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 41
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 41
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Present Business Interests. - The business interests of the town at the present time are represented by the following individuals and firms: Lindsey Bros., extensive dealers in general merchandise, suc- ceeded to the business of their father, John C. W. Lindsey, in 1881.
27
426
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
They carry a large stock of goods, and have good trade from all parts of the county.
Eli Mullinax, also a dealer in general merchandise, is the oldest merchant now in the county, having been in business since 1855. He carries one of the largest stocks of goods in Princeton, and has an ex- cellent trade.
The firm of Hill & Buren, composed of J. R. Hill and W. F. Buren, do an extensive business in general merchandise. Mr. Hill began business as a member of the firm of Patton, Hill & Co., in 1876. In 1878 the name of the firm was changed to Girdner & Hill, and in 1881 to Hill & Brantley. The present partnership was formed in 1884. They occupy one room of the new Buren Block, which was erected in 1885.
John C. Casteel, one of the largest dealers in general merchandise, began business soon after the war, and, as a member of various firms, continued until 1887, since which time he has had no partner. He is well and favorably known throughout the county, and consequently controls a good trade.
W. E. Cockrell has been engaged in the general mercantile business in Princeton for the past six years. He occupies a room in the large brick block owned by Jackson Prichard, at the southeast corner of the public square. He carries a well-selected stock of goods, and enjoys a fair share of the trade of the town.
S. H. Kesterson, who occupies a room in the elegant brick block owned by Capt. H. J. Alley, on the west side of the public square, began business in 1882 in partnership with Ed. Evans, as dealers in groceries and confections. Afterward he became associated with J. C. Casteel in the business in which he is now engaged, but the copartnership lasted only a short time.
Don Cain, dealer in gents' furnishing goods, boots, shoes, etc., completes the list in this branch of mercantile trade. He began business as a member of the firm of Cain & Casteel, with whom he continued until the fire of 1885. Since that time he has conducted an individual business at his present location.
Three firms are extensively engaged in the grocery and provision business. Edward B. Bailey began business in this line in 1883. He occupies a large storeroom on the west side of the public square, where he carries one of the largest and best selected stocks of grocer- ies and provisions to be found in a town of equal size in the State.
Wilcox & Loe (G. W. Wilcox and W. A. Loe) began business in 1887, in a room in the Buren block. They are affable and accom- modating gentleman, and have already obtained a good trade.
427
STATE OF MISSOURI.
W. F. Holt began business in October, 1885, in partnership with Ed. Evans, with whom he was associated until April, 1887. He occu- pies the new brick building erected on the north side of the public square, in 1885.
Thomas Woodward, whose store is located not far from the rail- road, completes the list of grocers.
In the drug line the town is well represented. One of the largest establishments is conducted by Dr. W. F. Buren, who began business in 1876. He has an extensive retail trade, and does some jobbing business. His store occupies one room in a large brick block, which he owns, on the north side of the public square. The oldest druggist in the town is Dr. T. M. Fullerton, who came to Princeton and en- gaged in the business in 1864. He occupies his own building, which stands at the northeast corner of the public square.
Wynne & Thompson began business in 1885. They carry one of the largest stocks in the town, and control a good proportion of the trade.
G. O. Goodrich also does a good business in drugs. The most extensive dealers in hardware and machinery are William and David Speer, who began business in Princeton in 1871. They are excellent business men, and have built up a large trade.
H. C. Bowsher, who engaged in the grain business in 1879 with Henry Cadle, has since added a general line of hardware and agricult- ural implements. Since 1884 Mr. Bowsher has been the sole pro- prietor.
Wagons and agricultural implements are also handled by H. R. Fuller, and hardware and tinware by John Ashcroft.
The only dealer in harness and saddlery in Princeton is P. C. Mc- Donald, who has been engaged in the business since 1874. He car- ries a very large stock, and also manufactures extensively.
