USA > Missouri > Lafayette County > History of Lafayette county, Mo. , carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns, and villages > Part 45
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The first regular physician was Dr. C. W. Seeber, who still resides near the city engaged in a lucrative practice of his profession. The first relig- ious services were held in the Evangelical church, conducted by the Rev. Henry Haefer. The Evangelical burial ground is located about one mile east of town and is tastefully laid out. The present city officers are as follows: Mayor, B. M. Hutcherson; councilmen, W. L. Smiley, M. A. Brady, H. Horstmann and H. G. Smith. Two years ago, when the Chi- cago & Alton road was built through, Higginsville was comparatively small. It now has a newspaper, a bank, two steam flouring mills, a steam elevator and grain warehouse, two freight and passenger depots, eight churches, a fine graded public school, a select school, flourishing civic socie- ties, a large lumber yard, and about twenty business houses. According to the official report of the United States census, taken June 1, 1880, it has a population of 797. It, however, has grown quite rapidly during the past year, and now considerably exceeds that number.
The Coal Mines in the vicinity are closely allied with the business interests of the city, and should be mentioned in connection with it. There are seven shafts open within a radius of four miles, five of them being operated during the cold season, for the local demand, and the other two, near town, owned and operated by the Winsor Coal Company, which was incorporated in December, 1879, with Ed. Winsor, president, and H. W. Winsor, secretary and superintendent, in operation during the entire season. In these two latter mines coal is found forty-five feet below the surface and in a vein of from sixteen to eighteen inches in thickness. The daily product of these two mines, when in full operation, is 2000 bushels, all of which is sold to the Chicago and Alton and Kansas city dealers.
. (For Higginsville newspapers see chapter on newspapers of the county.)
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
CHURCHES OF HIGGINSVILLE.
The Higginsville Presbyterian Church (originally known as "Tabbo church") was organized June 19, 1842. The original members were Dan- dridge Morrow, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrow, Miss Mary A. Morrow, Wm. D. Lathim, Mrs. Elizabeth Lathim, Mrs. Mary Neal and Mrs. Elizabeth R. Crawford.
The church building is of brick, erected in 1874 at a cost of $3000. It was dedicated July 19, 1874, the Rev. F. R. Gray conducting the services.
The following pastors have since been in charge: Revs. George M. Crawford, John Stuart, Robert Glenn, F. R. Gray and S. T. Ruffner.
The present membership is 66. The church is in connection with the · Lafayette presbytery.
The original church building stood on the Lexington and Georgetown road, about two and a half miles west of Higginsville.
The First German Baptist Church at Higginsville was organized May 24, 1868. The original trustees were Peter Brand, J. G. Huder and Aug. Erdman, the last named acting as clerk. The church building is a frame edifice, erected in 1874 at a cost of $1585. When first organized the Rev. Anton Hausler was in charge as pastor, he being followed by Rev. C. Schumacher, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. F. W. Greife. Num- ber of members at present, 78. Nothing further reported.
The German Lutheran Church at Higginsville, known as the "Evan- gelical SalemsChurch," was organized in 1870. The original members were Adolph Wehrman and wife, Herman Haefer and wife, W. Huene- feld and wife, C. Haefer and wife, H. Offel, Sen., and wife, H. Schmieder and wife, H. Farre and wife, Aug. Caulher and wife, A. Henker and wife, H. Offel, Jr., and wife.
The building is a frame one, erected in 1871 at a cost of $1000. It was dedicated Oct. 29, 1871, the Rev. Henry Haefer, the present pastor, preach- ing the dedicatory sermon. Mr. Haefer has had charge of this church since its organization, with the exception of the time between 1873 and 1877, when the Rev. Frederick Drewel had it in charge. At present there are 75 members belonging. The pastor resides in a parsonage built by the congregation at a cost of $1800. The Sabbath school consists of 45 scholars and eight teachers. During the three months of March, April and May a private school is in progress in the church building, in charge of the pastor.
