USA > Missouri > Mercer County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 36
USA > Missouri > Harrison County > History of Harrison and Mercer Counties, Missouri : from the earliest times to the present : together with sundry personal, business, and professional sketches and family records : besides a condensed history of the State of Missouri, etc > Part 36
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Ridgeway Lodge, No. 377, 1. O. O. F., was instituted October 1, 1881, by Henry Cadle, D. D. G. M., with a membership of about twenty-five, the majority of whom had formerly belonged to Lorraine Lodge. A charter was granted May 19, 1882, under which the fol- lowing officers were elected: T. Hasty, N. G .; George Kirk, Sec .; C. F. Fransham, Permanent Sec .; J. V. Mills, V. G. ; and O. D. Wil- cox, Treas. February 16, 1887, the membership of Eagleville Lodge, No. 166, was transferred to Ridgeway, since which time the organi- zation has continued to grow in numbers and influence. The present
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membership is twenty-six. The officers are J. M. Peasley, N. G .; M. D. Shamblin, V. G .; George T. Kirk, Sec .; Jos. Yeater, Treas. ; Charles F. Fransham, Lodge Deputy.
Elwell Post, No. 140, G. A. R., was established on the 22d of January, 1884, with the following members: James T. Anderson, George W. Brewer, John S. Rarden, Frank Manore, L. M. Sellers, Eli Johnson, W. W. Stevens, Elia A. Cook, J. C. Hatton, Robert H. Drake, J. T. Hendren, James H. Goodwin, George W. Grant, Charles Fransham, Thomas P. Tharp, William Wilson, John E. Opdyke, Abraham Rake, William R. Parker, David Elliott, Abel B. Barnes, James Rake, William M. Stanley, John I. Israel, Thomas S. Stoner, Fred Gardner, Jefferson Sevier, Pleasant Case, William Dale, J. C. Behea, William H. Smith, Pleasant Wishon, Thomas E. Cole and Albert Reeves. J. E. Opdyke was First Commander, and L. M. Sellers First Senior Vice-Commander. Officers for 1887: J. T. Anderson, Com .; J. V. Miller, S. V. C .; William Dale, J. V. C .; J. C. Baker, Q. M .; Eli Johnson, Adjt .; Pleasant Case, Chap .; David Elliott, Q. M. S .; Jasper Hatton, O. D .; William Case, O. G. The present membership is twenty-five; not so strong as formerly.
Present Business of Ridgeway .- Coleman & Son, general stock; J. C. Baker, general stock; J. D. Onstadt, general merchandise; S. D. Rardin, general store; J. H. Goodwin, groceries; W. J. Coleman, Jr., groceries and hardware; Briggs & Reeves, hardware and harness; Jacob Redding, furniture and undertaker; A. P. Fowler, groceries and drugs; C. W. Robertson, drugs; John McKern, meat market; T. B. Chamberlain, confectionery; George Dunbill, restaurant and con- fectionery; Lizzie Wymore, millinery; H. Bennett, barber; Peasley & Heizer, wagon and carriage makers and blacksmiths; F. M. Hoyl- man, blacksmith; W. J. Prater, hotel, Central House; G. W. Max- well, livery stable; Miner & Frees, lumber yard; George T. Kirk, notary public and insurance agent; J. T. Anderson, notary public and justice of the peace; Mrs. C. W. Barnes, dressmaker; C. F. Fran- sham, dealer in live stock; J. C. Baker, stock dealer; Popp Brothers, painters; Fred Gardner and J. Redinger, carpenters, and W. Scott, shoemaker. Messrs. Opdyke & Campbell, in 1884, erected a steam mill for the manufacture of corn meal and chopped feed, and in 1885 William Matson built a large elevator, and engaged in the grain trade, which he still carries on. Messrs. Miner & Frees engaged in the banking business in 1884, and at this time have one of the most suc cessful banks in Harrison County.
There are two churches in the town-Methodist and Christian, appropriate sketches of which will be found on another page.
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
· Blythedale. - This is also a railroad town, situated in the northern part of the county, and dates its history from June, 1880. The land was originally owned by W. J. Nevill, and was purchased from him by an agent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Company for the purpose of establishing a station and starting a town. The town plat containing fifty-three and a half acres in Sections 34 and 35, Township 66, Range 27, was surveyed by A. B. Smith for C. E. Perkins, and shows seventeen blocks and the following streets: Main, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Broadway, Elm, Maple and Walnut, the last four running north and south and the other east and west. James Clark purchased a lot soon after the town was laid off, and, building a house, engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on for some time, subse- quently closing out and purchasing a stock of saddlery and harness. Aaron Saunders, in the fall of 1880, erected a hotel in the south part of town, which he opened under the name of the Blythedale House. After continuing the business two or three years he sold out to Joseph Carter, who subsequently enlarged the building and added other improvements, until it is now considered one of the best places of entertainment in the county.