In watches and jewelry, the dealers are F. H. McDougal and E. Dengs. The former began business in 1883.
The lumber business is represented by W. B. Ballew, T. W. Bal- lew and - Shaw.
In addition to the above mercantile interests the town has four hotels and two livery stables. The hotels are generally well kept, but there is great need of a better building for this purpose. Those now in existence are the Princeton House, James Daly, proprietor; the Dobbins House, Mr. Dobbins, proprietor; Frost Hotel, Jack Frost, proprietor, and the American House. The leading livery stable is owned and managed by Rush Bowsher, who has been engaged in the business for many years.
428
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
Manufacturing Establishments .- Of the manufacturing and in- dustrial enterprises of the town the most important is the Prince- ton flouring mill. It is situated on Grand River about three- fourths of a mile west of town, and was built several years ago by John Clark & Son, and was afterward owned by B. Brooks and A. Mardis, successively. In February, 1878, it was purchased by the present proprietor, J. P. Anderson, who built a new dam, remodeled the mill, put in more machinery, and added a saw mill. He obtained a large patronage, and made the enterprise a success, a thing his predecessors had failed to accomplish. He continued to run the flouring-mill with buhrs, until the fall of 1887, when he replaced them with the latest improved machinery for the roller process. The mill now gives employment to six men, and runs six sets of rolls with a capacity of forty barrels per day.
In 1884 Mr. Anderson erected a small woolen mill just north of the public square. It contains only four looms, and is run but a portion of the year, a lack of a sufficient water supply rendering its constant operation impossible. The products of the mill, consisting of flannels, blankets, yarns, etc., are sold mainly to local customers. The mill is under the supervision of Mr. R. A. McCartney.
Another enterprise of great importance to the farmers of the county is the Speer Creamery, which was established by Speer Bros. in 1881, and operated by them until 1886, when it was leased by the present manager, Mr. W. W. Hampshire. It has proven of great value to. the county, and its business has steadily increased. In 1882 over $10,000 were paid for cream, from which was made about 60,000 pounds of butter. In 1886 the amount of butter manufactured had increased to over 150,000 pounds.
The remaining manufactories of Princeton consist of two black- smith and wagon shops, conducted by L. R. Fuller and his son, H. R. Fuller, respectively. The former engaged in the business in 1863, and the latter in 1881.
Banking .- The Mercer County Bank, the first banking institution in the county, was organized January 10, 1873, with a paid-up cap- ital of $25,000, and an authorized capital stock of $1,000,000. It be- gan business on June 1st of the same year with William Bradley, of Centerville, Iowa, as president; R. B. Ballew, vice-president; William Speer, cashier and W. B. Ballew, Eli Mullinax, D. M. King, Ira B. Hyde, Joseph Webb, J. C. W. Lindsey, Jackson Prichard, Henry Cadle and H. G. Orton, directors. Subsequently Ira B. Hyde was chosen president, and Jackson Prichard, vice-president, William
429
STATE OF MISSOURI.
Speer being retained as cashier. The enterprise was carefully man- aged, and proved a success from the first. In addition to a consider- able dividend paid the surplus in 1878 amounted to over $25,000, and at a meeting of the directors on May 15, of that year, it was decided to reduce the nominal capital to $50,000, and to transfer the $25, 000 surplus to the capital stock, making the latter $50,000, and all paid up. The bank was operated on the new basis until May, 1879, when it was decided to reduce the paid up capital to the origi- nal amount. To do this a new bank, the Bank of Princeton, was organized with the same stockholders and officers as the Mercer County Bank, and to it were transferred all the assets and liabilities of the old institution which was then dissolved. The Bank of Princeton, like its predecessor, has been judiciously managed, and it continues to enjoy the confidence of the business community. The following state .. ment of its financial condition was made on August 31, 1887:
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral se-
$71,579 72
curity
Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real es- tate security.
3,813 00
Over drafts by solvent creditors.
