USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 18
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Will J. Crawford Soda Water Factory manufactures carbonated beverages of all kinds. The property is the holding of Will J. Crawford. Plant has five large bottling machines and a capacity of 500 cases per day.
The Hayes Bottling Works is the property of Thomas Hayes and is located on North Prospect street. This plant manufactures carbonated beverages.
The Dorn-Cloney Laundry Company is one of the largest plants of its kind in central Missouri.
The Best Laundry Company is another Sedalia laundry. They em- ploy a large number of people.
Sedalia has one large packing house. The plant was originally the property of Bud Stevenson. Mr. Stevenson sold it the last year to the farmers in Pettis and surrounding counties. The plant is now known as The Farmers Co-operative Packing and Produce Company. The farm- ers are the principal stockholders and the business is managed and run on a co-operative plan.
Swift & Company, poultry and produce, a branch of Swift & Co., of Chicago, have a large plant here. They buy poultry and eggs and manu- facture creamery butter. Last year they handled 5,000,000 pounds of poultry, 35,000 cases of eggs and made 850,000 pounds of butter. George H. Trader is manager.
The Missouri Poultry and Egg Company was organized and con- menced business here in February, 1915. They handled poultry, eggs, butter and hides. W. D. Tobey is manager.
The City has one brewery, the holdings of the Moerschells. They manufacture a Sedalia beer. The company has an excellent ice plant in connection.
Cassidy Mercantile Company is located on Main and Moniteau ave- nues and is the Lemp Agency. They are wholesale liquor people and enjoy a large business. Mr. E. G. Cassidy is the president of the company. The plant of E. G. Cassidy Company alone represents an outlay of $100,000 · and the annual business is estimated at not less than $400,000.
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Epstein & Bloch are wholesale liquor dealers and the agents for Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company.
The Sedalia Egg and Produce Company is one of the old wholesale firms in Sedalia. Years ago it was organized by Mr. Parks, the father of the present owner and manager, A. M. Parks.
The Beiler Grocery Company, wholesale grocers, is one of the old business houses of the city, having been organized in 1867 by Hall & Beiler. E. B. Farley is manager.
The Guerrant Wholesale Grocery Company is one of the growing concerns of the city. The. company was organized and began business in the city February 1, 1906. The company is a corporation. J. L. Guerrant is the president. R. Hayes, of the Sweet Springs Milling Com- pany, is vice-president. W. H. Guerrant is secretary, and Cecil E. Guer- rant is treasurer.
The Maltby Coffee Company has been in the coffee and tea business in Sedalia since 1885. W. J. Maltby is president. and E. B. McCubbin is secretary.
Whaley Building Company is a concern which makes a specialty of building grain elevators and warehouses and which sells and installs all kinds of mill and elevator machinery. The company is managed by J. A. H. Whaley and has done business in the city for the last ten years.
The Terry Hotel, is one of the leading hotels of Central Missouri. The building is a large four-story structure, with an elegantly equipped and furnished lobby, hotel office, sample rooms and a spacious dining room on the first floor. The hotel is splendidly equipped with every modern convenience-elevator, steam heat, electric lights and fire escape. Col. Harve Terry is proprietor.
The Antlers Hotel was formerly and for a quarter of a century known as the Sicher Hotel. A few years ago Col. Ed. R. Matthews took charge of the hotel and named it The Antlers. He refurnished it through- out. This building is splendidly equipped and furnished for the accommo- dation tfeh traveling public. The building has eighty rooms.
Robinson's European Hotel contains forty rooms. The proprietor, Col. A. J. Robinson, has been in this business for the past forty-seven years.
The LaMoore Hotel does not lack in convenience and equipment. Mrs. A. W. Mckenzie is the proprietress.
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Hildebrandt Hotel was refurnished and remodeled a few years ago by the present proprietors, Ed and Fred Hildebrandt. This hotel was, many years ago, the old "Kaiser Restaurant," and was one of the older restaurants and hotels of the county.
The Flagstaff Hotel is one of the popular hotels in the city. Col. Alexander McLachlan, the proprietor, is an old hotel man.
Archias Floral Company is one of the largest floral houses in cen- tral Missouri. This company grows cut flowers, bedding plants, potted ferns, palms and all vegetable plants. It has fifteen houses aggregating 50,000 feet of glass, all heated by a duplex hot water and steam system. The firm retails and ships mail orders for flowers and plants. It has membership in the society of American Plant and Florist and Telegraph Dealers Association, the only membership of this kind in central Missouri, and have over 600 agencies. The nursery, in connection with the floral houses, grows perennials, hardy shrubs, vines and fruit trees, the latter being grown by contract by an expert in this line.
State Fair Floral Company grows cut flowers and all kinds of vegeta- ble plants.
The Pfeiffer Green House is the oldest floral institution in Sedalia.
The Sedalia Candy Company was established in 1889, in a modest way; but since that time the business has grown until the firm now occupy six large floors and two commodious basements. W. M. Harris, manager, has been with the company thirty years.