The Elwood House was erected in 1881 or 1882 on the south side of the square by John Reeves, who, after running it a short time rented the building to Kemp Vorhis. It is not used for hotel purposes at this time. The Young Brothers, J. H. Miller and George M. Norris opened general stores shortly after the village was founded, and the firm of Wickersham, Woodward & Co. engaged in the drug business about the same time. Kirby & Young were in the drug business for some time, and saloons were started before the village was many years old by Wood & Bronson and Charles Lynch. Mr. Yonke and War- ren Graham were the first blacksmiths, and William Henry was the first railroad agent.
A postoffice was established soon after the town was started with W. J. Nevill as postmaster. In August, 1886, J. F. Zimmerman began the manufacture of Zimmerman's patent automatic trunk, and continued the business for one year.
Blythedale is admirably situated for a shipping and trading point, the beautiful prairie country immediately surrounding being one of the best agricultural and stock regions of Harrison County. The vil- lage has a population of about 250 or 300, and compares favorably with other towns of the county in the extent of its trade and the energy displayed by its business men. There are two good church
Yours Very Invaly Heaston
HARRISON COUNTY
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buildings, to wit: Presbyterian and Baptist, and the general appear- ance of the town bespeaks the presence of an intelligent and progres- sive class of citizens. The business of the village is represented at this time as follows: Young Brothers, large dry goods and general store; R. H. Grinstead, general store; Monroe Davis, hardware; Sherman Henry, groceries; Mr. Taylor, general stock; Mrs. Philip Young, millinery; Coon & Reeves, mill; A. Dennis and R. O. Baker, blacksmiths; Young Bros., lumber yard; William Walton, railroad agent.
There is an organization of the Grand Army in the town, Wil- son Stanley Post, No. 208. It was chartered September 22, 1884, with the following members: James Clark, C. J. White, Elzu- mer Scott, R. H. Grinstead, John Barber, Preston Sharp, Josiah Smith, Robert O. Baker, Charles Whittaker, Milton Israel, Charles Bender, Enoch Jones, C. M. Day, Thomas P. Brown, William Stew- art, John G. Reed, T. J. Carson and John H. Poynter. The first Commander was Preston Sharp. Present officers: John Barber, C .; Pleasant Wishon, S. V. C .; Alfred Hunt, J. V. C .; E. T. Leach, Q. M .; James B. Officer, Adjt .; Jonah Smith, O. G .; E. L. Scott, O. D., and Preston Sharp, Surgeon. Present membership, 35.
Martinsville, a small hamlet about ten miles northeast of Beth- any, in the central part of Dallas Township, was located in 1856 by one Willis Loy, who the following year had a plat of sixteen lots sur- veyed and recorded under the name of Middletown. Loy opened a small general store, and for some years carried on a fairly successful trade. James Reynolds started a blacksmith shop in 1856, and a little later Lewis Allen engaged in the mercantile business. There have been several parties in the goods business from time to time, besides a number of mechanics representing different trades and occupations. The town early became a good local trading point, but its business was never very extensive. In March, 1872, the village was resur- veyed for Ed. Baldwin, W. W. Jesse, W. B. Primer, W. S. Rucker, W. P. Bishop, George W. House and Solon Butler, proprietors, and named Martinsville. This was to distinguish it from an older village by the name of Middletown somewhere in Missouri. The town site is situated on the east half of the southeast quarter of the northwest quar- ter of Section 21, Township 64, Range 29, and eight blocks subdivided. into seventy-five lots. The streets are Commercial, Chestnut, Felix, Main, West and Second. .
The Masonic and Good Templar fraternities had flourishing lodges in the village at one time, and in 1870 the Christian denomina-
24
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
tion organized a church a short distance from the town. The Meth- odists and Presbyterians have a substantial house of worship in the town, and both denominations maintain well-organized societies. The first physician in the place was Dr. F. M. Winningham. Drs. A. P. Henderson, T. B. Ellis and J. K. Kidney practiced the healing art in the town at different times. The present physician is Dr. W. L. Rucker. The following is a register of the present business of Mar- tinsville: Taylor & Teener, general store; R. T. Anthony, general store; C. W. Baker, drugs; Oscar Lenier and T. W. Patterson, black- smiths; J. I. Solomon, wood workman; M. C. Matinger, dealer in furniture; C. Hughes, proprietor of the Martinsville. House. Popula- tion of the village is about 200.