678 21
United States bonds on hand. .
000 00
Other bonds and stocks at their present cash market price.
1,000 00
Due from other banks.
32,787 22
Real estate. .
4,831 87
Furniture and fixtures.
1,555 50
Checks and other cash items. ..
2,616 22
Bills of national banks and legal tender notes. 3,144 00
Gold coin.
6,010 00
Silver coin
512 35
$128,528 09
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.
$25,000 00
Surplus fund on hand. .
3,750 00
Undivided declared dividends.
749 79
Deposits subject to draft at sight. .
67,846 07
Deposits subject to draft at a given date.
31,182 23
Bills payable.
000 00
Due other banks and bankers.
000 00
Expenses now due.
000 00
$128,528 09
The present officers are William Speer, president; David Speer, cashier and Clifford Speer, David Speer, William Speer, H. G. Orton, Eli Mullinax, Jackson Prichard and John Boland, directors.
430
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
In September, 1886, the Bank of Mercer County was organized with a capital stock of $20,000, and with the following officers: Ira B. Hyde, president; Charles E. Minter, vice-president; H. G. Orton, cashier and secretary, and Ira B. Hyde, Charles E. Minter, H. G. Orton, W. F. Buren, J. T. Cook and W. W. Judson, directors. Messrs. Hyde and Orton are men of unquestioned integrity, and good financiers, and their associates are among the best business men of the county. That the institution is a success is manifest from the following statement of its financial condition on August 31, 1887:
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral se-
curity . $33,266 21
Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security.
945 00
Over drafts by solvent creditors.
474 31
United States bonds on hand. 000 00
Other bonds and stocks at their present cash market price.
000 00
Due from other banks good on sight drafts. 10,768 96
Real estate. 000 00
Furniture and fixtures. 1,500 00
Checks and other cash items .. 1,593 59
Bills of national banks and legal tender notes. 1,862 00
Gold coin.
1,647 50
Silver coin.
730 75
$52,788 32
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in ...
$10,000 00
Surplus funds on hand ..
2,885 41
Undivided declared dividends.
000 00
Deposits subject to draft at sight.
23,027 96
Deposits subject to draft at given dates.
16,874 95
Bills payable.
000 00
Due other banks and bankers.
000 00
Expenses now due ..
000 00
$52,788 32
The officers of the bank remain the same as at the organization except that J. R. Hill and Oscar R. Hyde have been added to the board of directors, and H. T. Allen made assistant cashier.
The Press .- The first newspaper established in Princeton was the Reporter, founded in 1859, by P. O. James and James Scar- bough, who continued its publication until 1861, when it became overwhelmed in financial difficulties. It was nominally neutral in politics, and enjoyed the support of members of both political parties,
431
STATE OF MISSOURI.
but the Republicans finally became dissatisfied with its policy, which they claimed was partial to the Democrats. They withdrew their support, and the failure of the paper soon followed. It was well ed- ited, and, during its short existence, did much to promote the inter- ests of the county. Its press and office material were sold for the debts of the proprietors.
During the war the county was without a newspaper. In the year 1866 A. O. Binkley began the publication of a weekly paper called the Mercer County Advance. It was at first Republican in politics, and so continued until 1874. Mr. Binkley continued as editor and proprietor until 1868, when he sold out to Rogers & Shaw. The next year L. W. Brannon, then a printer in the office, purchased a one-third interest, which, however, he kept but a few months. In 1871 he leased the office for one year, at the end of which time it was purchased by C. E. Buren, who, in 1874, transferred it to W. L. Robertson. The latter transferred its support to the Democratic
party, and continued its publication until 1881. He was then suc- ceeded by the present proprietor, Mr. T. F. Hensley, who changed the name to the People's Press, and, during the succeeding campaign, advocated the principles of the Greenback party, and supported its candidate. Mr. Hensley had, however, been a life-long Democrat, and in 1884 he returned to the support of his party. In October, 1885, he was appointed to a position in the pension office at Wash- ington, and, since March, 1886, the People's Press has been under the editorial management of C. B. Hensley, a brother of the proprie- tor, and a newspaper man of experience and ability. In the fire of 1885 the office was destroyed, but with the exception of the large press, the greater part of the fixtures and material were saved, and the publication of the Press was continued without the loss of a single issue.
