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 68

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 68
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 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Though the principal did all the work, both of teaching and gov- erning, the course of study was very full, embracing the full college course of mathematics and languages. As experience and educa- tional progress demanded it, there was contraction of these parts of the curriculum and exhaustion in the department of natural sciences.

Before one year had elapsed, the school was well enough estab- lished to enable the principal to begin to prepare for it a permanent home, the one in which it has ever since remained. Money was raised by means of a company, who subscribed for stock, which was to be redeemed by Mr. K. as he became able. By this means the right front of the present building was erected in the summer of 1845. By the same means an addition was erected in 1851, nearly doubling its capacity. The school-room, a detached building, was erected in 1866, and the main front in 1872.

Mr. Kemper began his work without any assistance in the labor of the school-room. In his view a thorough educational system, such as he aimed to practice, required much more of the teacher than mere class work, and hence, only those were fitted to engage in it who had received previous careful training under his own eye, and demonstrated their fitness for what was required. With but two or three excep- tions, his assistants, during his whole professional life, caught the de- tails and the inspiration of his methods by first experimenting them as students.

Soon after the founding of the school, he associated with himself

671

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

the brothers, Tyre C. and James B. Harris. This partnership did not continue long. Other assistants, in the early history of the school, were James and John Chandler, William and Roberdeau Allison, and J. A. Quarles.

During two or three years of the civil war, the school was under the joint management of Mr. Kemper and Mr. Edwin Taylor, brother of Mrs. Kemper. During one year, 1867-68, Mr. R. Allison was as- sociated in the management.

During the year 1867, Mr. T. A. Johnston, the present princi- pal, entered the school as a student. He is a native of this county ; his family is of Scotch-Irish stock, and one of the pioneer families of the county, having become established here from Tennessee in 1817. After attending the school one year as student he became tutor, though at the same time continuing his studies. In this capacity he continued till September, 1871, when he entered the State university of Missouri, and received the degree of bachelor of arts in 1872. He at once returned to this school and became associate principal.

From this period till the death of Mr. Kemper, in 1881, the man- agement was unchanged. The principal assistant teachers during this period, were W. M. Hoge and G. W. Johnston, from 1875 to 1878, and E. L. Yager and J. H. Gauss, 1878 to 1880. After graduating at the State university, in 1880, W. M. Hoge and G. W. Johnston again accepted positions in the school and have remained connected with it ever since. Miss H. C. Hunt, a lady of high culture and large experience in teaching the modern languages, has charge of that branch.

Upon the death of Mr. Kemper, in 1881, the school passed ac- cording to previous arrangements, under the control of T. A. John- ston. There was no break of any kind or halt in the prosperity of the school by this change. Its patronage has widened and increased rather than diminished, so that now (1883) the full extent of its ac- commodations is reached, and students are in attendance from nine different states and territories.

In many respects the arrangements of this school are peculiar. All of its students are members of the school family and subjected to family authority and discipline. For this purpose all, whether they live far or near, board with the principal. Its primary object is train- ing rather than mere instruction - the making of men rather than encyclopedias of knowledge. The eating, sleeping, exercise, dress, recreation, shopping, church-going and other details of ordinary con- duct are elevated to the rank of duties, having a right and wrong

672

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

way of performance, and their culture is promoted by careful training in proper methods of action in these respects.

The students are exclusively boys.

In grade, it is a school of secondary instruction. Its aim is to fit students for college ; or if, as is too often the case, the college course is not contemplated, to furnish the best possible substitute for it, preparatory to business life.

COOPER INSTITUTE.

This institution was founded in the year 1863 by Rev. X. X. Buck- ner, a prominent minister in the Baptist church. Finding his limited salary in the ministry being insufficient to support his growing family, he conceived the idea of teaching, and at first taught a small private school in the country, at the residence of William Eliott. Being suc- cessful as a teacher, he resolved to extend his field of labor, and hence removed his school to Boonville, where he bought school property, and, in September, 1863, started an institution which ranked among the best in the state. There being no other seminary in the city, Mr. Buckner being a man of popular address, and also a practical business man, the school at once became one of the largest in the state, at one time having twenty-five boarders in his family.

