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 42
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 42
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A singular incident at the reorganization was the restoration of the charter of the lodge by Judge Debolt to Mr. Lindsey, the Noble Grand, who was also the Noble Grand at the time of its arrest by the
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former fourteen years before. At this meeting the lodge initiated two members, Henry Cadle and Robert Bowsher, and these two are the only members of that period left, all the others having since died or removed their membership. Mr. Cadle has since been Grand Master of the State. The lodge had a precarious existence, not growing much either in membership or in influence until 1881, when it publicly celebrated the anniversary of the order on April 26, of that year. This demonstration was largely attended, and its effect was to give the lodge a new impetus, and its growth may be said to date from that time. It increased rapidly in membership, and gathered in a large proportion of the leading men of the town. Then came a demand for an en- campment with its exalted degrees, and Princeton Encampment, No. 91, was instituted on December 13, 1881, by the Grand Patriarch, G. D. Gray, with the following officers: Henry Cadle, Chief Patriarch; P. C. McDonald, High Priest; Dr. W. F. Buren, Senior Warden; T. E. Evans, Junior Warden; J. H. Shelly, Scribe, and Samuel Strouse, Treasurer.
The encampment started out with great eclat, and on the night of its organization many Patriarchs from other towns, including the Grand Patriarch of Iowa, were present. The Trenton Encampment came in full uniform, and a band accompanying, gave a public parade.
Princeton Encampment has had a phenomenal growth, drawing members from nearly all the neighboring towns, and with one of the finest outfits in the way of paraphernalia in the State, it has gained the reputation of being one of the best encampments. At one time the members purchased forty handsome uniforms, and became proficient in the drill, and they have taken part in public parade in different cities, both in and out of the State. This gave rise to the establish- ment of Princeton Uniformed Degree Camp, No. 2 (the second in the State), which was instituted on January 11, 1883, and was finally merged into Canton Princeton, No. 2, of the Patriarch's Militant, which has since continued as the display branch of the order.
Captain Stanley Post, No. 79, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized on May 26, 1883, by Charles M. Clark, of Kansas City. The members mustered in and the officers elected were as follows: J. H. Shelly, Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, Commander; T. E. Evans, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, Senior Vice-Commander; J. J. Stanley, Second Missouri Cavalry, Junior Vice-Commander; S. M. Wayman, Seventh Iowa Infantry, Chaplain; J. R. Hill, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, Quartermaster; F. H. McDougal, First West Virginia Cavalry, Quartermaster-Sergeant; J. D. Dykes, Thirty-fifth Missouri
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Infantry, Sergeant-Major; Hawley Heriford, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry, Adjutant; and J. C. McKiddy, Third Missouri Infantry, Surgeon. H. T. Allen, Eighty-third Illinois Infantry; John L. Allen, Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry; E. J. Abrams, Fifth Kansas Infantry; L. W. Brannon, Sixth Iowa Infantry; W. J. Boyle, Second Missouri Cavalry; Joseph W. Bayles, Seventy-eighth Illinois Infantry; J. W. Cardiff, Eleventh Iowa Infantry; W. L. Griffith, Seventh Missouri State Militia; George S. Heck, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Penn- sylvania Infantry; Ira B. Hyde, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers; Lester King, Second Missouri Cavalry; William T. Kesterson, Third Missouri Infantry; A. K. Mills, Twenty-third Ohio Infantry; Daniel Martin, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry; J. A. Montgomery, Seventh Iowa Infantry; J. B. Nash, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry; James I. Owen, Seventh Missouri Infantry; James B. Ormsby, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry; A. R. Patton, Third Missouri Cavalry; J. L. Perkins, Seventh Illinois Infantry; W. J. Phillips, First Missouri Cavalry; W. T. Scott, Seventh Illinois Cavalry; Stephen Wayman, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry; E. W. Wells, Third Missouri Infantry, and Allen Rogers, Third Missouri Infantry.
