USA > Missouri > Henry County > History of Henry County, Missouri > Part 16
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For $30,000 light bonds :
Wards
For
Against
First
264
10
Second
123
9
Third
198
3
Fourth
213
12
Total
798
34
For $70,000 water bonds:
First
261
13
Second
125
11
Third
198
3
Fourth
216
12
Total
804
-
39
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
Following the vote on municipal ownership, which resulted so over- whelmingly in favor of the city owning the public utilities, came the April city election. The election resulted in the selection of Shackleford for mayor on the municipal ownership ticket by a majority of 435 over Sol Blatt. The whole municipal ownership ticket was overwhelmingly elected, the majorities averaging above 300 except in the case of city attorney, where J. F. Delaney beat Fred B. Owen, Democrat, by only 110. The municipal ownership aldermen were all elected and the entire administra- tion was committed to that proposition.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RECUPERATION AND PROGRESS
THE PEOPLES BANK OF CLINTON-UNION OF PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES-SALOON LICENSES-DEATH OF BROTHER GIVEN-THE U. D. C. BESTOWES CROSSES OF HONOR-JUDGE BOYD'S PICNIC-THE BANKS IN URICH-THE PANIC OF 1907-NEW BANK IN MONTROSE-POLITICS IN 1908-FARIS NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR-EXPLOSION AT WINDSOR-DEATH OF DE ARMOND-DICKINSON ELECTED TO CONGRESS.
The Peoples National Bank was formally organized and opened for business early in January, 1907. Organization was effected by the elec- tion of the following directors: James M. Spangler, R. H. Piper, J. D. Carney, John Arvin, Dr. J. H. Britts, J. J. Chastain, J. C. Wyatt. The directors elected the following officers: President, John Arvin; vice-presi- dent, R. H. Piper; cashier, J. C. Wyatt; assistant cashier, J. J. Chastain. The new bank had a paid up capital of $50,000, acquired the Salmon & Salmon Bank building and opened for business using that building for its banking business. Two of these men were from out of the county, the president, John Arvin, who was a recent resident of Howard County, com- ing from Armstrong, Missouri, and the cashier, J. C. Wyatt, removed from Higbee to assume the position in this bank. The intention of the new organization was to give the county a bank conducted on conservative lines, which would be an assistance to the upbuilding of the whole com- munity.
Representative M. B. Thralls, of Henry County, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives which was inspired by Governor Folk's wishes to enforce the Sunday "lid law." The proposed law made viola- tion of the dramshop law outlawry and subjected the violator to arrest by a posse which might be called out by the Governor if he should become satisfied that local officials would not, or could not, enforce the law. The
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PRIZE WINNERS, HENRY COUNTY CALF CLUB
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
cost of the enforcement of the law in such a case was to be borne by the State and the members of the posse to have the same authority in making arrest as a sheriff. This was a law designed to assist the authorities in preventing violations of the liquor laws, particularly in counties or in sections of the larger cities where the sentiment for Sunday observance and proper enforcement of the dramship laws was not strong.
The question of union between the Presbyterian and Cumberland Presbyterian Churches had been agitated for a number of years and while Henry County Presbyterians did not take any prominent part, yet they were all concerned as to the ultimate results of the proposed merger. At the meeting of the General Assembly of the two churches in 1906, articles of union were formally agreed on and arrangements were made for the joining of the two congregations in towns where both branches of the united church had organizations; and in the case of such union, to vacate one of the church buildings and unite all of the people under one pastor and in one church body. Pursuant to such action of the general assemblies of the two churches, there was a meeting held in Kansas City early in January, 1907, at which the Kansas City Presbytery of the Kansas City Church and the Lexington Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church were both represented and at such meeting final steps were taken to legally unite the two bodies; and particularly included were the two Clinton Presbyterian Churches. The local Cumberland Presbyterian Church was represented by Rev. G. P. Beaty, who presented a communica- tion from that church bearing upon the matter. The Kansas City Pres- bytery formally transferred the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton to the Lexington Presbytery, in order to get the two churches in the same presbytery, and the Lexington Presbytery accepted the transferred church in order to perfect the union of the two churches.