Lorraine .- As stated in a previous chapter, the present location of the seat of justice caused much dissatisfaction among the citizens of Northern Harrison, and several attempts were made to effect a removal of the same to a point nearer the geographical center of the · county. With this object in view a number of citizens of Grant, Jef- ferson, Union and Marion Townships organized a town board, and securing the services of the county engineer located in May, 1874, a town about ten miles northeast of Bethany, to which they gave the name of Lorraine, expecting it to become the future county seat. The many advantages of the situation commended it to the people, and a strong effort was made to effect the removal, but without success. The history of the contest being fully given elsewhere, it need only be mentioned incidentally in this connection.
The village of Lorraine was laid out upon land donated by Jonah Brunton, and is situated on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 64, Range 28. The survey was made on the 26th and 27th days of May, of the above year, by Alexan- der McCollum, assisted by F. N. Burgin, T. J. Freeman, Hamilton Blackburn, John Blackburn, John Rakestraw, Solomon Wear, Henry Burgin and James Hopkins, and the plat as recorded shows eight blocks, seventy-five lots and seven streets, three of which, Main, Second and West, run north and south, and the other four, to-wit: Commercial, Chestnut, South and Felix, north and south. Block 4 was reserved for the county buildings, and a part of Block 8 was donated for church purposes.
The site occupies the crest of a beautiful elevation, and the sur- rounding country is justly considered one of the finest portions of Harrison County. Starting out upon its career under the most aus- picious circumstances, the village soon attracted business men, me-
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chanics and others, and within a comparatively short time quite a number of lots were sold and improved. The possibility of its becom- ing the seat of justice doubtless had a tendency to induce invest- ments, while its central location and advantages as a trading point were not the least of its attractions to those who first sought the town as a place in which to engage in business. About the time the town was located Elisha Puett erected a store building, and began dealing in merchandise, which he carried on for a period of a little over two years. He disposed of his stock in 1876 to Z. T. Rose and brother, a firm which lasted but a short time, Z. T. Rose finally purchasing the entire interest. A little later Mr. Rose effected a copartnership with G. H. Thomas, and under the firm name of Rose & Thomas they carried on a large business for about six and a half years, selling nearly as many goods in the meantime as any other store in the county. George Flint engaged in business about 1874 or 1875, and about the same time, or perhaps a little later, Amos Poynter opened a general store, which was subsequently purchased by M. Bennett. Mr. Bennett, after carrying the trade for a short time, effected a partnership with his son under the firm name of Bennett & Son, which lasted until their removal to Ridgeway, soon after the latter village was founded. Additional to the foregoing, the following men and firms carried on the general goods trade in the village at different times: J. A. Britton, Burgin, Matthews & Co., Miller & Bain, Bain & Son, Geo. W. Stobaugh, Mitchell Brothers, Bennett & King, Thomas E. S. Doss and John I. Smith, the last named being in business at the present time. The drug trade was represented at different times by the following men: McDougall & Winn, Trotter & Barnes, John Kearns and James Boyd. The first hardware store was kept by Hugh Van Hoosier, and the first hotel was erected in 1877, by William Frazee, who invested considerable capital in the building, which was a large two-story frame structure. It was subsequently kept by Jonas Drug, who acted in the capacity for a short time. An- other hotel was opened by one Thomas Tindall, whose business does not appear to have been very remunerative. Among the early mechan- ics of the town are remembered Alexander Milligan and John Mil- ler, blacksmiths, M. Burris and O. D. Wilcox, wagon-makers. About the year 1876 Messrs. Miller, Maltby & Thomas erected a large steam flouring and saw mill, which was operated until its removal to Ridge- way, several years later. The miller in charge while it remained in Lorraine was Robert C. Neal.
The physicians of the place were Drs. F. M. Winningham and
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F. N. Burgin, the latter one of the chief movers in locating the vil- lage and promoting its interests.
Lorraine Lodge, No.128, A. F. & A. M., was organized a number of years ago, and maintained until 1885, at which time it was trans- ferred to Washington Center, and in November, 1886, to Ridgeway. The present membership is twenty-seven. The officers are G. B. Jef- fries, W. M .; S. G. Wright, S. W .; William Shumard, J. W .; T. T. Weir, S. D .; Dr. K. Travis, J. D .; C. T. Fransham, Sec .; Reuben Gray, Treas., and Thomas Doss, Tyler.