The post has been highly prosperous since its organization, and has enrolled a total of 123 names. A commodious hall has been fitted up in the new Buren block, where the regular meetings are held. The Post Commanders have been J. H. Shelly, T. E. Evans, J. R. Hill, H. T. Allen, and J. L. Perkins. The present officers are J. R. Hill, Commander; Hawley Heriford, Senior Vice-Commander; J. J. Stanley, Junior Vice-Commander; L. W. Brannon, Quartermaster; Henry T. Allen, Quartermaster-Sergeant; Martin Read, Sergeant- Major; F. H. McDougal, Adjutant, and W. A. Loe, Chaplain.
Mercer County Lodge, No. 83, Ancient Order of United Workmen, was instituted on October 28, 1878, with the following charter members: W. F. Buren, Master Workman; J. H. Shelly, Overseer; David Speer, Receiver; A. R. Patton, Financier; T. E. Evans, Gay Aufricht, E. C. Ballew, E. D. Giles, R. Carter, William P. Lindsey, Arthur Edson, J. R. Hill, R. C. H. Lindsey, R. W. Riddell, E. Blachley, F. P. Buren, W. L. Robertson, Rush Bowsher, Abner George, J. R. Delana, P. C. McDonald, and G. O. Goodrich. The lodge has experienced uniform prosperity, and a good membership.
The Past Master Workmen are as follows: W. F. Buren, T. E. Evans, H. T. Allen, W. P. Lindsey, P. C. McDonald, H. C. Miller, Dr. William Hirons and Prof. D. K. Thomas. The present officers are as follows: Dr. William Hirons, Master Workman; James P.
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Anderson, Overseer; T. E. Evans, Foreman; H. C. Miller, Guard; J. A. Thompson, Recorder; J. R. Hill, Financier; H. T. Allen, Re- ceiver.
The Mercer County Medical Society was organized in February, 1884, with the following officers and members: Dr. J. L. Shipley, of Ravanna, President; Dr. A. H. May, of Princeton, Vice-President; Dr. G. M. Bristow, Secretary; Dr. Monahan, Treasurer; C. P. Bashond, of Modena; Dr. K. G. Smith, of Princeton, and Dr. K. W. Travis, of Modena; to whom have since been added, Dr. Brown, of Newtown; Dr. J. E. Callaway, of Ravanna; Dr. Thomas Calbreath, of Somerset; Dr. E. Glendenning, of Lineville; Dr. Huff, of Modena; Dr. J. B. Robertson, of Half Rock, and one or two others from outside the county. The object of the society is the mutual improvement of its members, and meetings are held every three months, at which papers upon various subjects connected with the profession are read and dis- cussed. The present officers are Dr. E. Glendenning, President; Dr. J. B. Robertson, Vice-President; Dr. C. P. Bashond, Secretary, and Dr. G. M. Bristow, Treasurer.
The Agricultural Association. - The first agricultural associa- tion in Mercer County, organized in 1859, was incorporated by the following order from the county court, April 15, 1859: "This day a petition signed by more than fifty free holders of Mercer County, for the organization of a county agricultural and mechanical society, to be called the Mercer County Agricultural and Mechani- cal Society, was presented, praying that this court would make an order declaring such petitioners incorporated for such purposes. It is therefore ordered by the court that such a society be organized, and the petitioners declared a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of the Mercer County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, and it is further ordered that the sum of $50 be appropriated out of the county treasury of Mercer County, for the purpose of purchasing premises for said society." An organization was then effected with the following officers: -- -, president; L. C. Wynne, secretary; Charles Scott, treasurer, and William R. Mckinley, J. A. Kennedy, Charles O. Ewing, Jonas J. Clark, Jackson Prichard, Charles Scott and three others whose names are now forgotten, directors.
The first fair was held in the fall of 1859, just northwest of Princeton. Some stock was exhibited, and a short race track was laid out upon which several trials of speed were had. The court- house did duty as a floral hall. After this fair, it was decided to locate permanent grounds, and Princeton, Goshen City and Ravanna
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became competitors for them. Ravanna having raised the largest subscription in aid of the association was chosen. Fifteen acres of land were leased from S. H. Draper for a term of ten years. There annual fairs were held until the expiration of the lease, when the society disbanded.