The committee of ministers, consisting of Rev. Beaty and Rev. Howell of Clinton, and Walker of Kansas City, were appointed to visit Clinton on January 31 and carry out the orders of the Presbytery, formally con- stituting the union of the two churches upon the basis of union adopted by each. On the occasion of the visit of the committee from the Pres- bytery, the two Clinton Presbyterian Churches were formally merged into one body, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton. The new body was organized, as to elders, deacons and trustees, by an equal number being named from each of the two constituent churches ; and, after the formal interrogation and replying to the regular constitu-
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
tional questions, were declared to be the officers of the united church. The officers elected were as follows: From the Presbyterian Church, elders, J. G. Middlecoff, Dr. B. B. Barr, Dr. E. Y. Nichols, Millard Lane, H. P. Far- ris, J. E. Akey; deacons, U. W. Lamkin, Charles Tobias, Otto Detweiller, Carter Cannon, George D. Coon. From the Cumberland Presbyterian Church : Elders, B. L. Owen, Hale Montgomery, W. H. Shackleford, M. B. Knowles, C. H. Van Dyke, Frank C. Shaver; deacons, A. C. Haysler, Ernest Vale, E. H. Dooley, Dr. S. C. A. Rubey, F. B. Waddell. Rev. J. R. Birchfield, who had hitherto been the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, was installed as the first pastor of the new body.
The union of the two churches was not acceptable to all of the mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and at the same time the above proceedings were being had a meeting was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Clinton, of those members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church who had all the time steadfastly opposed the union. Presiding at this meeting was the Rev. J. E. Duggins of Mont- rose. J. W. King was elected elder and S. D. Garth trustee. J. M. Weide- meyer and J. G. Turk were appointed to find a suitable place in which to have a Sunday school and prayer meeting, and it was resolved to con- tinue the organization and as soon as possible to employ a regular min- ister. The dispute between the two branches of this church was carried from the ecclesiastical into the State Court and after a long litigation extending to the Supreme Court of the United States was formally de- cided in favor of the merger. However, in 1908, Judge Denton had be- fore him in the Circuit Court of Henry County a case involving one phase of the union on which depended the ownership of Mt. Carmel Church in Davis township. It seems that nearly fifteen years before Dr. J. G. Turk of Clinton deeded to the trustees of the Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church a tract of ground about an acre in extent on which the church was built and stood at the time of the suit. There was inserted in the deed by the grantor a stipulation that the building to be erected should be used as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and also the provision that should it cease to be so used the ground should revert back to him or his heirs. Since the union the building was used by the unionists and, as Dr. Turk adhered to the loyal branch of the Cumberland Presbtyerian Church, the suit was brought to gain possession of the ground under the condition that the church was no longer used by the Cumberland Pres- byterians.
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
The city of Clinton having voted to remain wet, the question of saloon licenses was considered at a special meeting of the city council held on Monday, May 6, 1907. The attitude of many of the people seemed to be that saloons should pay a very high license fee, at least such was the presumption from the action of the council, which on this date intro- duced and passed an ordinance raising saloon licenses in Clinton from $1,000 to $3,000 per year, which together with additional taxes made the saloon licenses $3,800. each. The action was taken probably in anticipa- tion of saloon licenses about to be applied for in the County Court on the following Monday, and the passage of this ordinance and its imme- diate going into effect made the granting of additional saloon licenses improbable. In fact it was predicted at that time that the raising of the license fee would result in the closing of all the saloons, with perhaps one exception. The prediction that the saloons would not pay the license prescribed by the ordinance was fulfilled and as the licenses of the vari- ous saloons expired one by one they closed, so that for a period of nearly four months there was no licensed saloon in Clinton, the town, while it had voted wet, being dry on account of the license fee charge. The County Court in the meantime had granted five saloon licenses, but none of them had been taken out, owing to the Clinton ordinance. However, the long drouth in Clinton was broken on the convening of a special meeting of the city council in mid July. The council at that time reduced the saloon license from $3,000 to $1,500 annually and two saloons were immediately opened, followed by others.