Lorraine Lodge, No. 377, I. O. O. F., was instituted November 12, by Rev. H. J. Latour, D. D. G. M., with the following charter mem- bers: Thomas Tindall, Absalom Blakeman, Lewis F. Kincaid, Thomas J. Trotter, Matthew L. Beeks and Leander L. Long. The lodge was kept up in Lorraine until October, 1881, at which time it was consoli- dated with the lodge at Ridgeway.
Failure to secure the county seat had a depressing effect upon the prospects of Lorraine, and the completion of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad through the county a few years later, proved a death-blow to its future. Ridgeway, an outgrowth of the road, sprang up a few miles distant, and to the latter place the business men subsequently moved their buildings and goods, leaving the once ambitious contestant for county-seat honors in loneliness and desola- tion. Nearly all the houses have been torn down and removed, lots have been purchased by neighboring farmers, and the time is not far distant when the flourishing village of Lorraine will live only as a thing of memory.
Blue Ridge, a small hamlet of a few dozen inhabitants, situated in the northern part of Adams Township, was laid off into town lots in September, 1887, by Benjamin F. Archer, proprietor. The village is situated at the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 62, Range 27, and includes eighteen lots and two streets. There has been a post- office in the neighborhood for a number of years, also a store, which early gave the place the reputation of a good local trading point. Since about the year 1856 the United Brethren have maintained a religious organization, known as the Blue Ridge Church.
Brooklyn, originally known as Snell's Mill, or Snellville, is situated about nine miles north of Bethany, in Union Township, and dates its history from the 23d of March, 1854. It took its name from a mill erected by Mr. Snell, on Big Creek, some time in the fifties, and early became a local trading point of considerable importance. September 10, 1865, the plat was resurveyed and recorded as Brooklyn, by which
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name the village has since been known. At this time the business of the place is represented by one small store, a blacksmith shop and postoffice. The population is about 200.
New Hampton .- This town was located in December, 1869, by L. W. H. Cox, and named by him Hamptonville. It is situated in Sec- tion 17, White Oak Township, about one mile from the Gentry County line, and as originally surveyed consisted of fifteen blocks, ninety-five lots, and nine streets, to wit: Harrison, Lincoln, Grant, Colfax, Wal- nut, Elm, Market, Arch and Race.
The first enterprise of the place was a saw mill erected about the year 1869 or 1870, by Joshua Low and Isaac Arthurs. The Dillon Bros. started a general store about the same time, and continued in the goods business for a period of two years. M. Cochrane purchased a lot, erected a business house and dwelling, and from 1871 until 1882 was engaged in the mercantile trade. Messrs. Kelley & Smith were early merchants also, and were identified with the business interests of the place about three years. Isaac McCan and John Henry were the first mechanics, and the first physician was Dr. Neal.
Until the projection of the railroad through the county, Hampton- ville was but an insignificant hamlet, but after the survey of the road had been made the village awoke to greater possibilities. The railroad company purchased the town site in 1880, resurveyed the same under the name of New Hampton, after which various buildings in the village were moved and rearranged to harmonize with the new order of things. A station was established, and being surrounded by a fine region of country the town soon became noted as an advantageous point for the shipment of grain and live stock. The mercantile business took a new life, and within a comparatively short time several good stores were opened and in successful operation. Among the mer- chants from time to time were the following: Carson & Bro., Jacob Anslyne, John C. Stoner, Cahn Bros., William Yocum and Dr. Neal.
The Wagoner Bros. began the manufacture of harrows in 1883, and continued the business with fair success until 1885. The first postmaster was L. W. H. Cox, since the expiration of whose term of service the following men have held the position: M. Cochrane, A. X. Henshaw and Elisha Brace. The first railroad agent was A. X. Henshaw; the agent at this time is Mr. Shearer.
The following medical men have practiced the healing art in the village: Drs. Neal, Brown, Boham, and the present physicians, A. W. Willey and M. H. Eades.
New Hampton was incorporated in 1882. The town officers at
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HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY.
this time (1887) are as follows: William Yocum, Albert L. Funk, M. Cochrane and E. S. Miner, trustees; William Yocum, marshal; Albert McMillen, clerk, assessor and treasurer.
Present Business .- I. N. Carson, general merchant; M. H. Eades, general stock and drugs; McMillen Bros., general stock; Elisha Brace, hardware; Mrs. Yocum, millinery; John Lyon, buyer and shipper of poultry; Miner & Freese, lumber yard; Reuben D. Hall, blacksmith and wagon-maker; William Pool & Son, blacksmiths; Carson House, kept by I. N. Carson; Willey House, kept by A. W. Willey.