In 1869 some of the leading agriculturists of Mercer and adjoining counties organized a society styled the " Independent District Agricult- ural Association," which, however, proved of short duration. Three fairs were held on the grounds of the county society at Ravanna, and, not proving as successful as had been expected, the society suspended. No further attempt was made to organize an association or to hold fairs for nearly ten years.
The present Agricultural and Mechanical Association of Mercer County was organized on November 3, 1880, at which time the fol- lowing officers and directors were elected: H. J. Alley, president; Ira B. Hyde, vice-president; James Burrows, secretary; David Speer, treasurer, and F. M. Evans, Richard Brantley, C. E. Minter, Clark Deshler, Jackson Prichard, Thomas E. Sallee, John Snyder, J. S. England, R. C. Lindsey, Ira B. Hyde, Jackson Cook, Robert Bowsher and Eli Mullinax. One hundred and fifty shares of $25 each were issued, and forty acres of land lying about 200 yards west of the Rock Island depot were purchased for the fair grounds. This tract seemed to have been fitted for that purpose by nature. It is nearly level, being inclined just enough to secure drainage, and originally was entirely covered by forest trees, with the exception of about six acres occupied by a beautiful lake, around which has been con- structed a half mile race course.
The buildings which have been erected consist of a strongly con- structed amphitheater, capable of seating 1,000 people; a two-story floral hall, 30x60 feet; eighty closed stalls for stock, and sixty open stalls. In improving the grounds comparatively few trees were removed, and ample shade is afforded for the hundreds who attend the annual fairs. The association is composed of some of the leading men of the county, and it has already done much to arouse an interest in the best methods of farming, and the breeding of a better class of stock. Fairs have been held each year since the organ- ization of the association, with the exception of 1886, when the long continued drought rendered it impracticable. The present affairs of the association are as follows: President, David Speer; vice-president, Dr. W. F. Buren; treasurer, M. F. Robinson; secretary, Martin Reeves; directors, John Higgins, H. J. Alley, Dr. W. F. Buren,
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W. A. Loe, G. W. Wilcox, Jackson Cook, E. B. Bailey, W. H. McKinley, M. F. Robinson, T. E. Sallee, J. W. Boyd, J. H. Shelly and David Speer.
Ravanna, the second town in importance in Mercer County, was laid out in the spring of 1857 by William R. McKinley and Addison Sparks, and is situated on the northeast quarter of the north- east quarter of Section 10, in Township 65, Range 23. Forty-eight lots were laid off, to which have since been made two additions, one of sixty-four lots and a public square made by S. H. Draper, in April, 1858, and the other of thirty-two lots, made by W. R. Mckinley, G. B. Gillihan and D. B. Gregory.
The first house on the site of the town was erected in 1855 by W. R. McKinley, for a dwellimg. It was a small log building, and stood where the Ravanna Hotel now is. The next year an addition was made to this house, and a small stock of goods put in. At about the same time the store house now occupied by Loury Bros. was erected and occupied by Dillon Morris, who after about one year was succeeded by John Coffman. Later the same building was occupied by Kabrich & West (George Kabrich and William C. West). The first blacksmith shop was established by Jacob Loutzenhiser, a son-in-law of W. R. Mckinley. He still lives just south of town, where he located in 1855. Philip Merrill, D. B. Gregory, Robert Bull and Pleasant Henry were also among the early residents of the town. The last two carried on a general mercantile business in the build- ing on the corner north of Loury Bros.' store. The first physicians to locate in Ravanna were Drs. Harle, Jones and Williams.
Among the business of the town during the first few years succeed- ing the war were Speer Bros., now of Princeton, Calvin Saylors, Albert Bruse, and James Burrows. In 1877 the business interests were represented as follows: D. W. Loury & Co., W. W. Holmes, and Calloway & Helm, general merchandise; Albert Bruse, hardware and implements; W. H. McGrath, drugs; and S. H. Storms, wagons and carriages.