In the death of Rev. J. C. Given at Springfield during the month of April was removed from Henry County and Missouri one of the most popular and widely known ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. There is no resident of Henry County who lived there during the pastorate of Brother Given in Clinton who did not know him. He was remarkable for his friendliness and his most striking feature probably was his innate hospitality and extraordinary love for fellowman. In all of his career it was an inviolate maxim of his that a stranger in his town should be shown the same courtesies that one receives while among his friends and acquaintances. Following this theory it was the usual thing for him to accost a stranger on the street with a hearty handshake and a cheery smile and venture any information about the town or its citizenship that would tend to facilitate the business or make more in- teresting the sight seeing trips of the unacquainted one. This habit
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
brought him into contact with and gained for him the lasting friend- ship of many commercial travelers; although on some occasions the drummers would not meet his advances. It is related that on one oc- casion he was going down the street extending the greetings of the day in his customary manner, when he chanced to meet a drummer who refused his extended hand. After the drummer had learned who it was that had attempted to shake hands with him, he stepped up to Rev. Given and said: "When you offered to shake hands with me a while ago, I thought you were a confidence man. I have since learned that I was mistaken." Givens looked him squarely in the eye and replied: "We were both mistaken; you took me for a confidence man and I took you for a gentleman."
Only a small degree less than his enthusiasm for his church and ministry was his ardor as a fisherman. He loved to fish and rarely let an opportunity pass to take a trip to the banks of some good stream and there angle for the fish tribe. Jovial, warm hearted, courteous, conse- crated-his passing was a distinct loss to his church and to every com- munity in which he served or was known.
The United Daughters of the Confederacy have a very beautiful custom of conferring crosses of honor on the old veterans who wore the gray. It is a recent thing with them, for up to this time no mark of distinction had been given to the heroes of the Southern Confederacy. Elaborate ceremonies were held by the K. K. Salmon Chapter of the U. D. C. which was in Clinton and on the occasion of the celebration of the birthday of Jefferson Davis. The custom of giving the crosses arose in the desire to confer some emblem upon the Southern soldier who had served with honor in the war between the States, and was conceived by Miss Mary Ann Cobb Irwin, of Athens, Georgia. The design was offered by Miss I. E. Gabbett of Atlanta, Georgia, and was accepted by the Na- tional Conference of the United Daughters of the Confederacy at Rich- mond, Virginia, in 1899. There are strict rules governing the bestowal of these crosses and the veteran who receives one justly feels that he is indeed honored. The crosses are made from the metal of a cannon which had served in the war between the States, and while they have no in- trinsic value they are freighted with that which gold cannot buy.
On the occasion of the first bestowal of these crosses in Henry County, the following twenty Confederate veterans were so honored: Frank Nash, W. G. Watkins, W. F. Mastin, Eli Wade, Joseph W. Wilson,
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Capt. J. M. Ragland, Capt. J. M. Weidemeyer, Lieut. W. F. Carter, Rev. J. F. Watkins, Dr. J. H. Britts, Judge O. M. Bush, T. H. Violette, W. C. Bronaugh, Judge Joe Boyd, Judge L. P. Beaty, Judge J. F. Hargrave, W. B. Johnson, William Goforth, W. J. Stevens, A. B. Hopkins.
The following January, on the occasion of the celebration of the birth- day of Robert E. Lee, the following veterans were also presented crosses : Abner E. Adair, James A. Dunn, J. C. Gilliam, D. T. Hampton, John M. Salmon, J. T. Wiley, W. T. Wilson, Charles P. Duncan, W. C. Greer, Ephraim Goff, Robert C. Owens, S. F. Snodgrass, J. P. Williams, J. S. Howerton.
An occasion characteristic of the times was a picnic and barbecue arranged during this summer by Judge Joe Boyd, who extended his hos- pitality to all his friends the latter part of August in his beautiful pas- ture that skirts the bank of Deepwater Creek. There was "no night" in that big pasture the preceding evening, fires were started in trenches as dusk came on and the flames shooting skyward drove back the dark- ness and sent a crimson flush between the tree trunks. As the flames died down, over the bed of glowing coals were stretched the carcasses that were to feed the many visitors. John Bixman acted as superinten- dent and was ably assisted by John Belton and Tom Shoemaker, who were past masters in the science of barbecueing. By the trenches were two big kettles of Burgoo and stores of bread and coffee and pickles awaited the expected guests. By 1 o'clock nearly a thousand happy men, women and children had arrived in the grove. Before this there was a fox chase which Judge Boyd's hounds followed in full cry and the riders, though they failed to bring back the fox, returned with wonder- ful appetites.