At the zenith of success Mr. Buckner resolved to again give his en- tire time to the ministry, and hence, in February, 1865, he sold his pro- perty to Rev. S. W. Marston, who succeeded as principal of the school. Mr. Marston continued in the school for three years, which, from various causes, did not succeed as under its former principal. Mr. Marston did a good work, but at the end of three years gave up the school.

Then, from September, 1868, to September, 1870, the Cooper In- stitute ceased its labors.

In the summer of 1870, Anthony Haynes, for many years president of the Elizabeth Aull female seminary, at Lexington, Missouri, moved to Boonville, for the purpose of establishing a first-class semin- ary. He leased the building formerly occupied for the purpose, and in September, 1870, again opened Cooper Institute, which has been in successful operation ever since, a period of thirteen years.

After the first year the school was removed to the large Thespian hall building, where the distinguished Colonel Joseph L. Stephens, with marked liberality, had arranged a splendid suite of rooms for the uses of the school. During that year the boarding department was

673

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

kept by the accomplished Mrs. Warfield, and twenty-five boarders at- tended the school.

Miss Lou Atwood presided over the music department, at the head of a very large class.

At the close of the year 1871, the school was again removed to the building formerly occupied as the Missouri female college. During that year the principal, Mr. Haynes, purchased a lot on Sixth street and built a handsome seminary building of his own, to which he moved the school in September, 1873, and the school has continued in this building since its erection. Since that time the building has been much enlarged, which, combined with Mr. Haynes' family residence, makes one of the most desirable school buildings in the state. The school has had as many as thirty-two boarders during a session.

This school has continued a successful career of thirteen years, even amid the severest competition and opposition, and now stands upon a permanent basis, more prosperous than ever, with an atten- dence of eighty students.

During Mr. Haynes' administration, one thousand pupils have attended the school, and its students are found all over the west, many of whom are settled and at the head of families, in the town where they were educated. Many of the students return each year to visit their alma mater.

Till 1877, Mr. Haynes turned out graduating classes, which passed through the course, which was, at that time, generally adopted in most of western female colleges. At that time he ad- vanced his course of study. Incorporated in the course is an extended course of the higher mathematics, and a course of Latin and Greek. The object of the institution under its present administration, is not to make a second rate college, but a first class high school, to pre- pare students for the higher classes in the university. Students have gone from this school, and entered the best eastern colleges, also our state university.

The school is not denominational, but is an enterprise inaugu- rated and sustained by the private means and life energies of its principal. Its aim it to prepare its students for the practical walks of life, and hence the aim has always been to be practical in the course of instruction.

The people of Boonville and central Missouri have appreciated the work of this school, and have accorded to it a most cordial sup- port.

674

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

HISTORY OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BOONVILLE.

[Prepared by Prof. H. T. Morton.]

Directors .- J. L. Stephens, John Bernard, C. W. Sombart, J. A. Eppstein, H. A. Hutchison, J. L. O'Bryan, Dr. J. B. Holman, J. F. Gmelich, Dr. John Fetzer, George Salvin, E. Roeschel, Dr. D. D. Miles, L. C. Brewster, J. N. Gott, John Cosgrove, W. W. Taliaferro, Samuel Acton.

Principals .- J. C. Mason, 1867-69 ; E. A. Angell, 1869-70 ; J. C. Mason, 1870-71 ; R. P. Rider, 1871-73 ; W. A. Smiley, 1873-74 ; S. H. Blewett, 1374-75 ; D. A. McMillan, 1875-82 ; H. T. Morton, 1882 -.