In 1873 Mr. L. W. Brannon established the newspaper which has since been known as the Princeton Telegraph. Mr. Brannon is a stanch Republican, and a good political writer, and he soon made the Telegraph one of the leading organs of his party in this portion of the State. He continued its publication until 1882, when he sold the office to the present editor and proprietor, Mr. W. E. Cansdell. The fire of 1885 also destroyed the office of the Telegraph, together with all its contents, but the proprietor, with characteristic enterprise, imme- diately purchased the press and material in the office of the Daily and Weekly Star, of Trenton, and in two weeks again issued the Tele- graph from his own office. He now has one of the best equipped
432
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
country newspaper offices in the State, and does a large amount of job printing. Mr. Cansdell is a journalist of long experience, having been connected with several daily papers in some of the eastern cities, and the high reputation of the Telegraph has been fully maintained under his management.
Fires. - Princeton has been twice visited by destructive fires. The first occurred in January, 1884, and destroyed all of the buildings on the south side of the public square, except two, and it was only by the greatest exertion that those were saved. The buildings destroyed were Bowsher's Hotel, G. O. Goodrich's drug store, W. J. Heriford's bakery, and a meat market, none of which have been rebuilt.
On February 13, 1885, the entire west side of the square was burned. How it originated is not known, but it began in the building occupied by Henry W. White & Son's family grocery. The losses were as follows : Cain & Casteel, dry goods, loss $8,000, fully insured ; Evans & Kesterson, groceries and provisions, loss on stock $5,000, insurance, $2,200 ; loss on building, $4,500, insurance $3,700 ; H. W. White & Son, groceries and provisions, loss $14,000, insurance $12,000 ; Jackson Cook, furniture and undertaker's sup- plies, loss $8,000, insurance $5,000 ; Capt. H. J. Alley, law office, library and building, loss $6,000, insurance $3,000 ; Squire Bal- lew, dry goods, loss $6,000, insurance $3,000; the Masonic build- ing, loss $5,500, insurance $3,500; Steen & Son, dry goods, loss $1,000, fully insured ; W. L. Bearden, photographer; loss $1,200 ; insurance $500; Princeton Telegraph, loss $2,200, insurance $1,500; People's Press, loss $1,500, insurance, $1,000; Drs. May's, Thomp- son's, and Hiron's offices; Read & Evans, attorneys, library; Wes. Sam's marble shop; Miss Nannie Swayze's and Mrs. VerBryck's millinery shops. Notwithstanding these heavy losses, the work of rebuilding was begun at once, and in less than twelve months, with one exception, every block had been replaced by a much handsomer building than the original.
Incorporation. - Princeton was first incorporated at the May term of the county court in 1853, when A. M. Clements, John C. W. Lindsey, W. J. Girdner, J. R. Clark and John R. Davis were appointed trus- tees. This incorporation was made under a general law, and two years later a special charter was granted by the Legislature, under which an organization was effected, and maintained until the war, when it was allowed to lapse. The town was then without any munici- pal government until April, 1869, when the county court ordered it incorporated under a general act of the Legislature, passed in 1865.
433
STATE OF MISSOURI.