This church is a member of the German evangelical synod, of which there are five other members in the county. In 1879 the congregation purchased a bell, costing $387.
The German M. E. Church .- Located in the city of Higginsville, was organized in 1876. The names of the original members were as follows:
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Wm. Liese, Elizabeth Liese, Frederick Liese, Louise Liese, Charles Liese, Gustav Liese, John Muller, Anna Muller, John Froeschle, Sr., Friederika Froeschle, Anna R. Froeschle, Jacob Froeschle, Mary Froeschle, Michael Waehr, Henry Meyerarend, Friedrick Senser, Heinrich Kripmeyer, Wm. Vieth, Wm. Heffen and others. The church is a frame building and was built in 1876, at a cost of $1,800; ded- icated in December, same year, 1876, by Rev. Jacob Tanner. The names of the successive pastors were: Revs. Conrad Mardof, Peter Hehner, Julius Franz, John H. Asling and John Demand. It has now 37 members, and a flourishing Sunday school attached, of which the Rev. Simon Ritter is superintendent.
St. Mary's Church, (Catholic) at Higginsville, was organized April 26, 1879. The original members were: Timothy Noonan, Martin Kelly, John O'Mally, Patrick Summers, Jeremiah Kelly, John P. Schurtz, Stephen Organ, Thomas Organ, Patrick Lillis, Patrick Machin, Daniel McDermott, Andrew Bomkoskei, Mark Brady, Prof. O. V. Thornton, James O. Gormon, Charles McGirl, and many others. The church edi- fice consists of a frame building, erected in July, 1881, at a cost of $1,600. It will be dedicated on the 9th of October, 1881, by the Right Rev. John I. Hogan, bishop of Kansas City and St. Joseph. Fathers Hoag, Brady, Cooney, John I. Lilly and F. Curran have been in charge since the organi- zation of this church. The last named being the first and present resident pastor. Present number of members 180.
The Christian Church, of Higginsville, was organized January 18, 1880, with an original membership of 42. This church is properly a reorgani- zation of the " Republican church," originally founded nearly forty years ago, and having a large membership. The church building was situated about two miles southeast of town. This old building was sold and a frame one erected in Higginsville, in 1879, at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated on the third Sabbath in February, 1880, Elder Plattenburg, of Dover, conducting the dedicatory services. . The following pastors have been in charge: C. A. Hedrick and Samuel McDaniels. The present membership is 70. The church is in a prosperous condition and has its new edifice nearly paid for.
The Baptist Church, of Higginsville, was organized in January, 1880. The original members were: A. Edgar Asbury, Mrs. Ellen Asbury, John W. Edley and wife, A. H. Horn and wife, B. F. McElroy and wife, W. W. Preston, Miss Lelia Mason and others. The church edifice is a frame building, erected in 1881, at a cost of $2,000. The present mem- bership is about 45, and the church is now in charge of the Rev. S. B. Whiting. No further particulars reported.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
CIVIC SOCIETIES OF HIGGINSVILLE.
Mystic Lodge, No. 88., A. O. U. W .- Organized November 28, 1878, by W. R. Shern. The charter members were: J. H. Fuhr, G. Sharp, John Page, J. H. Stapp, Fred Shopenhoist, J. A. Field, M. A. Brady, W. H. Robnett, W. E. Ennis, D. S. Swacker.
The original officers were: D. S. Swacker, P. M. W .; W. E. Ennis, M. W .; W. H. Robnett, foreman,; M. A. Brady, overseer; J. A. Field, recorder; F. Shopenhoist, financier; J. H. Stapp, receiver; John Page, Guard; G. Sharp, inside watchman; J. H. Fuhr, outside watchman.
Present officers: M. A. Brady, P. M. W ; J. H. Fuhr, M. W .; Chas. Shrader, foreman; D. S. Swacker, O .; J. H. Stapp, R .; J. W. Endly, fin .; W. E. Kellar, G .; Jesse Field, O. W .; H. Rapsohl, I. W .; S. F. Patter- son, R. June 20, 1881, there were 25 members. The lodge holds its meetings in a frame building built in 1879. One death has occurred since organization.