Previous to the completion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad through Putnam and Sullivan Counties, Ravanna was one of the best business points in a large area of country, and while its trade has been somewhat curtailed by the building of that road, this effect, it is thought, will be only temporary. The town now contains three excellent general stores, conducted by Loury Bros., Holmes Bros. and L. F. Parrish. The first two each have branch stores, the former at Lucerne and the latter at Newtown. Other lines of merchandise are
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also well represented-groceries, by J. C. Mitchell and Hiram Painter, hardware and harness, by D. F. Loutzenhiser; drugs, by A. C. Storms; furniture, by Joseph Jenkins, and millinery, by Mrs. L. A. Ballah and Mrs. Jane Storms.
The remaining business of the town consists of two blacksmith shops conducted by Hollingsworth & Hamilton and Holmes & Epper- son, respectively, and a steam grist mill, owned and operated by J. J. Johnson. Two physicians of excellent ability and reputation, Drs. J. L. Shipley and J. E. Calloway, have been residents of the town for several years. The legal profession is represented by V. F. Rowley.
In November, 1886, a weekly newspaper known as the Ravanna Review was established by T. H. Graves, who, in May, following, re- moved it to Lucerne, and changed its named to the Lucerne Bee. This was the only paper ever published in the town.
The postoffice now at Ravanna was formerly called Sonoma, and was kept by J. B. Anderson, who had a little store about three miles east of the town. The postmasters since its removal, as correctly as could be ascertained, have been Dillon Morris, B. F. Strong, James Burrows, N. H. Rogers, Joel Rogers, Albert Bruse, L. F. Parrish and Joseph Jenkins.
Ravanna was incorporated by an order of the county court made on March 7, 1870, at which time the following trustees were appointed: Albert Bruse, J. J. Johnson, Charles Wilson, Joel Rogers and V. F. Rowley. This incorporation has since been maintained. The officers at the present time are: board of trustees, J. L. Shipley, chairman, M. W. Lowry, W. A. Hollingsworth, Joseph Jenkins and C. M. Wil- son; marshal and collector, B. Mitchell; treasurer, Hiram Painter; clerk, William Burris, and street commissioner, J. J. Johnson.
The social standing of the people of Ravanna is deservedly high, and churches, schools and secret orders are well supported.
Secret Societies. - Ravanna Lodge, No. 258, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge on the 6th of November, 1867, with the following officers: A. Bruse, Worshipful Master; W. B. Rogers, Senior Warden; J. A. Kennedy, Junior War- den; D. J. Duree, Treasurer; W. T. Beacham, Secretary; J. C. Fos- ter, Senior Deacon, and F. M. Evans, Junior Deacon. The charter was granted on October 15, 1868. In 1872 a frame building 22x44 feet, with a hall above and store room below, was built by the lodge in co-operation with N. H. Rogers. The total cost was $1,525, of which Mr. Rogers paid one-half. The Past Masters of this lodge are Albert Bruse, J. A. Kennedy, J. C. Foster, A. B. Anderson, E. B. Anderson,
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
J. L. Shipley and John McRae. The officers elected for 1888 are as follows: J. L. Shipley, Worshipful Master; A. B. Anderson, Senior Warden; G. Wilson, Junior Warden; J. C. Foster, Treasurer; Joseph Jenkins, Secretary, and S. H. Storms, Tyler.
Ravanna Lodge, No. 297, I. O. O. F., was organized on May 24, 1873, and received its charter on the 10th of the following month. The first officers were V. F. Rowley, Noble Grand; Samuel Flock, Vice Grand; Albert Bruse, Treasurer, and G. B. Potts, Secretary. The first members initiated were John C. Arbuckle, John Cooper and Jacob Eidson. The following are the Past Grands of this lodge: V. F. Rowley, S. H. Storms, Thomas Cooper, Albert Bruse, D. W. Lowry, M. W. Lowry, W. A. Hollingsworth, I. M. Van Buskirk, Joseph Jenkins, F. E. Wade, Jacob Eidson, Cyrus Deyoe, J. D. Weaver, Jacob Harriman, J. M. Deyoe and B. F. Reeves. The present membership is thirty-two. The officers are D. F. Loutzenhiser, Noble Grand; S. J. Epperson, Vice Grand; W. F. Burris, Secretary, and S. H. Storms, Treasurer. The one-half interest in the Masonic building, owned by N. H. Rogers, has been purchased, and the lodge room is used by both fraternities.
