History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences, Part 22

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198

USA > Missouri > Cooper County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 22
USA > Missouri > Howard County > History of Howard and Cooper counties, Missouri : written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, towns, and villages : together with a condensed history of Missouri, a reliable and detailed history of Howard and Cooper counties-- its pioneer record, resources, biographical sketches of prominent citizens, general and local statistics of great value, incidents and reminiscences > Part 22

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In 1874, the institution received a great impulse by the magnifi- cent donation of $50,000, from Miss Berenice Morrison. This sum, together with other vested endowments, now amounts to nearly $60,000, the annual interest of which, in addition to tuition, consti- tutes the income of the institute.

The patronage and comparative success of the school has varied in different years ; but in all this time a steady growth has been main- tained ; and to-day in its appointments and facilities for thorough academic and collegiate instruction, it holds a high rank among the colleges of Missouri. While it has steadily aimed to produce scholars rather than graduates; yet more than forty young ladies, and fifteen young men have received their diplomas here, many of whom are now in positions of honorable trust ; and all in positions of useful- ness.

In addition to the original school property, the trustees have lately purchased the residence and grounds formerly owned by Mr. Pritchett. This property, joined with the adjacent grounds and build- ings, constitutes the whole, one of the most valuable school proper- ties in central Missouri.

MORRISON OBSERVATORY.

In connection with the endowment of $50,000, made to Pritchett school institute, Miss Morrison made an additional donation of $50,000 to found and endow an astronomical observatory. This fund and the acquired property, is under the control of the same persons as trustees, who for the time are trustees of Pritchett school institute. But the trusteeship of the observatory is a separately acquired investiture - pertains to the same persons, but not as a part of the original trust, but for a distinct trust and purpose.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

In 1874, Miss Morrison, then in Europe, in her own name author- ized and empowered Prof. C. W. Pritchett, to proceed at once to erect and equip an astronomical observatory - subject to the direc- tion, in certain particulars, of her legal representative, Rev. J. O. Swinney. In the execution of this work, - the selection of site, the erection of building, the selection, purchase, transporta- tion and mounting of instruments, - Mr. Pritchett had the generous and hearty co-operation of Mr. Swinney. The building was erected in 1875, on a lot of ground one and a half miles east of Glasgow, especially donated for this purpose by H. Clay Cockerill and John F. Lewis. Its geographic position is 1 hr. 3 m. 5.93 sec., west of the dome of the United States naval observatory, Washing- ton, and in latitude 39°, 16', 16.75", north. The building consists first of the equatorial room and tower on the east. It is of brick, with very massive walls, carried up from a depth of ten feet below the surface. In the centre is the great pier for the equatorial - twelve by twelve feet at base, twelve feet below the surface. This building is surmounted by a hemis- pherical dome, and metallie roof and shutters. The dome is made to revolve by a system of gearing and wheel-work on six spher- ical balls of gun metal, which roll in a groove between two sets of iron plates - the lower set firmly attached to the heavy limestone eapping of the tower, and the upper to the heavy sill of the dome. The metallic shutters, in four sections, are raised and lowered by an end- less chain connected with a system of pulleys. Beneath this dome is mounted the splendid equatorial, by Alvan Clark & Sons, mounted in December, 1875. It is twelve and one-fourth inches clear aperture of objective and seventeen feet focal length.

Directly west of the equatorial-room and attached to it is the room for the meridian circle, collimator and sidereal clock. All these instruments are mounted on heavy insulated pins of solid masonry, extending ten feet below the surface. The meridian circle is by Wough ton & Simms, London - six inches clear aperture of objective and seven feet foens with twenty-four inch circles, reading to single seconds by eight microscopes. The sidereal clock is by Frodsham, London. West of the transit circle-room is the library and work-room. Here is stored a very valuable astronomical library and various minor instru- ments, - the telegraphie instruments and electric chronograph. The chronograph is used for recording observations by electro-magnetism, and the telegraph is chiefly used for sending out time signals from the standard clock. The cost of building and instruments was about $25,000.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

The main object of the observatory is to make exact and system- atie observations of the heavenly bodies, and to reduce, record and publish them. For the last seven years, in despite of its small annual income, it has done a large amount of work, much of which is of per- manent value. Many of its observations have been published in the scientific journals of Europe, and a much larger number awaits publi- cation in a more suitable form. Part of this time, Mr. Pritchett was assisted by his son, Prof. Henry S. Pritchett, now professor of mathe- matics and astronomy in Washington university, St. Louis. He now has the assistance of his youngest son, C. W. Pritchett, Jr.