Higginsville, Lodge No. 364, A. F. & A. M .- Organized in 1880, by W. W. Preston and A. E. Asbury. The charter members were: Grove Young, A. Wade, James Peddicord, G. W. Houx, B. Wilkinson, James Robason, S. T. Ruffner, W. S. Ennis, A. Kensler, W. J. Fewell, Wm. Doblin, C. N. Engler, and H. G. Smith.
The following named gentlemen held the first offices: W. W. Preston, W. M .; G. W. Houx, S. W .; B. Wilkinson, J. W .; S. T. Ruffner, S. D .; W. J. Fewell, J. D .; A. E. Asbury, Treasurer; James Peddicord, Secre- tary.
The present officers are the same as above, with the single exception of a change in the office of secretary; that position being now filled by H. G. Smith.
The present membership is 22. Meetings are held in a brick hall, built by A. E. Asbury, in 1879.
Prairie Grange .- The only particulars obtained in regard to this organ- ization are, that it was organized by Lewis Neale, Jr., of Lafayette county, and that its present officers are: James M. Armentrout, W. M .; and Jackson Corder, secretary. Also that the hall in which it meets is a frame building, built in 1879, and located upon section 5, township 49, range 24.
Davis Creek Grange No. 155, was organized in the spring of 1873, with thirteen members. The present officers are: Isaac McVey, Master; F. M. Gladdish, Overseer; William Nois, Lecturer, and Frank Mills, Secre- tary. The number of members at the present time is between fifty and sixty. They meet in a two story frame building, built at a cost of from six to seven hundred dollars. No further particulars reported.
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
CEREALS, FRUIT, BEES, ETC.
Christopher Ellmaker has an orchard consisting of about 200 apple trees, some of which 'have been planted over forty years. In 1880, he gathered 1000 bushels of apples from it.
His wheat crop during same year yielded an average of twenty-five bushels to the acre. In other parts of this township the average was from thirty to forty bushels.
Mr. George G. Elsea, has an orchard of about 150 apple trees, some of them over forty years of age, from which he gathered 200 bushels of fruit during the year 1880.
Alfred P. Lewis has an orchard of 100 apple trees, fifty of which were set out in 1845, and the remainder, at various times since. Of the differ- ent varieties raised, he says that the Ben Davis is the most salable and the Genitan, Winesap and the Missouri and Newtown Pippin, the best adapted to the climate. He raised about 400 bushels during the year 1880.
He also has twenty stands of bees of the Missouri Native variety. They get their honey from buds and blossoms during early spring and from white clover in its season. In 1879 he gathered 200 pounds of excellent honey from the product of these busy little insects.
COAL MINES.
An excellent mine of bituminous coal is located upon the premises of Mr. Michael Summers, formerly owned by Elder Martin Corder, situated in section 6, township 49, range 24. Also on the farm of Patrick Mc- Bride, in section 11, same township and range, a vein of the same kind of coal has been found which, however, he has never mined.
On Mr. Gladdish's farm, four or five miles south of Higginsville, some fragments of petrified bones and wood have been found. Mrs. Gladdish has in her possession something that looks like a petrified wasp's nest, the cells being perfectly defined. [It is a species of fossil coral called Fareo- sites, which means " honeycomb stone."-HISTORIAN.
DEEDS OF VIOLENCE.
A federal paymaster having in his possession $55,000, which he was transporting to Marshall, Saline county, with a guard of 25 men, com- manded by Capt. Perry, had stopped at the residence of Alfred P. Lewis, for the purpose of remaining over night. While there they were attacked by a company of bushwhackers, led by Dave Blount, who captured the vehicle which contained the money, securely locked up in a strong box, and its guard of three pickets. Not knowing anything of the money in their possession, the bushwhackers took the horses and bidding the three men to follow, started to retreat. One of them refusing, he was delibe- rately shot down in his tracks, the ball entering his back and coming out
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
of his right breast. He lived for 26 hours after, and then expired. Mr. Lewis gave him all the assistance in his power, which, however, was of no avail, except to render his last moments easier. The bushwhackers rode off with the horses and their two prisoners, paroling the latter and allowing them to rejoin their comrades the following day.