Rosseau Post, No. 80, G. A. R., was organized at Ravanna, on May 28, 1883, by C. W. Clark, of Kansas City, at which time the following officers and members were mustered: Dr. J. L. Shipley, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, Commander; J. E. Calloway, Twenty- eighth Illinois Infantry, Senior Vice Commander; Lemuel McDonald, First Wisconsin Infantry, Junior Vice Commander; D. M. King, Missouri State Militia, Surgeon; L. F. Parrish, Seventeenth Iowa In- fantry, Chaplain; William H. Goddard, Sixth Missouri State Militia Cavalry; Calvin Morris, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry; W. H. Smalley, Second Missouri Cavalry; Jacob Eidson, Tenth Illinois Infantry; John D. Weaver, Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry; Adolphus Thomp- son, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry; William Howser, Seventh Mis- souri Cavalry; D. W. Loury, Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry; W. A. Hollingsworth, Second Missouri Cavalry; L. T. Thompson, Forty- fourth Indiana Infantry; John Smalley, Second Missouri Cavalry; C. T. Cousins, Second Missouri Cavalry; Jacob Loutzenhiser, Second Missouri Cavalry; James Lansley, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry; M. M. Gannon, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry; C. A. Farley, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry; William McKinley, Second Missouri Cavalry; N. J. McMurray, Eighteenth Iowa Infantry; O. J. Reeves, Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry; Peter Evans, Second Missouri Cavalry; Joseph Weesner, Second Missouri Cavalry; L. D. Collings, Second Missouri Cavalry; S. P. Hall, Third Missouri Cavalry; James R. Brown,
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Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry; Jesse Evans, Twelfth Missouri Cav- alry; Elias Spurgeon, Third Missouri Cavalry; William W. Reeves, Ninety-ninth Indiana Infantry; Thomas Claphan, Sixty-fifth Ohio Infantry; Franklin Cousins, Third Missouri State Militia; G. W. God- dard, Sixth Missouri State Militia; A. R. Jewell, Third Missouri State Militia, and J. W. Green, Third Maryland Infantry. To these have been added since the organization: George W. Nicholson, Eighth Illinois Cavalry; William Proctor, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry; Biram Rushton, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry; Sidwell Daugherty, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry; Joseph H. Beadles, Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry; M. E. Swift, Enrolled Missouri Militia; Lorenzo Gannon, Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry; Jacob Harriman, Twenty- seventh Missouri Infantry; Hiram Pickett, Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry; Alexander Allman, Seventh Missouri State Militia; F. M. Lyon, Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry; Joseph H. Graves, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry; Edward Titus, Sixth New York Cavalry; John P. Vandervoort, Third Missouri State Militia; Humphrey Hickman, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry; Robert Lindsey, Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry; Joseph Jenkins, Second California Cavalry; Abel Rash, Third Missouri State Militia; Addison Kingery, Third Missouri State Militia; William E. Harriman, Sixth Missouri State Militia; W. F. Lose, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry; William Clifton, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry; George W. Pigg, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry; Joseph R. Vo- gan, Twenty-third Missouri Infantry; William Driskill, Third Mis- souri State Militia; A. L. Martin, Forty-first Illinois Infantry; J. H. Deyoe, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry; Cyrus Deyoe, Fourteenth Iowa Infantry; James Lewis, Eighteenth Missouri Infantry; J. R. Lewis, Sixth Kansas Cavalry; Joseph C. Pickett, Second Missouri Cavalry; William J. C. Cox, Fourth Kansas Infantry; Elijah Holmes, Second Missouri Cavalry; Isaac M. Smalley, Second Missouri Cavalry; Howell Scott, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry; William Gallagher, Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry; S. P. Stuart, Twenty-third Mis- souri Infantry; Samuel Reed, Sixtieth United States (colored); L. B. Lindsey, Seventh Missouri State Militia, and Joseph H. Dexter, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. The longest term of service of any of the above members was fifty-three months, and the shortest six months, the average being twenty-eight months. The present officers of the post are Dr. J. E. Calloway, C .; Jacob Eidson, S. V. C .; John Smalley, J. V. C .; William Reeves, Adj. ; L. F. Parrish, Q. M .; D. W. Lowry, S. M .; J. Loutzenhiser, Q. M. S .; L. D. Collings, Chap- lain; Lemuel McDonald, O. D .; George W. Goddard, O. G .; J. L. Shipley, S.