During the winter of 1866-67 the legislature passed an act authorizing cities, towns and villages to organize for school purposes. This act became a law March 12, 1867, and on the 29th of the same month, Messrs. C. W. Sombart, H. L. Wallace, John Bernard, Thomas Plant, J. L. Stephens, N. Walz, Stephen Weber, J. P. Neef, Jacob Zimmer, E. Roeschel, J. F. Gmelich and John Fetzer signed a call for an election to decide whether the citizens of Boonville would avail themselves of the privilege granted by the recent legisla- tive enactment.

The election was held April 9, 1867, at which thirty votes were cast, twenty-nine for and one against organization for school purposes. On the 23d of the same month Messrs. John Bernard, J. L. Stephens, C. W. Sombart, J. A. Eppstein, H. A. Hutchison and F. Swap were elected to constitute the board of education. On the 29th of April these gentlemen met and were organized by the election of John Bernard, president, J. L. Stephens, treasurer, and F. Swap, secretary.

The schools were opened September 23, 1867, with Joseph C. Mason, principal, and Mrs. Clara Atkinson, Mrs. Mary E. Schaefer, and Miss M. E. McKee, assistants in the school for white children, and S. G. Bundy and wife, Mrs. C. M. Bundy, teachers in that for colored pupils.

A building twenty-two feet by sixty, having two stories, and located on Sixth street, was bought of C. H. Allison, for $5,250, for the use of the schools for white children.

The enrollment for the year ending June 19, 1868, was 567, dis- tributed as follows :-

White males -

- - 239 -

White females - -

- -

- - -

- 138

Whites, total, - - - - 377

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Colored males Colored females

104

Colored, total, - -

199

Average Attendance :

Whites

207

Colored

Total, -

284

The average attendance for the first year was fifty per cent of the enrollment.

For the second year, ending June 3, 1869, the enumeration for the town was 951 whites and 351 colored, with an average attendance of 350 white and 150 colored pupils. Six grades were opened during this year.

In 1870-71, 514 white pupils were enrolled ; the average attend- ance reached 346. In the colored school 233 were enrolled, and the average attendance was 115.

The wings of the school building were finished during the year 1870, affording excellent accommodations for the schools. The eight rooms thus added are well lighted and ventilated, and furnished with im- proved desks.

The prejudice against public schools that for the past four years had seriously impeded their progress, was rapidly superseded by a high degree of public confidence and favor. The public school system has too often been condemned on account of defective administration, or the attempt to accomplish too much in a short time.

Prominent among the directors of the Boonville city schools was Colonel J. L. Stephens, who served as treasurer from the organiza- tion in 1867 till his death in August, 1881. Doctor F. Swap was sec- retary during the same time. Judge C. W. Sombart has been a di- rector from the organization to this date. Mr. John Bernard was president of the Board from the organization until April 7, 1882.

Of the teachers only one has remained in the schools during a long period. Mrs. Mary E. Schaefer has taught from the fall of 1867 to the present time. On May 25, 1883, she completed her sixteenth year in the Boonville schools. Of the principals, Dr. A. McMillan served seven years, no other having remained more than two.

Seven grades seems to have been the maximum until 1882, when the eighth was added, embracing geometry, chemistry, analysis and composition of English history, physiology and elocution.

675

676

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

For some years there has been a growing demand for a higher course in our public schools, that those paying large taxes may not find it necessary to send their children to private schools in order to prepare them for college or business. There is need for a more thorough training of our youth in language, mathematics, philosophy and physics - that our schools may be supplied with competent teachers. Pupils trained in ungraded private schools cannot be expected to be qualified to supply the demand of public graded schools. Yet, until the present time, this fact does not seem to have been appreciated by the patrons of our schools.

The board of education have not been fully sustained by a vigorous public sentiment, demanding a progressive system. It is hoped that they will take the lead in this direction, and they will find the intel- ligent portion of the community co-operating most cordially with them.