In September, 1862, John Grisom was found murdered in the Davis bottom, on the premises of Mr. Christopher Echoff. Grisom was a resi- dent of Saline county.
MURDER OF JUDGE WM. PRIGMORE.
This murder occurred October 10, 1864. He was shot in his yard by the bushwhackers, part of whom are said to have been Dave Poole's men, and part Todd's. The house was burned with its entire contents; Mrs. Prigmore and her sister-in-law, a cripple, escaping with nothing but the clothes they wore.
George Albin and Ben. Neville, guerrillas of Poole's command, were caught in 1863, by the federals, at Oakland church, three miles east of Higginsville. Albin was shot and instantly killed. In the following win- ter two men, one named Webster, were killed at same place.
Chas. O'Hara, a bushwhacker, was killed at the house of Rob't Van Meter, four miles east of Higginsville, in 1863. He was attempting to escape and was shot while climbing the fence.
Mr. Sharpe, an old resident of the county, was murdered for his money at about the close of the war .. He lived two and a half miles west of Hig- ginsville.
Mr. Fountain, living about five miles west of Higginsville, was called out by federal militia, in fall of 1863, and deliberately shot down.
DOVER TOWNSHIP.
The first mention of Dover township occurs February 5, 1836, when it. was ordered by the county court " that Tabo township be hereafter known and designated by the name and style of Dover township." This was only a small remnant of the original Tabo township, and comprised the most of the territory now embraced in Dover and Middleton townships. The boundaries of the newly named township are not given; but it is at this date laid off into eight road districts, with numbers and overseers as follows:
First road district, Wm. W. Shroyers, overseer; second road district, Legrand Buford, overseer; thirty-fifth road district, John Smeltser, over- seer; thirty-fourth road district, Robert Sensabaugh, overseer; thirty- third road district, Wm. Hickman, overseer; thirty-second road district,
N
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
Cornelius Gant, overseer; thirty-first road district, Wm. Whitsett, over- seer; thirtieth road district, John Timberlake, overseer.
The first mention of schools occurs May 4, 1840. A niajority of the voters of Dover township had petitioned to be organized in accordance with an act of the legislature, entitled " an act to provide for the organiza- tion, support, and government of common schools," approved February 9, 1839. The county court appointed Joseph W. Hall, Nathaniel David- son, and Hubbell Foster, school directors for the township; and the first school meeting was to be held at the town of Dover, July 23, following.
July 4, 1848, new boundaries for Dover township were established, as follows: "Commencing at the mouth of Tabo creek, in the middle of the main channel thereof, where the same empties into the Missouri river, thence up said creek with the middle of the main channel thereof, to where the same crosses the township line between townships No. 49 and 50 in range No. 26; thence east with said township line to where the same intersects the range line between ranges 24 and 25; thence with said range line north to the Missouri river; thence with said river to the place of beginning." And so the boundaries remain to the present time, 1881.