LEWIS COLLEGE.

[Prepared by Prof. Jas. C. Hall.]

Lewis college is located in Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, and had its origin in the benevolence of two prominent citizens of the place, Colonel Benjamin W. Lewis and Major James W. Lewis. These brothers, by industry and the skilful management of a large manufacturing business, had acquired considerable wealth, and de- sired to use it for the benefit of their fellow-men, and especially for the community in which they had spent so many happy and prosperous years. Accordingly a plan was formed for the establishment of a college ; but in the few years preceding the war and during its con- tinuance, the times were so troubled and society so divided, that im- mediate action was not considered prudent.

The war developed new issues and surroundings, and forced changes upon individuals which had not been anticipated, and cnlmi- nated events suddenly which thoughtful minds had seen coming, but for which they were yet unprepared. The brothers were strongly in sympathy with the government in the preservation of the union and in the principles it sought to maintain ; it seemed, therefore, fitting that they should put themselves in accord with their principles in their religious as well as their political associations. They and their fami- lies had always been in fellowship with the Southern Methodist church, but finding themselves out of accord with it in the new issues developed by the war, they deemed it best to sever their relations with that denomination and unite with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the interests of which the Rev. D. A. McCready had then been sent to Glasgow. Accordingly, they and their wives, together with Noah Swacker and wife, joined that church and were by Mr. Mc- Cready organized into the first Methodist Episcopal society formed in

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

229

E. BROWN & COLCHICAGO LLE

LEWIS COLLEGE AT GLASGOW, MISSOURI.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Howard county since the great division in 1844. The immediate outgrowth of this step was the purchase of a church building on Market street, and the establishment of a school in the basement which was called the Lewis high school. Of this school Rev. D. A. McCready was appointed principal and achieved encouraging success. This was the initial step, and precipitated the plan for the proposed college, which now took definite shape. The enterprise might per- haps have been more rapidly developed and commanded more imme- diate success had not the course of events been changed by the hand of Providence.

In 1866, Colonel B. W. Lewis died from the effects of a carbun- cle on the neck, but in his will he directed his executors to set apart the sum of ten thousand dollars for the purchase and maintenance of a library in the city of Glasgow, which should be under the con- trol and management of a board of trustees appointed by the annual conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in Missouri, and should be open to the citizens of the town as a circulating library. He also proposed to make a proportionately liberal provision for the future college, of which this was intended to be a part, but died before his plans could be developed. In the same year, his widow, Mrs. Eleanor T. Lewis, his son, Benjamin W. Lewis, Jr., and Major James W. Lewis erected, at a cost of nearly $26,000, the handsome build- ing known as the Lewis library building, which they proposed to deed to the M. E. church as soon as the trustees should be ap- pointed by the said church to receive it and the above bequest. In March, 1867, the matter was brought before the Missouri conference, in session at Independence, and the following persons were appointed as trustees, viz. : Major James W. Lewis, Joseph D. Keebaugh, Charles R. Barclay, Nathan Shumate, David A. McCready, Benjamin W. Lewis, Jr., John Wachter, Hon. George Young, Hou. David Landon, Joseph H. Hopkins and William S. Wentz - " for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of said will and taking possession of said bequest, buildings and other property, and for the further purpose of establishing a permanent institution of learning in the city of Glasgow," and, pursuant to previous notice, the said trus- tees met on the 24th of May, 1867, in the city of Glasgow, and adopted articles of association, and on the 23d day of Sep- tember, following, became by due course of law a body politic and corporate under the corporate name of the Lewis college and library association.