Unfortunately our elections are so far under the control of dema- gogues, that men are not elected with reference to their qualifications for office. In this place, however, the school directors seem to have been wisely chosen. The excellent buildings provided exhibit a pro gressive and liberal spirit. There is a determination to put our schools in the front rank, and make it unnecessary to send our sons and daughters elsewhere for instruction. Boonville cannot afford to pay large amounts annually to other towns for the education of her youth. This view of public economy is entertained by a majority of the pres- ent board, and may be regarded as a pledge of decided progress for the future.

REPORT OF BOONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Male.

Female.

Total.

Number of white persons in the district between 6 and 20 years of age,

493

502

995

Number of colored persons in the district be- 6 and 20 years of age,- - -

100

180

Total enumeration white and colored, 573

602

1,175

Total enrollment of white pupils, -

247

239

486

Total enrollment of colored pupils, -

100

183

Total enrollment of white and colored,

330

339

669

Number of pupils enrolled between 6 and 16 years of age,

- 326

334

660

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

677

Number of pupils enrolled between 16 and 20 years of age, Increase in enrollment over last year, - Average number of days' attendance by each pupil enrolled, Number of days school has been taught,

134 180

Total number of days' attendance by all pupils, - -

Average number of pupils attending each day, - - Increase over last year, -

89,280 496 91 9

Number of teachers employed in the district during the year, 1 -

Average salaries of teachers per month, - -

$42 78

Highest salary paid teachers, - - - -

100 00

Lowest salary paid teachers, - -

35 00

Total salaries paid district officers, teachers and janitors per month,

Number of school houses in the district, - -

415 831 2

Number of pupils that may be seated in the various schools, Number of white schools, - -

540 1 1

Average cost per day for tuition on enrollment, - -

$ .029

Average cost per day on average number belonging, -

.038

Average cost per day on daily attendance, - .039

Value of school property in the district, -

- - 30,000 00

Average rate per $100 levied for school purposes in the district,

.40

Rate per cent levied for building purposes, for payment of debt and interest, -

.20

Amount on hand at beginning of school year, - - Amount received for tuition fees, - - - -

20 75

Amount received from public funds (state, county and township), -

1,429 60

- - Amount realized from taxation, - -

8,935 59

Amount paid for teachers' wages in the district during the year, -

3,780 00

Amount paid for fuel in the district during the year, - Amount paid for repairs or rent of school houses during year, - -

147 69

Amount paid for apparatus and incidental expenses in the district for the year, - -

175 85

Amount expended in defraying past indebtedness, - -

4,843 45

Balance in hands of treasurer at close of year, - 806 40 -

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Far West lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F., organized September 29, 1840. Charter members - William Childs, James G. Martin, Noble C. Cunningham, Edward Grey, Hamilton Finney.

First officers - William Childs, N. G. ; N. C. Cunningham, V. G. ; J. G. Martin, secretary ; Edward Grey, treasurer.

Number of colored schools, - - - -

1,242 61

94 16

678

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Present officers - John Waterman, N. G .; C. F. Arpe, V. G .; Charles L. Vollrath, recording secretary ; C. Stommerjohn, presid- ing secretary ; J. S. Barth, treasurer.

This lodge celebrated the first anniversary of the order in 1843. We clip the following from the Boonville Observer of September 20, 1843 : -

ODD FELLOWS' CELEBRATION.

We witnessed the anniversary celebration of the Odd Fellows' lodge in this city, on Friday last, with more than usual interest. The day was most propitious for such an occasion. It was as calm and clear as ever the bright sun of heaven favored with its autumnual beams, which lent splendor and solemnity to the beautiful appearance of the procession as it marched from the Odd Fellows' hall, accom- panied by an excellent band of music. The procession marched through several streets of the city, thence to the Methodist church, where the ceremonies were truly interesting. The oration of the Rev. Mr. Linn, of St. Louis, was one of the best we have ever heard on such an occasion ; and the music most creditable to the band, which came up from Jefferson Barracks in the same company with the rev- erend gentleman.