The early French traders had called several places Terre Bonne (pro- nounced Tair Bone), or " good land;" such a name would first apply to the country generally, and then gradually be limited to a smaller portion and finally to the village or trading post. As American settlers came in, new names were given, and old ones localized and spelled by sound, rather than according to the original meaning in French, and often short- ened in sound: Thus Terre Bonne was first shortened into Ta Beau. Some think this was the original name and meant "the gallant," or "ele- gant," or as we moderns say, " splendid," but this was merely a later shortening of the original; it was next Anglicized into Tabbo, and finally Tabo, and limited to a small creek instead of naming and describing a region of country. Such is the evolution of the name of Tabo creek, which now forms the boundary between Lexington and Dover townships.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlement in this township was made by John Lovelady and Solomon Cox, in the year 1817, one-half mile west of the present village of Dover. W. R. Cole and Tames Bounds settled one and a half miles west; they made some other improvements in the same year. Solomon Cox came from Virginia and settled on section 29. W. R. Cole came from Virginia and settled on section 30. James Bounds, Sr., James Bounds, Jr. and Obadiah Bounds, came from Tennessee and settled on section 31 in the year 1818. Christopher Jago, Wm. Carpenter and John Parkerson came from Tennessee in the year 1819. Z. Linville, a Sto-
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
nite preacher, Martin Trapp, a reformed preacher, called by some at that time, a Stonite preacher,* John Welsh, Jesse Nelson, Enoch Fox, Wm. Fox, Dyer Cash and Joseph Cantrell came in 1818. Mr. Bowers erected the first corn mill and distillery in the county, about one-half mile west of Dover. There was a log church erected in Dover by the different denominations. The ministers were Rev. Martin Trapp, Rev. Zachariah Linville, Finis Ewing, Robert King, Robert Mare; the three last named were Cumber- land Presbyterian; Ransom Clark, an O. S. Baptist. These ministers invariably united and held their meetings, leaving the converts to join whichever denomination they pleased. The first marriage in the county was at Solomon Cox's in January, 1818; Mr. John Lovelady to Miss Mary Cox, daughter of Enoch Cox, of Grayson county, Virginia, by Rev. Martin Trapp. The first births were Rebecca and Elizabeth, twin daugh- ters of Mr. John and Mary Lovelady. Rebecca is still living and the wife of John B. Dysart. The first death was Martin Trapp, in 1820; the second, Wm. R. Cole, September 15, 1821; both were buried in the cem- etery near Dover, which Mr. Cole himself had laid out. The first physi- cian was Dr. Buck, of Massachusetts; he died at the warm springs, Arkansas. The first school was taught in the log school house just south of Dover, in the year 1822, by George Marquis, who died soon after. The first school house was built of logs, gratuitously, by the citizens, and was located half a mile south of Dover. The first weaving of cloth is sup- posed to have been done by Mrs. John Lovelady and Mrs. Solomon Cox. In the first settling of the country, it was, like all other new countries, devoid of roads and means of travel, and the citizens wishing to go to a certain place took the direction, making a passable road as they went.
PAGE CITY.
Page City, situated on the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific R. R., was laid out in 1871 by Joseph H. Page, on 20 acres of land belonging to himself and 11 acres belonging to his brother, G. R. Page.
CHURCHES OF DOVER VILLAGE.
The Dover Baptist Church .- Organized in about the year 1844. The original members were: P. M. Gaw and wife, Wm. Fristoe and wife, Mrs. Ann C. Mallory, Willis Mathews and wife, Willis Gaulding and wife, David Powers and wife and M. T. Buford. The building originally occu- pied by this church was built in 1845, and dedicated by the Rev. Wm. C. Ligon. It cost about $1,500. In 1876 it was removed and a new one built in its stead-a fine commodious edifice-at a cost of $6,000. This was dedicated by the Rev. W. Pope Yeaman.
*This was then a new sect or denomination and was called by various nicknames, such as "New Light," " Stonites," " Campbellites," etc. They are now known as " Christians," or " Disciples."
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
The successive pastors have been, the Revs. Wm. C. Ligon, E. Roth, Charles Whitney, E. S. Dulin, Mr. Kingdom, E. S. Tichenor, G. W. Smith, C. T. Daniel and T. W. Tate. Since the organization of this church five others have been established in the vicinity, which have drawn considerably from its membership, which at present is small, num- bering about 50. At one time it had over 150 communicants.