At this time the trustees appointed were H. G. Orton, A. H. May, H. W. White, John Casteel, and W. F. Shaw. The powers of the board of trustees were found to be too limited for the effective administration of the sixth municipal government, and it was decided to apply for a new charter. Accordingly a very complete instrument of this kind was prepared by Judge Orton, and presented to the General As- sembly as an amendment to the charter of 1855. It passed that body, and was approved by the Governor on March 20, 1871. By this charter the following territory was incorporated as the town of Princeton: The south half of Section No. 27, the north half of Section No. 34, and the southeast quarter of Section No. 33; all in Township No. 65, in Range No. 24. The board of aldermen appointed by this act to hold until the first regular election in April, 1872, was composed of Henry W. White, John Casteel, A. H. May, W. F. Shaw, William Speer, Hobart G. Orton and Richard B. Ballew. The remaining officers of the corporation, consisting of a mayor, assessor, clerk, treasurer and street commissioner, are elected by the board of aldermen. The following is a list of the mayors since 1876: T. B. Herrington, 1876-77; E. D. Giles, 1877-79; Henry W. White, 1879-80; R. W. Steckman, from April to June, 1880 ; Webb Ballew, from June to October, 1880 ; F. P. Buren, from October, 1880, to April, 1881 ; Jesse Trapp, 1881-83; John C. W. Lindsey, 1883-84; J. B. Evans, 1884-87 ; M. F. Robinson, 1887.
The clerks since 1876 have been as follows: E. H. Powell, 1876- 78; Jesse Trapp, 1878-81; E. C. Ballew, 1881-83; J. B. Evans, 1883-84; R. W. Steckman, 1884.
The following persons have filled the office of marshal: James J. Owen, 1876-78; Jesse Trapp, from April to November, 1878; A. W. Clements, from October, 1878, to April, 1879; J. R. Delana, 1879-80; Thomas Phillips, 1880-82; John T. Cook, 1882-85; Ed. Meek, April to November, 1885; L. W. Brannon, November, 1885, to April, 1886; A. W. Hutchinson, 1886-87; Hawley Heriford, 1887.
The present officers of the town are as follows: Mayor, M. F. Rob- inson; board of aldermen, George R. Thompson, J. C. Casteel, R. ' W. Steckman, H. T. Allen, J. M. Alley, Eli Mullinax, R. Bowsher; assessor and marshal, Hawley Heriford; clerk, R. W. Steckman; treasurer, J. M. Alley ; street commissioner, J. A. Montgomery.
Additions, Etc .- Princeton, as originally laid out, covered about forty acres, the remainder of the eighty acres entered by the county seat commissioners having been sold in large blocks. Twenty acres of the northern part were sold to John S. Cook at $2 per acre; two acres in
434
HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
the southeast corner, to James Blizzard at $3 per acre; and five acres in the southwest corner, to George T. Prichard for $18. The forty or fifty acres laid out into lots and streets were divided into twenty- six blocks, 140 feet square, containing six and eight lots, and eleven blocks of irregular shape and varying size. The streets were not laid off due north and south and east and west, but at an angle. All were made thirty-three feet wide, except Main and Broadway which were made sixty feet. Since the original survey additions have been made about as follows: Fourteen lots, in 1857, by W. J. Girdner; twenty lots, in 1866, by A. M. Clements; four lots, in 1868, by D. M. King, E. Blachley and S. H. Perryman; seven lots, con- taining eleven acres, in 1868, by Mary J. Prichard: twenty-eight lots, in 1870, by Nora M. Cornwell; sixteen lots, in 1871, by J. V. Granlee; sixty lots, in 1871, by Ada T. Prichard; ten lots, in 1873, by J. V. Granlee; twenty lots, in 1874, by Eli Mullinax; three blocks, in 1875, by Jackson Prichard; nineteen lots, in 1876, by Eli Mullinax; three lots, in 1876, by Jacob Hawk; a small addition, in 1878, by J. V. Granlee; eight lots, in 1880, by L. R. Fuller; thirteen lots, in 1883, by J. V. Granlee; and thirteen lots, in 1887, also by Mr. Granlee.
