USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 15
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November 1, 1855, a large excursion train left St. Louis to celebrate the opening of the railroad through Medora station, about twenty miles beyond Hermann. It was a long train filled with business men of this city and their families, and the occasion was one of great festivity and rejoicing. But while the train was crossing the Gasconade River the bridge gave way, and plunged cars, bridge and people in one mixed and horrible wreck into the gulf of waters fifty feet down. The president and chief engineer of the road, and thirty prominent citizens of St. Louis were killed, while scores of others were more or less injured. It was the first railroad accident that occurred in the State.
The first railroad of any importance, projected in Pettis County was the Missouri Pacific. The question of its location began to agitate the people in 1850. There was a fierce struggle carried on in the State Legis- lature, as to whether the road should be located on its present route, called the Inland Route, or along the river counties. Prominent among the men who contributed much to bring the road through Pettis County is Gen. George R. Smith. At the beginning of the war, 1861, the Pacific railroad was completed to Sedalia. For about three years the road was not pushed farther west. In 1865, after the close of the war, work was resumed.
March 2, 1857, the court made the following order: "It is ordered,
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that the president of this court sign the bonds of Pettis for $100,000, heretofore ordered to be issued to the Pacific Railroad Company; and the agent of the county is hereby authorized to make a supplemental con- tract with said company, requiring that no interest shall be charged on said bonds whilst they remain unsold. It is further ordered that the clerk of this court attest said bonds and sign the coupons attached thereto." Upon the same day Gen. George R. Smith was appointed by the County Court to cast the vote of the county of Pettis for directors of the Pacific Railroad Company at the ensuing election. At this time A. M. Forbes was president of the court. The following order appears on the County Court record for March 6, 1855:
"Ordered, that the collector of Pettis County pay over to C. & W. Wood, George Heard, William H. Powell and David Thompson, the amount borrowed of them by the county to pay a call on the county made by the Pacific Railroad Company, with interest, as soon as he shall collect suffi- cient of railroad tax for that purpose."
On the tenth of this month Gen. George R. Smith was authorized by the County Court to cast his vote in the next election for directors of the Pacific railroad. On July 3, 1865, it was ordered by the court "that a tax of one per cent be levied on all property set forth in the assessor's book for railroad purposes for the present year." Taxation continued to be quite heavy until the Pacific bonds were paid.
One of the most noted railroad men who had given time and influence in building up Sedalia and Pettis county, benefiting and adding thousands of dollars in value to real estate of Central Missouri was Cyrus Newkirk who cast his lot with the interests of the people of Pettis county in 1865. Here he at once inaugurated a project whereby the Tebo and Neosho railroad could be completed, extending from Sedalia to Fort Scott. Nine years previous a charter was granted, but the board of directors was not organized, and it was the principal object of taking hold of this rail- road and pushing it through that induced Mr. Newkirk to come west. When the board of directors was organized, Col. A. C. Marvin was presi- dent, and Cyrus Newkirk treasurer. Active work commenced in 1866, and the charter being a very liberal one, allowing the road to extend into and through every county of the State; and the county courts could by subscriptions encourage, grant, and issue bonds for the construction of the road. Mr. Newkirk continued to work for this project with alacrity until its completion. He succeeded in negotiating in behalf of Pettis county with the Land Grant Railway and Trust Company of New York, whereby the people could have a highway opened up for them which
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amounted in dollars and cents to far more than all the bonds voted. This road was the Missouri, Kansas and Texas and was a part of the Gould combination. Col. A. D. Jaynes, Major William Gentry, J. R. Bar- rett, Reece Hughes, and others of the county had done considerable for this enterprise. Gen. George R. Smith was the agent to dispose of the bonds of the Tebo and Neosho railroad for Pettis county.
The Narrow Gauge railroad, extending from Sedalia to Warsaw, in Benton county, was accomplished by Cyrus Newkirk, the prime factor in the movement, working about two years before its organization; he was also treasurer of this company; Major William Gentry, president; D. H. Smith, vice-president; and Col. John D. Crawford, secretary. Later sur- veys of this road extend to Springfield and Pierce City, Missouri. The object that Mr. Newkirk had in view when he was working for this road was to checkmate the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad, and take charge of the old road-bed in Benton county, which was pledged to the company that would make the first road to that county. The bonds of this company were held by St. Louis parties, issued by the company, whose headquarters were in Sedalia. The road was also in the Jay Gould combination.