The First M. E. Church, South, of Dover city. - Organized in 1880. The original members were: James Schooling, S. R. McCorkle and wife, Mrs. Swacker and daughter, M. Catron and daughter and others. The church holds its sessions in a frame edifice, built in 1881, at a cost of $1,500. It is not yet dedicated. At present the Rev. W. B. McFarland occupies the pulpit. Although but recently organized twenty members have already joined, and the indications of prosperity for the society in the future are favorable.
CIVIC SOCIETIES.
Dover Lodge, No. 122, A. F. and A. M .- Organized in May, 1850, by Cyrus Osborn. The charter members and first officers were, P. B. LaBer- ten, W. M .; Samuel Warren, S. W .; Jacob Sutfield, J. W .; C. T. Ustick, Treas .; W. R. Schurlock, Sec'y; Wm .¿ C. Webb, S. D .; W. M. John- son, J. D .; John E. McDougal, Tyler.
The present officers are, John C. Woods, W. M .; James Clayton, S. W. James Cather, J. W .; H. Wahl, Treas .; R. T. Koontz, Sec'y; L. Buford, S. D .; John Wheatley, J. D .; Lewis Ligon, Tyler; L. B. Gordon and F. G. Henry, Stewards. Number of members at present, 44 Hall built of brick, and rented of the Dover Store company.
WAR AND WOMEN IN DOVER.
While Gen. Shelby's cavalry were serving as advance scouts during Price's raid through the State in 1864, Edwards' history says:
" And Dover, too-this pretty little village, so peaceful and so calm- had put on her gala dress to welcome the army and crown with garlands her returning braves marching in the advance of Shelby's division. Those same Dover girls cost some of Shelby's soldiers dearly, indeed. Linger- ing behind to gather a few more smiles and bind a few more soft love- whisperings around hearts soon to be separated, were Capt's Charley Jones, Ben. Neal, Will Redd, Lieut. Seb Plattenburg, Sid. Martin, Den - nis McNamara, Sam. Downing and one or two others. Songs, music, patriotic toasts and wooings without number stole the night away, and continued until the cold October sun had risen red and ominous the next morning, when about eight o'clock one hundred or so Federals dashed into town and opened a furious pistol fusilade upon everything in sight. Seb. Plattenburg and Will. Redd were three hundred yards from their
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HISTORY OF LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
horses, and in a house at that, and busy with the girls. Jones mounted his men and fought a while to enable the two unfortunate cavaliers to regain their steeds, which they did and escaped from Dover in safety. The enemy then pressed Jones rapidly up the Lexington road, shot his horse, ran Sid. Martin out of his saddle, but were finally distanced in the race. Lieut. Plattenburg and Capt. Redd made a detour around Dover in order to gain this same Lexington road and came squarely upon the Federals who had halted in their pursuit of Jones' party. Mistaking them for friends, as almost all the Confederates wore blue overcoats at that time, they rode boldly into their ranks, remarking: 'It's all right boys. The damned melish are beaten at last.' The mistake, however, soon came rudely home to them, and they were dismounted and disarmed."
BUSHWHACKERS AT BERLIN.
The Lexington Weekly Union of Sept. 19, 1863, says: "As the steamer Marcella, on her upward trip on Thursday evening last, approached Ber- lin Landing in Dover township, twelve miles below this city, she was ordered to land by about sixty bushwachers. There being no protection to the pilot house, and about fifty revolvers pointed at the pilot, he coulddo nothing but obey. The boat had no sooner landed than she was boarded by these monsters. They robbed the boat and passengers of $900, and sev- ral cases of boots and shoes, clothing, etc. They then searched the boat and found four soldiers, belonging to Col. Sigel's regiment, Fifth M. S. M., residents of this city, who were on furlough and on their way here. Their names were Martin Fisher, Chas. Waggoner, Edw'd Knobbs, Chris. Seelly. They took them off the boat and a short distance into the woods, where they placed them in line and inhumanly fired on them. Fisher, Knobbs and Seely, were killed instantly; but Waggoner, not being hit, ran and hid and finally made his escape."
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