After the dinner speeches were made by Rev. A. N. Lindsey, Senator Dickinson, P. A. Parks, C. A. Calvird and Judge James B. Gantt. The part that Judge Boyd had played in the history of Henry County, the years when the sparsely settled neighborhood had struggled to avoid paying an unjust debt, the later period of compromise and adjustment and refunding to get the county at its present low rate of interest, and in particular how during his four years' service on the County Court, had been paid $98,000 railroad and $50,000 court house bonds were all sub- jects of eulogy. The occasion is remarkable and worthy of remembrance because such things were characteristic of the people of this time and the presence of such pioneers and sturdy citizens as Judge Boyd always is worthy of note and a blessing to the county.
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
The National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis and C. A. Davis of Clinton purchased the Bank of Urich in October. All the old officers remained in the bank except Dr. J. Noble, who was compelled to retire on account of failing health. The officers elected were: W. B. Moreland, president; J. A. Kerr, vice-president ; W. H. Erwin, cashier; C. A. Davis, assistant cashier.
The Bank of Urich was one of the most solid and substantial of the smaller banks of Missouri. Under the wise management of Dr. Noble and his associates it had steadily added to its resources and to its surplus. The retirement of Dr. Noble from this bank was followed within less than a month by his death. He had planned to go to California on a trip to recuperate his failing health and was only delaying until he could dispose of his interest in the Bank of Urich; but he was stricken with paralysis the day following the transfer and died the thirtieth of the month.
At about the same time, arrangements were completed for a new bank at Urich, to be known as the Farmers Bank, which new institution was organized with $15,000 capital, among the prominent stockholders being John R. Green of Clinton, H. B. Hackney and Scott Graham of Urich.
The financial condition of the Nation in 1907 was such that on the thirty-first of October of that year the banks of the county by unanimous action issued notice that beginning on that day no cash should be paid to anyone in excess of $25 a day and not exceeding $50 in any one week, on any account. All amounts in excess of $25 were to be paid in cash interest checks, certified checks or drafts on Kansas City or St. Louis, and might be deposited. The manifesto from the banks further stated that all local banks were in good condition and had strong cash reserves and the step was taken to keep the currency at home, so it would not interfere with local business affairs and to protect the interests of de- positors. The agreement was signed by the People's National Bank, the Clinton National Bank, the Bank of Calhoun, the Citizens' Bank of Wind- sor, Farmers' Bank of Windsor, Bank of Urich, Bank of Blairstown, Sav- ings Bank of Montrose, and followed similar action of the banks at Se- dalia, Warrensburg, Nevada and Butler, which had acted in a similar way some days before. The enforcement of the rule did not cripple business in the slightest degree. It simply insured financial stability and was in the interest of all depositors. In case of payment of over $25 cashiers' checks were given by the bankers which were accepted by any bank or
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
business man just as cash. Business men had long been prepared for the action and its promulgation was creative of no surprise whatever. They recognized it as a measure of safety and approved the courses of the various banks in adopting it.
On December 1 the new Farmers and Merchants Bank of Montrose opened for business. Its capital was $10,000 and the first board of di- rectors was composed of Kansas City capitalists, who were: John C. Hughes, C. M. Scanlon, H. H. Briggs and Frank Stoddard. H. H. Briggs was president and Frank Stoddard cashier.
During the year a number of prominent citizens of the county passed to their reward. Judge J. M. Ballard of Montrose died on June 17. He had long been prominent in business and politics in this section, first in Bates and later in Henry County. He was formerly State Senator from the district and voted for George G. Vest on the last occasion of his election to the United States Senate.
James H. Callaway, a resident of Clinton since 1878, died in his home in that town in mid-summer. He had been sheriff of the county, holding the office two terms. As an official he was efficient, manifesting splendid judgment and yet, while kind hearted in the performance of his duty, he showed absolute fidelity in everything committed to nim.
R. B. McConnell was born in Clinton in 1857, was elected circuit clerk of Henry County and entered on his duties of office January 1, 1883, serving continuously for sixteen years.
On the fourteenth of November Frank B. Waddell, one of the most popular men who had ever lived in Clinton, died in a St. Louis hospital. Of a sunny disposition he was extremely well liked, and as a business man he had no superior in the county.