The city of Sedalia gave to the Pacific Railroad Company twenty acres of land and $40,000 in bonds to permanently locate the machine shops near the city.
The subject of railroads was strongly urged upon the people till 1860. In March, 1857, the court has: "It is ordered, that A. M. Barret be and is hereby appointed agent of the court to grant certificates of stock to persons paying railroad tax under the various subscriptions of stock by Pettis County to the capital stock of the Pacific Railroad Com- pany for the amount so paid."
The Missouri Pacific railroad enters the county from the east on the line of the counties of Morgan and Cooper, passing through Smithton township, the village of Smithton and thence northwest to Sedalia, con- tinuing in a northwesterly direction to Dresden, thence to LaMonte, thence west through Johnson county, thence west and north to Kansas City.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad extends from Sedalia in a southwesterly direction, passing through a portion of Prairie, Washington and Greenridge townships. From Sedalia, the road extends easterly, through Bowling Green township, and into St. Louis.
The Sedalia, Warsaw and Southwestern (the Old Narrow Gauge), now
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a part of the Pacific, extends south from Sedalia, through Flat Creek town- ship and on to Warsaw. This road was chiefly the work of Sedalia. In 1869 the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad Company built a piece of roadbed from Warsaw to Cole Camp. It was intended that this road should intersect the Missouri Pacific railroad at Tipton, Missouri. The scheme fell through and the company forfeited its charter. In 1879 the citizens of Sedalia began to agitate the proposition to build a narrow gauge road from Sedalia to Warsaw, Missouri, a distance of forty-five miles due south of Sedalia. Benton County agreed to give the old roadbed it had graded from Warsaw to Sedalia. In September, 1879, the Sedalia, Warsaw and Southern Railroad Company was organized in Sedalia with the following officers: William Gentry, president; Gen. George R. Smith, vice-president; James H. Lay, secretary, and Cyrus New- kirk, treasurer. The new constitution of the State forbade counties issuing bonds beyond a certain limit. As neither Pettis nor Benton County could issue any more bonds, it was necessary to build the road with money raised by subscriptions of the people. During the year 1880 the citizens of Sedalia subscribed about $55,000. About $40,000 of this was collected.
In November, 1879, work was commenced on the road. It was com- pleted and ready for the cars in 1881. The first regular freight and passenger trains ran over it during the summer of 1881.
In 1858 a corporation, known as the Lexington & St. Louis Railroad Company, secured a charter from the State to build a road from Lexington, Lafayette County, to a point on the Pacific railroad, at or near George- town, then the county seat of Pettis. When the charter was granted, it was the general belief that Georgetown would be on the line of the Pacific road, but when the road was located where it runs, leaving George- town three miles to the north, it was determined to run the Lexington & St. Louis railroad through Georgetown to intersect the Pacific railroad at Farmers City, six miles east of Sedalia. Considerable work was done upon this route in 1859-60, and Farmers City bade fair to be what Sedalia is now. When the war came on the work was abandoned.
In 1867 the old Lexington & St. Louis Railroad Company was reor- ganized, and after a long and bitter contest, Sedalia was fixed upon as the point of intersection on the Pacific railroad, and in June of 1869 the matter was finally settled and a complete organization effected. The unexpended bonds of Lafayette County issued to the old corporation were transferred to the new, and a liberal fund subscribed by the County
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Court. On the 6th of March Pettis County voted for an ample subscription to build the roadbed through Pettis County to the Lafayette County line. April 11 ground was broken in Sedalia, a grand demonstration made, and a large force put to work and good progress made before the winter of 1869 set in. The road was finished and opened to the public in 1871. It runs from Sedalia to Independence and then takes the main line into Kansas City. When Gould bought the Missouri Pacific it became a part of that system, and is now known as the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific.