Tornado .- On the 13th of July, 1883, New Hampton was visited by a destructive tornado, which did great damage to the town and surrounding country. Indeed the storm was not confined to any one locality, but blew over various parts of the county, leaving the wrecks of fences and buildings in its track. New Hampton suffered more, perhaps, than any other place, and the storm will long be remembered as the town's greatest calamity.
Andover, a small village in the northeast corner of Colfax Town- ship, about one mile from the Iowa State line, was originally laid out by Henry Harrison, county surveyor, for Henry Doebbling and James Officer. The survey was made in June, 1871. The place was resur- veyed in June, 1880, for C. E. Perkins, agent of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad, and named New Andover. It has never been noted as a village of any importance, being merely a station and shipping point on the railroad. There are at this time one general store kept by Frisby & Pullard, and a hardware store by D. L. Fra- zier. John Turk deals in agricultural implements, and Miram Has- kins operates a blacksmith shop. Population is about sixty.
Gardner .- The plat of Gardner was surveyed in June, 1880, for C. E. Perkins, and is situated on a part of the southeast quarter of Section 30, Township 64, Range 27. It consists of five blocks, eighty- nine lots and six streets, but has an existence only on paper, no im- provements except a depot having been erected in the place. The station is about six miles northeast of Bethany, in the western part of Grant Township.
Akron was laid out on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 15, Clay Township, May 31, 1858, by John Fisher. At one time there was a store and a blacksmith shop, but at present the place is known only as a postoffice.
Jacksonville, a prosperous town in Section 36, Sherman Town- ship, was surveyed in November, 1885, for E. J. Bondurant, proprie-
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tor. The plat consisted of sixty lots and a public square, but few of which were ever sold, and none improved.
Mitchellville, about five miles southwest of Bethany, on the line between Bethany and Cypress Township, was laid out in 1858, but never became a place of any importance. A postoffice was estab- lished a number of years ago, and at one time there was a small store and blacksmith shop.
Bolton is a small trading point and postoffice in Section 28, Fox Creek Township.
Pleasant Ridge and Bridgeport are small hamlets in Cypress Township.
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY,
RESOURCES.
Boundary, Topography and Soil .- Mercer County lies on the northern border of the State. It is bounded on the north by Iowa, on the east by the counties of Putnam and Sullivan, on the south by Grundy, and on the west by Harrison. In shape it is nearly square, being twenty-one miles east and west by twenty- one and one-fourth miles north and south. Its area is about 445 square miles. Its surface consists of a series of nearly parallel ridges and depressions trending north and south. The principal stream in the county is East or Weldon's Fork of Grand River, which enters the county from the north on the line between the townships of Lindley and Marion, and with many curves flows in a southerly direction, dividing the county into two nearly equal parts. On Section 27, Township 66, Range 24, it is joined by Little River, which enters Lindley Township about two miles from its western boundary, runs due east about four miles, thence eastwardly to the confluence with East Fork. The most easterly stream in the county is West Medicine Creek, which rises in the extreme northern part of Somerset Township, and flows almost due south. To the west of this stream is East Honey Creek, which takes its rise near the town of Ravanna, and flows south to the county line. Between East Honey Creek and West Medicine is a small creek called No Creek, which flows through the town of Half Rock. Honey Creek rises in Ravanna Township, and flows south into Grundy County. East Muddy Creek rises in Iowa, and enters the county in two branches, which unite on the line between Marion and Somerset Townships. It then flows in a slightly southwest course through the county, converging to meet East Fork. West Muddy Creek has its source in Harrison Township, and flows south to join East Fork, in Grundy County. Martin Creek, to the west of West Muddy, is a small stream which rises in Harrison Township, flows south through Madi- son Township, and joins West Fork of Grand River near the corner of the county. Sandy Creek rises in the south part of Lindley Town-
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ship, runs south into Madison, and thence west to West Fork. Brush Creek and Coles Creek are also tributaries of West Fork from this county. The last mentioned stream touches the county at three dif- ferent places, but does not enter it for any considerable distance. These streams are bounded on each side by a belt of timber. The divides are mostly prairie.
The soil of this county is generally very fertile. That of the prairies is mostly a deep black loam, having a clay subsoil. The tim- ber lands are for the most part clay, with some admixture of gravel. There are also considerable tracts known as elm lands. Much of the soil of the county is underlaid with a strata of limestone, which fur- nishes an ample supply of the best building material.
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