
CHAPTER XI.
AGRICULTURE AND ALLIED INDUSTRY.
FAVORABLE SOIL AND CLIMATE-DIVERSITY OF PRODUCTS-CORN EXHIBITS-POUL- TRY SHOW-COMPARISON OF 1902 CROP-LIVE STOCK AND OTHER PRODUCTS- DOMESTIC ANIMALS-WORLD'S FAIR WINNERS-STOCK BREEDERS-POULTRY EXPERTS-FINE GRASSES - CALF AND PIG SIIOW - HORSES - "IF GENTRY COUNTY WERE MY NATIVE LAND."
Nature in a large measure decrees what the majority pursuits of the population shall be. The physical features are of lasting impor- tance. Gentry County is fortunate in its diversity of surface and nat- ural features, not all prairie, not all timber, not all level or gently undu- lating, not all broken and hilly. It is historically asserted that the Gar- den of Eden might have been located in Harrison County. It is to be re- gretted that it was not so located, since our first parents, upon their exile, following the Star of Empire in its westward course would have found themselves immediately in Gentry County.
The soil and climate, in garden, orchard and farm, produce a mul- titude of things that delight the housewife, sustain the workers, and add to the pleasure and comfort of all ages and conditions and in many articles the surplus becomes a staple commodity of commerce. As a land of milk and honey, Gentry County qualified from the earliest times. It is far more. It is a land of apples, pears and peaches ; a land of cherries and small fruits; a land of kitchen gardens; a land of rhubarb, horse radish, and piccalilli. There is scarcely any limit except the will of the gardener and the good pleasure of the cook, scarcely any break in the round of production of things pleasing to the eye, and de- licious to the palate. Parsnips are ready the minute the frost is out. Lettuce and young onions follow. Then comes the pieplant. Green peas are early. New potatoes and cream compete with young beets and butter. Strawberries are earliest of fruits, then the beans and early sweet corn. Tomatoes help to fill out the summer; apple sauce ditto. The autumn brings squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkins. Vary these
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with milk, cream, butter, fresh eggs and young fries, buckwheat cakes and honey. This is "good old summer time" in Gentry County.
We here present a complete report of the Gentry County Corn and Poultry Show for 1921. From the Albany Ledger of November 24, 1921. "Exhibitors and visitors alike at the Gentry Country Corn and Poultry Show held in Albany last week unite in declaring it to be the biggest and best exhibition yet given by the association. Especially was the display of poultry a surprise to the average visitor, as few of them realized birds of the quality shown are being raised in this county. The show was so successful that doubtless greater efforts will be put into future ones and have them bigger and better than the one this year.
"In the corn judging contests by pupils of the public schools of the county and some high schools in adjoining county interest was shown. In the high school contests, Bethany, Maysville, New Hampton and Albany were each represented by two teams of four members. In the corn judging, Bethany carried off first honors, and in the stock judging Albany won first place. The grades of all teams ran close. Saturday was rural school day, and thirty-seven boys representing the various schools of the county were present to judge. Gentry County carried off first prize.
"In the corn exhibits the following prizes were awarded: Boy's and Girls' Classes .- Best single white ear-1st, Clayton Saunders, Al- bany; 2d, Homer Williams, Albany. Best single ear yellow corn-1st, Marshall Collier, Ford City; 2d, Carlos Spaht, Albany. Sweepstakes, single-Marshall Colllier. Best 10 ears of white corn-1st, Clayton Saunders; 2d, Homer Williams; 3d, Wayne Rainy, King City; '4th, Frank Morris, Lone Star; 5th Curtis Broderick, Stanberry. Best 10 ears yellow corn-1st, Roy Barnes, Albany; 2d, Glen Allenbrand, Dar- lington ; 3d, Cleo Blodgett, Albany ; 4th, Carlos Spaht; 5th, Will Welch, Albany. Sweepstakes 10 ears-Clayton Saunders. Sweepstakes single ear-Marshall Collier.
"Men's Classes .- Best single ear white corn-1st, Clayton Saun- ders; 2d, Wayne Rainy. Best single ear yellow corn-1st, H. R. Collier, Ford City; 2d, Billy Johnson, Darlington. Sweepstakes single ear- Clayton Saunders. Best 10 ears yellow corn-1st, E. N. Clark, Darling- ton ; 2d, Ross Allenbrand, Albany; 3d, Billy Johnson; 4th, Jesse John- son ; 5th, J. W. Blodgett. Best 10 ears white corn-1st, Clayton Saun- ders; 2d, Wayne Rainey; 3d, E. N. Clark; 4th, L. H. Williams; 5th, Jesse Johnson. Grand champion single ear-Marshall Collier. Grand champion 10 ears-Clayton Saunders.
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"The poultry exhibit was the largest ever on display at a local show in this county. The wire cooping in which 385 birds were placed was so arranged that it made an attractive and convenient exhibit for the large crowds that viewed the display during the day and evenings in which the hall was open to the public.
"Not only did the local people take an interest in the fine exhibit but there were visitors from every adjoining county and some from a greater distance.
"There were 34 exhibitors and 26 breeds of birds, as follows: Barred Plymouth Rocks-John Welch, Albany, 2nd pen ; 2nd on cock. W. L. Brown, King City, 1st pen; 1st cock, 1st, 2nd and 3rd cockerel; 1st, 2nd, 3rd pullet; 3rd hen. Mrs. A. L. Perry, Albany, 3rd on pen. Earl Summa, Gentry, 3rd cock; 1st, 2nd hen. Other exhibitors were J. W. Kerlin, Albany; Dewey Staton, Darlington; Paul and Leone Guess, Albany.
"White Rocks-Mrs. S. R. Giles, Albany, 1st, and 3rd cockerel; and 3rd hen. Mrs. O. C. Hankins, Albany, 2nd cockerel; 2nd pullet. Mrs. Carl Gillespie, Albany, 1st hen.
"Buff Orphingtons-W. C. Campbell, Grant City, 1st pen; 1st cockerel; 1st and 2nd pullet. Mrs. G. W. Lainhart, Albany, 3rd cock- erel. Mrs. H. A. Miller, Darlington, 3rd pullet.
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