Olive Branch lodge, No. 36, I. O. G. F. Chartered September 16, 1848. Officers -Joseph Megquire, N. G. ; Andrew Gibson, V. G. ; N. C. Peters, treasurer ; W. W. Norris, secretary.

Charter members -Joseph Megquire, J. L. Tracy, Andrew Gib- son, William Henning, J. L. O'Bryan, W. W. Norris, N. C. Peters, H. M. Clark and Allen Hammond.

Present officers - J. B. Holland, N. G .; F. W. Smith, V. G .; J. S. Nicholson, secretary ; L. H. Stahl, permanent secretary.

Cooper lodge, No. 36, A. F. and A. M, obtained its charter October 9, 1841. Names of charter members - C. W. D. Johnson, Andrew Gibson, William Harley, B. C. Clark, G. W. Caton, G. C. Hartt, John Kelly, John Dade, Joseph N. Laurie, John Lyuch, A. H. Neal, Reuben Leveridge, R. D. Shackleford, Thompson Moore, John Sites.

Present officers - John F. Rogers, W. M. ; William R. Baker, S. W. ; M. W. Hall, J. W. ; W. F. Howard, S. D. ; C. L. Glasscock, J. D .; W. R. Hutchison, treasurer ; A. Mars, secretary ; (). D. Edwards, tyler.

Number of members, 80.

Boonville Royal Arch Chapter No. 60. - The charter was granted October 6, 1870, to George R. Keill, H. P .; M. J. Wertheimer, king ; and William Harley, scribe.

679

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Present officers - W. F. Howard, H. P. ; A. D. Howard, king ; John L. O'Bryan, scribe ; M. W. Hall, C. H. ; S. W. Ravenel, R. A. C .; D. W. Shackelford, P. S .; W. S. Stephens, M. 3d V. ; J. F. Rogers, M. 2d V. ; Henry Woolfort, M. 1st V. ; O. D. Edwards, G.

Boonville Encampment, No. 7, I. O. O. F, organized June 16, 1848, by P. C. P., S. H. Allen, with the following charter members : William Childs, A. H. Thompson, John R. Bagwell, A. Kueckelhan, H. L. Wallace, Jacob Harger, and J. M. Edgar.

First officers - William Childs, C. P. ; A. H. Thompson, H. P. ; John R. Bagwell, S. W. ; H. L. Wallace, J. W. ; J. M. Edgar, scribe ; Jacob Harger, treasurer.

Present officers - Joseph L. Hasel, C. P. ; John Waterman, H. P. ; John Cosgrove, S. W .; W. Speed Stephens, J. W .; August Schaefer, scribe ; Nicholas Walz, treasurer.

Boonville Uniform Degree Camp .- Instituted January 18, 1883, by grand patriarch, Charles Vogel, with the following charter mem- bers : J. T. Gmelich, John P. Neef, Samuel Acton, C. J. Walden, James H. Johnston, Robert Marks, Herman Cohn, John C. Gross, John S. Dauwalter, Joseph Barth, W. C. Culverhouse.

Present officers - J. T. Gmelich, commander ; James H. John- ston, vice-commander ; Robert Marks, picket ; Samuel Acton, O. G. ; Herman Cohn, secretary ; N. Walz, treasurer.

Vine Clad Lodge, No. 136, A. O. U. W., organized June 5, 1879. Charter members - F. Sauter, W. R. Hutchison, A. P. Speed, C. W. Hazel, H. R. Edgar, G. B. Stoner, R. L. Moore, Theo. Broesele, Gustave. Lang, Benj. Beha, W. E. Evans, J. C. Phelps, C. F. Wagner, A. M. Koontz, S. E. Phelps, C. J. Burger, W. L. Mar- shall, F. C. Weinig, George W. Sahm, C. L. Brenizen.