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HISTORY OF MERCER COUNTY.
Modena, or Madisonville as it was formerly called, was laid out in 1856 by A. M. Thompson and George W. Stewart, and occupies the center of Section 35, Township 64, Range 25.
The first store was opened by Thompson & McGhee, and they were followed by James Stewart and James Bradley. Cyrenus Bain estab- lished the first grocery. The first blacksmith was George Miller, who was succeeded by A. T. Shafer. Among the merchants who did business at this place during and just after the war were John Thompson, A. Haney, Charles Thompson, David S. Wiggins and James Bradley. In 1866 Joshua Rock laid the foundation of the extensive business in general merchandise which he has since con- ducted. W. L. Jerome, Archibald Edwards, Harvey Traynor, Joseph Milliner, Joseph Powers and D. S. Boyer have also been in business at Modena at different times within the past twenty years.
In the spring of 1884 the village was almost entirely destroyed by fire. The sufferers from this disaster were Lewis Terwilager and John Miller, dealers in hardware; John Graves and J. B. Miller, druggists; Thomas Kirby & Co., dealers in general merchandise; and W. B. Walters, wagon-maker.
The business interests of the town at present are as follows: Joshua Rock, general merchandise; J. B. Miller, drugs; Walters & Renfro, hardware and stoves, and D. Horne, wagon and blacksmith shop.
A. J. Norton Post, No. 280, G. A. R., was organized at this place on July 4, 1886, with the following officers: Abraham Hendricks, commander; W. F. Kelso, Senior Vice Commander; David Horne, Junior Vice Commander; William Walter, Quartermaster; Joshua Rock, Surgeon; William A. Loe, Chaplain; James Thompson, Officer of the Day; A. J. Linville, Officer of the Guard, and C. H. Stewart, Ad- jutant. This post is in a highly flourishing condition, and now has a membership numbering thirty-nine. The present Commander is W. F. Kelso.
Mill Grove is a station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad about eight miles south of Princeton. The town was laid off by C. H. Stewart, William M. Butcher and William Smith, in December, 1870. The first store house was built in that year by John Everhart, who was engaged in the drug and grocery business for about a year. The first dwelling was erected by John Schooler, who had a general store. The first blacksmith shop was conducted by Gilbert Blue. The business of the town at the present time consists of a general store conducted by G. P. Larimore; a drug store,
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by S. A. Larimore; a hardware store, by R. Coon; two blacksmith shops, by Herrington Bros. and De Peny Bros., respectively, and a grist mill now operated by William G. Moore. This is a successor of the mill built in 1842, on the opposite side of the river.
Mill Grove was incorporated by the county court in 1877. The first meeting of the board of trustees was held on March 12, of that year. The trustees were Henry Scott, chairman; S. A. Larimore, R. N. Decker, George Miller and Marion Butcher. R. B. Linville was chosen clerk, and J. J. Stanley, marshal.
Middlebury, formerly a town of considerable business importance, existed in the southeastern part of Washington Township, but since the completion of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad through the county, it has entirely disappeared. It was founded by Royal Williams, who established a store there some time in the "forties." It was situated on an old stage route, and prior to the Civil War had grown to a flourishing village. Among those who were engaged in bus- iness in the place were Richard Williams, and John Wilkinson, grocers; David and Michael Coon, Jackson Wyatt and John Thompson, general merchants; James Cox and Jackson McElroy, blacksmiths; David Campbell, hotel keeper, and Abraham Schooler, Cephas Gray and - Greenlee, saloon keepers. Of those who did business there after the war may be mentioned James Williams, Jesse Reed, Andrew Mc- Laughlin and William Covey, merchants, and C. Cornell, hotel keeper.
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