By an act of the Legislature of Missouri, passed March 20, 1860, a charter was granted the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company. The project- ors of this road hoped to build a road from Neosho, Newton County, then a prominent point in the southwest, to run in a northeasterly direction, and intersect the Missouri Pacific at a point somewhere near the "high points of the Tebo," which it was then thought would be the line of the river route of the Pacific. The war came on, and during the excitement and turmoil this project was forgotten.
The Legislature in March, 1866, so amended the charter as to author- ize the Tebo & Neosho Railway Company to build a line from Fort Scott, Kansas, to run northeast, and cut the Missouri Pacific at a point west of the Lamine River, which is, eighteen miles east of the present city of Sedalia, and Muddy Creek, which is due north and east of Sedalia. Col. Thomas L. Wilson was the leader of this scheme, and made a horse- back survey of the proposed line. After a great deal of preliminary figur- ing the citizens of Sedalia voted to subscribe $50,000 to the stock in the year 1866. Col Wilson, the first president, did not seem to have the neces- sary confidence of the people, and the city refused to turn over the $50,000 until they knew what would be done with it.
In 1866, in the month of May, Col. Asa C. Marvin, of Sedalia, was elected president of the company. The people of Sedalia knew Colonel Marvin so well that they at once turned over to him the $50,000 in bonds. Work was actually begun on the road in June, 1867, at Fort Scott, Kansas. In September, 1867, "ground was broken" at Sedalia. A small force of men was kept constantly at work in Pettis and Henry Counties, Missouri, until more money could be produced from the other counties. The presi- dent made a report in September, 1868, telling what had been accom- plished and this report was most encouraging.
BROADWAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, SEDALIA, MO.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
In July, 1867, the following amounts had been subscribed for the road : Bourbon County, Kansas, $150,000; Henry County, Missouri, $150,000; Sedalia, $50,000; private subscriptions, $60,000; Fort Scott, Kansas, $50,000; Clinton, Missouri, $25,000. Total amount, $615,000. All this sum was expended in grading the roadbed, and as yet no provision had been made to purchase iron and rolling stock.
Pettis County now subscribed $75,000 for the building of the north- eastern extension to Boonville.
It now became necessary to do something for the extension of the road northeast from Sedalia to intersect the then North Missouri railroad at or near Moberly, Missouri. The counties along the proposed north- eastern extension all subscribed with prompt liberality and gave their county bounds to the road. In 1868, work was commenced on this exten- sion.
Over one hundred miles of roadbed had been completed at the begin- ning of 1869. But still no provision had been made for buying the iron and rolling stock.
In October, 1869, the Union Trust & Loan Company of New York entered into a contract to complete the road, iron and stock, and operate it. The name of the road was at the same time changed to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway. This name it held for ten years, until 1881, when it was bought by Jay Gould and called the Kansas & Texas Division of the Missouri Pacific railway.
This company had a grander scheme in view than the mere comple- tion of the road, between Moberly, on the north and Fort Scott on the south, as shown by their subsequent acts. They laid their plans to run it north to Hannibal and the Mississippi River, there to connect with the great northwest system of railroads that run to Chicago and the great lakes.
On the 23rd day of July, 1870, the first excursion train out of Sedalia ran over the Missouri, Kansas & Texas line to Clinton, Missouri, forty- five miles southwest.
On the 12th of December, 1870, the remaining 165 miles, to Fort Scott, Kansas, was completed, and cars ran between Sedalia and Fort Scott.
The construction of the northern end of the same road, from Sedalia to Hannibal, was also pushed with energy and rapidity. The roadbed
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on this division was ready for the ties and iron on March 13, 1872, and on that date the first were laid. In a little over one year the greater portion of the track was laid. On May 4, 1873, the first excursion train, on the northern extension, ran from Sedalia to the Lamine River, a distance of twenty miles.
In April, 1873, the southern extension was completed to Denison, Texas.
Some time in November, 1873, the first through trains over the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas ran from Sedalia to Hannibal and' from Sedalia to Denison.