On this new basis, Lewis college was opened in October 1867,

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

with Rev. J. S. Barwick, A. M., president, assisted by L. Bremer, A. M., Miss S. E. Eichelberger and Mrs. E. S. Barwick as teachers. One hundred and forty pupils were enrolled. A few were classed in the college department, but the principal work of the school was in the academie grades. Prof. Barwiek remained only a part of two years as president, and in 1869, Rev. L. M. Albright took charge. The library building proving inadequate, steps were taken by Major James W. Lewis and others to purchase the seminary building on Third and Market streets, then owned by the trustees of Pritchett school institute. This purchase, including the brick building imme- diately adjoining, was effected sometime in 1869, and the college was opened there. The surroundings were even more pleasant and the institution was better prepared to provide for its students. About the same time the trustees came into possession of the large frame building known as Bartholow hall, situated on the corner of Fourth and Commerce streets, which was fitted up with all the necessary ar- rangements for a club-house, where young men could board them- selves or be boarded at cheap rates. By the munificence of its founders, everything was done that could be to secure patronage and to elevate the grade of the school, but, notwithstanding their efforts, the growth was slow. The local patronage by political preferences and social relationships, was naturally turned to other institutions, and the church to which the school looked for patronage was able to do but little, for the reason that its membership were for the most part new comers, young married people with but little more money than was necessary to buy laud and stock and to meet the wants of their growing families. These facts were not altogether un- expected, and yet they were somewhat discouraging to those who compared the progress with that made with older and more favored colleges.

In the spring of 1881, President Albright resigned and the trust- ees at their meeting in June, elected Rev. T. A. Parker to fill the place. Prof. Parker did not personally take charge of the school but, by the permission of the board, employed James C. Hall, A. M., and Mrs, Olive K Hall, A. M., to manage the affairs until the next year. At the next meeting of the trustees, in June, 1882, Rev. James C. Hall, A. M., was elected president and Mrs. Olive K. Hall, professor of Latin and Greek. The circumstances surrounding the school were not such as to inspire confidence, or develop enthusiasm, yet the college took no step backward ; local sympathy was slow in growth, but it came at last and a creditable respect was won.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Several efforts were made to secure endowment and various plans adopted, but none of them were productive of much fruit. The patronizing conferences of the church were divided in feeling, partly on account of dissatisfaction with the local surroundings, and partly on account of efforts to secure their influence in estab- lishing schools in other parts of the state. The want of endowment made it impossible to meet the necessary expenses for instruction, and the work would necessarily have been aban- doned had not the deficiencies from year to year been promptly met by Major James W. Lewis, who generously expended thousands of dollars in this direction. In the year 1877, some changes were made in the general management, and the school was thrown more fully upon its own income for support. In the spring of 1880, proposi- tions were made to the trustees for the consolidation of Lewis col- lege and Prichett school institute into one school, under the control of the M. E. church, and a contract for such consolidation was made by representatives of both institutions. but before the opening of the fall session it was again dissolved.

In the spring of 1882, Bishop H. W. Warren, D. D., visited the college for the purpose of examining its condition, needs and pros- peets, and in council with prominent citizens it was resolved to ap- peal to the citizens of Glasgow for aid to supply better buildings and more ample grounds, and in case they neglected or refused to do so, then the college should be removed. This was fully set forth in a public meeting held at the M. E. church in Glasgow, March, 1882. At the next annual conference of the church held in Chilli- eothe, a committee was appointed to act with another committee to be appointed by the St. Louis conference of the M. E. Church, as a joint commission to determine the location and to relocate if neces- sary, Lewis college. This commission met at the annual commence- ment of the college, May 31, 1882, and decided to relocate the col- lege at one of the several suitable cities which should make the most liberal bid in lands, money and building. This committee met again on June 28, to open the bids received - Sedalia offering twelve acres of land suitably located, and $10,000 cash, and Glasgow offering twenty-five acres of land, the building and apparatus of the college, two pianos, the boarding-house and the building known as Bartholow hall, and a subscription of $7,600,

Glasgow was selected, and the necessary arrangements for the transfer of the property to the trustees were made. Steps were im- mediately taken to purchase the handsome residence just north of the

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

city known as the Lewis mansion. On November 22d, the negotia- tion was effected, and on the 21st of December, the new premises were taken possession of by the college.

A full report of the action of the commission and board of trus- tees in the location of the college and the purchase of property, was made to the Missouri and St. Louis annual conferences and endor sed by them. Rev. J. J. Bentley was appointed financial agent, and plans were adopted which promise to make the college at once a suc- cess. A general retrospect of the entire history of the college shows a slow but continued advance. From its humble beginning in the basement of the church, through all the viscissitudes of its for- tune, it has won every step it has gained by determined and perse- vering effort. Whatever of Utopian dreams may have hovered over its early years have been dispelled by the struggles through which it has passed. Those who administer its affairs grasp its interests with a strong hand, and upon the new and permanent foundation, with the handsomest surroundings of any college in Missouri, Lewis eol- lege sets out with flattering prospects to achieve the noblest ambi- tion of its founders, and to bring to their names the honor due.