Present members-C. W. Hazel, past master workman ; W. R. Hutchison, master workman; J. C. Phelps, general foreman ; F. Sauter, overseer ; Theo. Broesele, recorder ; R. L. Moore, finan- cier ; C. L. Brenizen, receiver ; G. B. Stoner, guide ; Benjamin Beha, inside watchman ; Gustave Lang, outside watchman ; W. E. Evans, medical examiner; W. R. Hutchison, F. Sauter, G. B. Stoner, ex- amining committee ; A. P. Speed, C. W. Hazel, Gustave Lang, trustees.

Boonville Turn and Gesang society, is a consolidation of the Boonville Turn Verein and the Boonville Maennerchor, reorganized and incorporated in January, 1869. This society meets at Thespian hall, and numbers 115 members, who meet to sing, to exercise in gymnastics, and to enjoy themselves generally.

680

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Present officers are : John P. Neef, first speaker ; Carl C. Bell, second speaker ; Fred Tanter, first secretary ; Emil Huber, second secretary ; William , financier ; John Durr, treasurer.

MAYORS OF BOONVILLE FROM 1840 TO 1883.

Marcus Williams, 1840; William Childs, 1842; John S. Mc- Farland, 1844; William Childs, 1846; David Andrews, 1847; C. H. Smith, 1848; J. Rice, 1849; E. B. McPherson, 1850-51; John Andrews, 1852; H. B. Benedict, 1853-54-55; H. B. Brant, 1856 ; H. E. W. McDearman, from 1857 to 1864 ; Jesse H. Pavey, 1865-66; H. L. Wallace, 1867-68 ; Milo Blair, 1869-70; H. B. Benedict, 1871 ; Milo Blair, 1872 ; R. B. Newman, 1873 ; Milo Blair, 1874 ; T. B. Wright, 1875 ; J. F. Gmelich, from 1876 to 1880.

PRESENT CITY OFFICERS, (1883).

J. L. O'Bryan, mayor ; Franklin Swap, register ; Louis Stahl treasurer ; W. G. Pentelton, attorney ; W. W. Trent, assessor ; Wil- liam H. Harrison, street commissioner ; H. B. Holland, marshal.

COUNCIL, 1883.

J. C. Gross, at large ; James Mitchell, First ward ; C. C. Bell, Second ward ; A. P. Speed, Third ward; Marcus Lohse, Fourth ward ; Samuel H. Johnson, Fifth ward ; J. C. Wells, Sixth ward.

APPOINTED OFFICERS, 1883.

Dr. Cooper, health officer; Joseph Meyer, sexton; J. H. Stephens, weigh master ; B. F. Goodman, police ; John Street, police.

BUSINESS OF BOONVILLE, (1883).

Three ( exclusively ) dry goods Nine dry goods and groceries. stores. Three groceries ( exclusively ).

Six confectioneries and restau- Two banks. rants.

Four newspapers.

Four boot and shoe stores (exclu- Five drug stores.

sively ).

Two jewelers. Three tailors.

Four merchant tailors.

Four farm machinery and imple- Three furniture stores. ment stores. One book store (exclusively).

One hardware (exclusively ).

Four millinery stores.

Three tin and stove stores.

Four carriage manufactories. One cigar and tobacco store. Two cooper shops.

681

HISTORY OF HOWARD AND COOPER COUNTIES.

Two saddlers and harness makers. One news stand.

Two shoemakers.

Four sewing machine agents. Three photographers. Ten saloons.

Six blacksmiths.

Three mills.

One tan yard. Five hotels.

One crockery establishment.

Five barbers.

Two boarding houses. Two dentists.

Ten physicians. One machine shop.

Four printing offices.

Ten churches ; nine Protestant.

Ten lawyers. Five secret orders.

Three lumber yards.

Four butchers.

Two gunsmiths.

Five carpenters and builders.

Three painters.

One marble works.

Three livery stables.

Two brass and one string band.

Six schools.

One large (Thespian ) hall.

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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