In the latter part of 1873 the company established their general offices in Sedalia. The following gentlemen were the general managers of the road while its headquarters were in Sedalia: Col. R. S. Stevens, Maj. A. B. Garner, William Bond and A. Mitchell. James D. Brown, for many years the general passenger agent. Col. A. D. Jaynes was for a number of years the treasurer of the road. In 1872, the Union Depot was built in East Sedalia. The shops grew gradually until 1873, when more additions were made and they continued to increase their dimensions until 1875.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops are situate in Southwest Seda- lia, and are worth their weight in gold to this city. The oldest shop men in Sedalia work in these shops and it can be said to their credit that a majority of men working there own their own homes. These shops do general car work, both building and repairing all kinds of cars, from the average box car to the finest passenger car seen on any of the western railroads. The value of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas properties here is is approximately $1,000,000. Their monthly pay roll is about $72,500. The number of men employed at the present time is 800. In any war enterprise undertaken by the Government these men have never failed to raise their full quota.
The new Missouri Pacific general shops were built just east of the city in 1905. They are the largest of any railroad shops west of the Mississippi River. When the management of the road decided to build the shops they began first to cast about them for a location. Others towns, such as Atchison and Kansas City, bid twice as much in money as did Sedalia; but this city was the first choice of the officials having the matter of the location in hand. With characteristic energy, Sedalia
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met the requirements fixed by the officials of the company, raising the bonus of $200,000 and 125 acres of land within the time set by the com- pany's officials.
We, as Sedalians, are very greatly indebted to Mr. Russell Harding, who was a former vice-president and general manager of the Pacific. From the very beginning Mr. Harding was our friend and through his efforts and influence Mr. Gould, then president of the railroad and the executive board decided to place the shops here. The securing of these shops for Sedalia is valuable history and from "Sedalia of Today," a publi- cation in 1904, by the Sedalia Sentinel under the editorship of Mr. George H. Scruton, we quote the following concerning the efforts of. our citizens in securing this industrial enterprise:
"The first citizens' meeting was called and held in the law office of Montgomery & Montgomery. It was a representative meeting. Hon. J. T. Heard presided and splendid talks were made by Hon. J. H. Bothwell, Mr. Louis Hoffman, Mr. Charles Hoffman, Mr. W. J. Letts, Mr. Joseph Huckins, Mr. W. L. Porter, Chairman Heard and others, and the consen- sus of opinion was that the sum must be raised. At this meeting an executive committee was appointed to have charge of the work and to formulate plans.
"In a very short time the required amount was raised and the com- mittee so reported to Mr. Harding at St. Louis. Then came another blow to the citizens when the committee was informed that the Missouri Pacific would not receive individual notes for the sum specified, no matter how good, but wanted nothing but the cash. Returning to Sedalia un- daunted by this new set-back, the committee this time converted the notes into money, and $165,000 in cash was raised, the balance of the sum being taken care of by the Citizens' National Bank, Third National Bank, Sedalia National Bank and the Sedalia Trust Company. Then followed the long wait for the official news that the company had decided upon Sedalia as a location. 1. The railroad company did not authoritatively give out the decision until the afternoon of March 27."
It is hard to overestimate the value of these shops to Sedalia. Hun- dreds of men are employed, many of whom have moved their families here and bought their homes, becoming a part of the industrial life of the city. In the war enterprises undertaken by the Government the Pacific men have always raised their quota.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
The assessed valuation of railroad properties in Pettis County for the year 1917 follows :
Missouri Pacific $ 798,850.00
Sedalia, Warsaw and Southwestern
101,790.00
Lexington Branch (Missouri Pacific)
212,800.00
Missouri, Kansas & Texas
712,835.00
Kansas City Division (M., K. & T.)
17,372.00
Rock Island
65,917.00
Total
$1,909,563.00
Railroads have made Sedalia what it is today. The city has pros- pered and so have the railroads running through the county. Trains laden with merchandise pass in and out of the city, leaving their goods here and taking cattle, hogs, sheep, wheat, corn and oats from the rural district to other cities, are looked upon with pride by Pettis Countians. It is not an unusual occurrence to see a single engine pulling 110 freight. cars through the railroad yards here. A train passed through the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas yards during the month of August carrying a like number of cars and later another carrying ninety oil tanks. During the year 1918 the scenes have changed somewhat around the rairoad depots, offices and yards. Trains, without number almost, are now seen carrying "Our Boys," the soldiers of the Republic, Pettis Countians among them, doing their full share, "Over There" to fight for a World's Democ- racy.