The death of Dr. G. Y. Salmon removed from the community one of its oldest citizens. He had come to Clinton in the middle forties, first as a physician, where he built up a large practice. During the war his business was destroyed and on the conclusion of the struggle he returned and engaged in the live stock business. In 1867 he entered the banking business with D. C. Stone, under the firm name of Salmon & Stone. In 1877 it became the firm of Salmon & Salmon and his partner was his brother, Major H. W. Salmon. This bank continued in business until its failure, June 21, 1905. During his years of active business life Dr. Sal- mon was noted for his kind disposition. It was said that no friend ever sought a reasonable favor in vain, and he had every word of cheer and friendship.
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
At the first meeting of the County Court in 1908 Henry C. Allen, at that time county surveyor, was appointed to fill the office of county highway engineer, which had just been created. His salary was fixed at $1,400 a year, Mr. Allen to pay his expenses. This was the beginning of a movement that it was hoped would result in the improvement of roads and the betterment of living conditions in the rural districts. At about the same time the Civic Association of Clinton planned a rest room in the court house. Representatives from various women's clubs of the town were present and pledged their encouragement and grave substantial financial aid. The room chosen was the one west of the north corridor of the court house, opening into the office of probate judge, but not used by him. The room was fitted up with chairs, sofas, tables and toilet accessories, etc., and an invitation extended to visitors from the county to make use of it when in Clinton.
The Clinton Pottery, which had been in trouble for some time, was closed in February, the management making the statement that it was immaterial to the company whether or not the Clinton plant was run. The difficulties between the men and the management of this plant had been growing ever since it was taken over by outside corporations and the business had ceased to be a local institution, and finally was closed up. An opportunity existed in Clinton, provided that the manegement was really interested in the upbuilding of a business, but under the con- ditions there was no real effort made to continue this branch of manu- facturing in the town.
An abstract of the county assessment for the year 1907 shows the following: 463,185 acres were assessed at $4,547,289, an average valua- tion of $9.81 an acre. Of town lots there were 73,224, assessed at $1,489,- 410, making a total real estate assessment of $6,036,699. Personal prop- erty assessment shows 11,218 horses valued at $343,547, or an average of $30.62 a head; 3,300 mules valued at $105,561, or an average of $31.99; 83 asses valued at $4,111; 26,045 cattle valued at $287,012, or an average of $11.02; 4,560 sheep valued at $6,612, averaging $1.45; 30,138 hogs valued at $87,898, averaging $2.91; other live stock $424; money, goods, etc., valued at $543,910; banks, $192,630; total personal property, $1,- 980,979; grand total of real and personal property, $8,017,676.
The winter of 1908 was unusually mild for Henry County. Not once during the three winter months did the temperature fall to zero and the lowest tabulation was two degrees above in February. February came
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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY
in with an electrical storm which lasted from dusk Saturday evening until midnight. The highest temperature in February was twenty-seven de- grees, on the twenty-ninth; the lowest two degrees, on the second. The mean maximum temperature was forty-eight degrees; the minimum twenty-six degrees and the mean average thirty-seven degrees. The total rainfall was 33.3 inches and the greatest rainfall in one day was .87 inches, on the fourteenth. On the same day there was thunder, a very unusual phenomena in winter. During the month there were sixteen clear, five partly clear, and eight cloudy days, and very little snow, only four days having any at all and then not enough to measure. It would be well to remember this winter of 1908, as it was one of the mildest ever known in this climate.
The Christian Church in Clinton, under the leadership of Elder A. N. Lindsey, had grown in a phenomenal way and the congregation erected a new church building to accommodate the increased membership and to provide for the work of the church.
The city campaign in 1908 in Clinton was very animated. The munici- pal ownership party, which was in power, renominated all of the officers serving at that time whose terms expired. Their nominations were: For mayor, W. H. Shackleford; assessor, A. E. Boyd; collector, R. Belisle; marshal, J. M. Davis; city attorney, Harold Pierce; treasurer, J. H. Scherff ; police judge, A. C. Avery ; councilmen, S. T. Neill, Roy Labaugh, James E. Wright, George Paul. The Democrats nominated: For mayor, W. M. Stevens; assessor, Alvin Faith; collector, Mason Anderson; treas- urer, E. R. Lingle; marshal, Wallace Bennett; police judge, Solomon Blatt; city attorney, Charles Calvird; councilmen, Dr. J. R. Wallis, John J. Chastain, John W. Penland, John R. Doyle.
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