LEWIS LIBRARY.

The Lewis library was founded by the late Colonel Benjamin W. Lewis, who ordered in his will that the liberal sum of ten thousand dollars should be set apart to be invested in a library, to be located in the city of Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri; and that the said library should be under the control of the Methodist Episcopal church. Since his death, a handsome buiding has been erected by Mrs. Eleanor Lewis, his widow, Benjamin W. Lewis, his son, and Major J. W. Lewis, his brother, in which the library is now kept.

Since its foundation, it has been steadily increasing in favor and prosperity. Its influence is widely felt, and its interests begin to find a response in the hearts of the people, who already regard it with pride as. the ornament of the city, and a fitting monument of the life and labors of its benevolent founder.

It is replete with all the standard authors, leading magazines, and a fine collection of mineral specimens ; is arranged somewhat after the style of the public school library, St. Louis, and the works contained are estimated to have cost $5,000. Many rare and ancient curiosities are to be found here, affording large speculative theories, and themes for earnest and candid study, The building is a handsome two-story structure of modern architecture, the second floor being devoted to the

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

library and reading-room. The first floor is a public lecture hall. The building is 40x90 feet in dimensions, and cost $30,000. This is without doubt one of the finest institutions of its kind in the state, and has to be seen to be fully appreciated.

Board of trustees - Rev. J. H. Hopkins, John Wachter, Rev. John Gillies, Rev. J. R. Sassine, Rev. Benj. St. J. Fry, D. D., Major J. W. Lewis, B. W. Lewis, Jr., Rev. W. F. Clayton, Rev. G. W. Durment, Rev. W. J. Martindale, Rev. T. J. Ferril. Officers of the Board - Rev. J. H. Hopkins, president ; Major J. W. Lewis, vice- president ; Rev. J. D. Keebaugh, secretary ; John Wachter, treasurer. Executive committee - Rev. J. H. Hopkins, Major J. W. Lewis, Rev. W. J. Martindale. Librarian - Mrs. Jeanie Almond Frost.

PUBLIC SCIIOOLS.

The public schools of Glasgow were organized abont two years after the war of 1861.

There are at this time (1883) two hundred and forty white pupils* and two hundred and fifteen colored pupils enrolled.

Present teachers - George W. Jones, superintendent ; Miss Lizzie Feagel, first assistant ; Miss Blanch Hieronymus, second assist- ant : Miss Nettie Sears, third assistant ; Miss Ella Hams, fourth as- sistant. Colored school - A. R. Chinn, L. F. Payne, Miss Nancy I. Farel.

POST-OFFCE.

Glasgow post-office was established September 27, 1837. The list of postmasters with date of appointment is as follows : -

September 27, 1837, R. P. Hanenkamp. September 30, 1839, Thomas A. Lewis.

November 30, 1841, Daniel Maynard. January 29, 1842, R. P. Hanenkamp.

November 13, 1846, Henry W. Smith. April 11, 1849, W. F. Dunnica.

December 24, 1852, John C. Crowley.

February 4, 1853, James S. Thompson.

August 24, 1853, John T. Marr.

November 11, 1856, Gideon Crews.

December 31, 1861, Frank W. Diggs.

* A number of white pupils attend other schools and colleges, which largely decreases the number attending the public schools.

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

February 14, 1862, Christian Dantel.

May 22, 1862, Frank W. Diggs. March 24, 1869, Joseph D. Keebaugh. January 20, 1871, Enoch B. Cunningham. March 19, 1875, J. P. Cunningham.

DIRECTORY OF GLASGOW.

5 dry goods houses,

1 boot and shoe store,

3 boot and shoe makers, 7 grocery stores,

4 drug stores,

5 saloons,

2 silversmith shops, 3 tailor shops,

1 millinery store,

2 bakers,

1 furniture store,

4 blacksmith shops,

2 tin and stove shops, 2 dentists,

1 saddler shop, 1 saw mill and veneering manu- facture,

2 flouring mills,

1 Baptist church,

1 Christian church,

1 Catholic church,

1 German Evangelical church,

1 M. E. Church, south,

1 M. E. church,

1 Presbyterian church,

1 M. E. church (colored ),

1 African M. E. church (colored ).

CHAPTER X.

PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP.

Boundary - Physical Features - Early Settlers -Armstrong - Roanoke - Secret Orders - Moniteau Township - Boundary - Physical Features - Early Settlers - Sebree - Burton Township - Boundary -Physical Features - Burton - Bonne Femme Town- ship - Boundary - Physical Features- Early Settlers.

BOUNDARY.

Something more than one third of this township was taken off in 1880, to form Burton township, leaving it as it is now in area, about fifty square miles. It is bounded on the north by Randolph county, on the east by Burton township, on the south by Richmond township, and on the west by Chariton township.

PIIYSICAL FEATURES.

This township unlike any other in the county, included originally a prairie, which constituted about one-fourth of its area. This portion of the same was called Foster's prairie, after Silas Foster, who settled there at an early day. The surface of the township consists of hills and undulations, but the soil is rich and constitutes a fine agricultural region. Bonne Femme creek finds its source in this township, in a number of small confluents which drain the southern part of the same. Cabin creek with other streams, water the township in various directions.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Prairie township being a little remote from the river, was not settled as early as some other districts of the county. The pioneers were partial to large streams and great forests. They drew much of their sustenance from both, and so long accustomed were they to the sound of the winds passing through the branches of the trees, that sheltered the door-yards of their former homes, that, in the selection of a site for a new location, they did so, with special reference to the convenience of the former and immediate proximity of the latter. Prairie township not presenting to the eye of the early settler, the

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

advantages of timber and water to such an extent as he desired, it was not so early and so densely populated as the townships bordering upon the Missouri.

The first persons to locate in the township were Silas Inyart, Wm. Harvey, Durlin Wright, Umphrey Bess and John Titus. These took claims about three miles south of the town of Roanoke. Thomas Patterson, father of Rice Patterson, settled the place where Captain Finks now lives, in 1817, where he made small improvements. Pres- ley, William and Frank Holly, came in 1821 ; also, Stephen, John and William Green, and Wesley, Asa and George Thompson. Wil- liam Shores, a Methodist preacher, was an early settler. Benjamin Williams opened a farm about four miles west of Roanoke at an early day.

Lott Hackley located in the southern part of the township, and David Crews in the central portion of the same. Richard Lee was an early settler. The following parties settled in the township from 1819 to 1825 : Nathaniel Morris, Alfred Williams, Harrison Daly, James Hardin, Love Evans, George Foster, Robert James, Levi. Markland, Asa O. Thompson, Michael Robb, Jonas Robb, Reuben Anderson, Philip Prather, Patrick Woods, William Padgett, Silas Foster, Leyton Yancy, William Drinkard, Haman Gregg, Garland Maupin, Charles Denny, James Ramsey, A. Williams, Joseph Foster, Martin Gibson, John Cross, Jackson Thorp, Joseph Rundel, William Maupin, William Green, Wesley Green, John King, James King, Thomas Graves, John Snoddy, Walker Snoddy, David Martin, Will- iam Richardson, David Gross, William Hutson, Stokely Mott, John Feunel, Thomas Simmons, David, James and Irvin Lee, John Page, William Montgomery, Peter Ford, Sr., Asa Kerby, M. Lane, Frank- lin Wood, Garrett Trumble, William Arch and Paddy Woods, David White, John Warford, James Snyder, Lynch Turner, James Denny, John T. Cleveland, John Broadus, James Hackley, Charles Harvey, William James, William McCully and George Jackson.

ARMSTRONG.

This is a bright, new town, located on the line of the Chicago and Alton railroad, and was laid out in the spring of 1878. It is surrounded by a beautiful and fertile country, about eight miles from Glasgow. The first business house was completed and occupied by P. A. Wooley. Flagg and Prather, began the erection of a build- ing about the same time, but did not get their stock of goods into it

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HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

as soon as Wooley. Samuel Prather was the first postmaster. The next building was a hotel, and crected by one, Milcham. The town contains one church edifice, built by different denominations as a union church ; three dry goods stores, two groceries, two drug stores, one lumber yard and two blacksmiths.

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Author: National Historical Company Publication date: 1883 Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1198

Author: National Historical Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: St. Louis : National Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1198