The railroads, for the first time, are operated and controlled by the United States Government. The roads have been taken over and the Government operates them under a war-time measure passed by the Con- gress of the United States.
CHAPTER XXX.
SEDALIA OF TODAY
LOCATION-ADVANTAGES-PROGRESS-PUBLIC UTILITIES-BANKS AND OTHER FI- NANCIAL INSTITUTIONS-COURT HOUSE - LIBRARY - HOSPITALS-NEWS- PAPERS.
We have traced Sedalia from the time of filing of the plat of Sed- ville to the present day. We shall treat past history as such and take up a beautiful city as it exists in December, 1918.
This city has made good and stands today, as in past years, "Four square to every wind that blows." Situate midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, surrounded by a beautiful rolling, prairie country, as fertile and productive as any in Missouri, the division point of two great west- ern railroads, with rock roads leading in from every direction, telegraphic and telephonic communication with the greater cities of the nation; with railroad shops, factories, schools, churches and every other advantage of advanced civilization, the city stands today, true to its name, "The Queen City of the Prairies."
Its progress, since the coming of the new Missouri Pacific shops, has been remarkable in the extreme and has exceeded the fondest expecta- tion of the most hopeful citizen within its boundaries. Sedalia's success, like any other municipality, while materially advanced by its geographical location, is a flourishing city because of the people who live in it. No city in the West has, for its citizenship, a more determined or thrifty people. And, they are progressive. Within their own town many of them make considerable noise and a few mistakes ; but when an undertaking is planned or an objective laid out all of this is forgotten, and most generally for- given, the expectancy accomplished and realized to the fullest. Occasion- ally some of the inhabitants move away to better their conditions. Many
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of them return and those who remain away have kind words for Sedalia. They come back "Home" on a visit and after a few years generally come "Home" to stay and after all convince you that they regret having left. It is exceptional that any are sent away. The majority are properly trained while here and seem to appreciate their opportunities, and, when once they become converted, they make good disciples.
Sedalia people are hospitable. They are considerate and generous. They are conservative in their undertakings and, as a whole, are proud of the achievements of their city. The people, too, are educated, refined and well-bred.
The present population is about 25,000 and no city of that number of inhabitants has more advantages than will be found in Sedalia. The term "advantages," as applied to a city, may mean many things; but in this instance it means to live among cultured people, with good health conditions, modern conveniences, a chance to make money and be re- spected-and the right to be contented if one's disposition will permit of such state of mind. More than this could not well be expected of a community, possibly less often found than expected, and when found, usually disappointing.
Speaker Champ Clark, when he goes out over Missouri in a Democratic campaign, attributes much of the success and greatness of the people of Pike County to the fact that they have good water to drink. The same is true, to some extent, here in Sedalia.
Sedalia's public utilities would do credit to a city of 50,000 people. Hhe City Water Company is a complete system and furnishes the city with an adequate supply of pure water. For many years the inhabitants have enjoyed this blessing and neither epidemic nor disease has been traced to the water supply which reaches the majority of homes and enterprises in the city. The plant is located just south and a little east of the city on Flat Creek. Work on this plant and improvements began in 1871 and improvements have been made as necessity required up to the present day. The water is pumped into a large reservoir from Flat Creek, filtered and purified and then pumped into the mains for consumption. The company uses scientific methods and the latest improved equipment in treating the water before pumping it into their mains. The supply of water comes from Flat Creek, from many deep wells, near the pumping station, from the reservoir there and in emergencies created by long dry spells, from their Lake Tebo in section 7, Flat Creek township. The company has
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
its own building on Fourth street, between Ohio and Osage avenues. L. P. Andrews is the manager of the company.
Four of the public utilities of the city of Sedalia, namely: gas, ice, street railway and electric light and power, are operated by and under the name of City Light and Traction Company, various disconnected holdings and franchises dating back to the year 1868, having been ac- quired and consolidated by this company under the laws of the State of Missouri in the year 1912.
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