Secret and Other Societies .- Mercer Lodge, No. 35, A. F. & A. M. -Of the secret and beneficiary orders, the Masonic fraternity was the first to organize a lodge in Princeton. Mercer Lodge, No. 35, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation from Grand Master B. W. Grover on June 24, 1852, by B. M. Smith. The officers in- stalled were Dr. James B. Bell, W. M .; John R. McClelland, S. W .; James B. Clark, J. W .; William Kelsey, Treasurer, Martin Moss, Tyler; Abial Miles, Secretary; Israel Nordyke, S. D., and J. B. Burris, J. D. The first member initiated was G. W. Clinkinbeard, on October 5, 1852. The original members included some of the most prominent of the early citizens of the county, and they laid the foundation of a prosperous organization. Meetings were at first held in a frame hall which stood on the southeast corner of the square. It was used for several years, when it was removed, and now forms a part of the Dobbin's House. It was replaced by a brick block, which was destroyed in the fire of 1885. The lodge then determined to erect a still finer building, and in the fall of the same year the pres- ent handsome brick block, two stories high, with a basement, was completed at a cost of $6,500. The first floor is occupied by the Bank of Mercer County. The lodge room occupying the upper floor is un- doubtedly the finest in the State, outside of some of the larger cities. It is seventy feet long, twenty-three feet wide and sixteen feet high,
435
STATE OF MISSOURI.
with commodious ante-rooms and wardrobes. The floor is covered with a brussels carpet, and the furniture, and paraphernalia are correspond- ingly elegant.
As a portion of the records of the lodge was destroyed by the fire, the following list of Past Masters is incomplete, but is as full as could be made: Dr. J. B. Bell, 1852-54; J. R. Clark, 1854-56; Andrew Woolsey, 1856-57; Dr. J. B. Bell, 1857-58; R. A. Kelsey, 1858-59; G. B. Gillihan, 1859-60; John Woodward, 1860-62; Andrew Wool- sey, 1862-63; B. F. Cornwell, 1863-64; * *
* H. J. Alley, 1873-74; J. C. W. Lindsey, 1874-75; S. H. Perry- man 1875-76; Dr. W. F. Buren, 1876-78; P. C. McDonald, 1878-80; Dr. A. H. May, 1880-82; Joel H. Shelly, 1882-83; R. W. Steck- man, 1883-85; Dr. William Hirons, 1885-86; W. H. Harper, 1886-87.
The lodge now numbers about eighty-six members. The officers are as follows: W. P. Lindsey, W. M .; James H. Moss, S. W .; John F. McClaren, J. W .; William Harris, Secretary; R. W. Steck- man, S. D., and Dr. G. B. Thompson, J. D.
Princeton Lodge, No. 63, I. O. O. F., was organized on August 31, 1853, by John G. Flournoy, of Linneus, Mo., the District Deputy Grand Master. The lodge continued its existence until 1859, when, owing to internal trouble, and the disturbed condition of the country, incident to the approach of the Civil War, its charter was arrested by Hon. R. A. Debolt, then District Deputy Grand Master. The charter and books remained in the Grand Secretary's office in St. Louis until 1873, when, the town of Princeton having taken new life by the building of the Rock Island Railroad, it was thought advisable to re- vive the lodge, and an informal meeting' was held, at which time the following survivors of the old lodge responded: J. C. W. Lindsey, W. J. Girdner, Henry Neill, Reuben Perkins and M. A. Louderback, to whom were added the following persons holding withdrawal cards . from other lodges: D. F. Kreider, Henry Griser, and T. C. Young. These brethren petitioned the Grand Master for a restoration of the charter, which was granted, and C. A. Conrads, of Trenton, D. D. G. M., accompanied by a large delegation from that town, reorganized and reinstituted Princeton Lodge, No. 63, on the night of April 25, 1873, with the following officers: J. C. W. Lindsey, N. G .; W. J. Girdner, V. G .; D. F. Kreider, Sec., and Henry Neill, Treas.
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