The first postmaster for Sedalia was A. T. Hodge. He remained with the office only a short time, gave up his position and joined the Con- federate Army. The business of the office was first transacted in a kind of a stage line office and general grocery house. In 1862, Dr. Clark Longan was appointed as postmaster and the office was removed south of the Pacific railroad to a frame house near the site of the old Smith's Opera House. In October of that year the office was moved to the old site of the Pacific boarding house. The Confederate general, Jeff Thompson, destroyed this office in his raid on October 15, 1864. The office was next located in a brick house near the corner of Main and Lamine streets, where it remained until the fall of 1868, when another removal was made to the building, corner of the alley on Ohio street, occu- pied by the old co-operative store. June 1, 1869, Perry Hawes was ap- pointed postmaster. In 1872 the building occupied by the office, on the corner of Pearl River and Ohio street, was consumed by fire. It was then
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removed to the ground floor of the building almost opposite, beneath the old Bazoo newspaper office. It remained in that building until 1877, when the office was removed to a building especially prepared for the purpose, on the south side of Second street between Ohio and Lamine. The money order department was established in the Sedalia office in the spring of 1866.
The Sedalia office is now a first class postoffice. In 1891 the present building, at the southeast corner of Second and Lamine avenues, was erected. In the selection of this location, there was a spirited contest. Kaiser & Fisher, at that time owned the property where Hotel Terry now stands and used it as a hotel, and W. Z. Baum owned and operated a grocery store on the southwest corner of Second and Lamine, where the Moerschell building now stands. James C. Thompson, then of the First National Bank, joined with these gentlemen. They put up a fight for the location where the building now stands, went about over the city with subscription blanks, raising enough money to buy the lots, with the exception of $150, and turned them over to the Government. The Government appropriation for the building was $50,000. Since its erection, the interior of the building has been remodeled twice so that every foot of space within the walls is utilized. Building is a three-story brick with finished basement under entire structure.
For the first ten years after the office was built, at its present location, it was adequate for the business transacted; but since that time, the business has greatly outgrown the quarters according to com- petent authorities who have, from time to time, made inspections of the present building. Star routes extend out from this office. The rural route was established in the year 1901. There are fourteen carriers on the city routes. E. E. Johnston, the present postmaster, was appointed in March, 1914, succeeding Elroy E. Codding and was reappointed on April 5, 1918. Walter Kennedy is the assistant.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
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EDUCATION
EARLY SCHOOLS-FIRST COMMISSIONER-GEORGETOWN ACADEMY-CAMPBELL COLLEGE-FEMALE SEMINARY-FIRST SCHOOLS-BROADWAY BUILDING- FRANKLIN SCHOOL-SEDALIA SEMINARY-SEDALIA UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS COLLEGE-BOARD OF EDUCATION-SEDALIA HIGH SCHOOL-MANUAL TRAIN- ING SCHOOL-COMMON SCHOOLS-BROADWAY-SUMMIT-PROSPECT-WHIT- TIER - JEFFERSON - HORACE MANN -LINCOLN - WASHINGTON - ENGENE FIELD-ARLINGTON-FRANKLIN-GEORGE R. SMITH'S COLLEGE-ST. PAT- RICK'S PAROCHIAL SCHOOL-DANCING ACADEMY-SMITH'SCOLLEGE-CEN- TRAL BUSINESS COLLEGE.
No State has taken deeper interest in the education of her youth than the State of Missouri. The constitutions of 1820, 1865 and 1875, all make this subject one of the first importance, and guard the public school funds with zealous care, while the constitution of no State con- tains more liberal provisions for popular education than the constitution of Missouri, adopted in 1875, and amended continuously favoring our schools up to the present day. In the year 1833, (January 26th) the Governor was authorized by the Senate and House of Representatives to appoint three suitable persons to form a system of common school instruction, as nearly uniform as possible, throughout the State, and to report at the next meeting of the Legislature. The reader is reminded that this is the date of the organization of Pettis County.
At a session of the county court, November 7, 1853, A. A. Glasscock, was appointed commissioner of common schools. Samuel A. Lowe was commissioner of the school lands at an early day. The first school dis- trict contained a whole congressional township, and it was common for the boys and girls to walk three or more miles through the woods or wild grasses, in the pioneer days of this county. Washington district 256
HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY
Some Sedalia
CHURCHES
N
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(November 6, 1838), was the first organized school district of the county. W. I. Westerfield, Oswald Kidd and Willis P. Ellis were the trustees. The following year (1839) Christian district was organized, and Thomas Brooks, Jesse Pemberton, and George W. Glass were the trustees.
In 1841 an academy was established, under the statute, at George- town, which was quite successful. In 1847 Campbell College was incor- porated in the same town, and this was followed by establishing, in 1860, Georgetown Female School by Anthony Haynes, now of Boonville. Good schools were maintained here for several years. Prof. A. N. Neal estab- lished the Georgetown Academy for both sexes in 1865 and continued at its head till 1870, when he was elected county superintendent. This was one of the best private schools in Pettis County. About 150 students were in attendance.
October 3, 1865, Thomas E. Bassett, clerk of the County Court, was appointed county school commissioner, and was continued in office till, under the new constitution, a county superintendent was elected.
The people of Sedalia were content with nothing less than the best advantages that good appliances and superior instructors afforded. In
1880 it was proposed to expend $10,000 for more ample accommodations, sixteen hundred votes were cast in its favor, and only forty-nine op- posed it. Again, in April, 1882, a proposition to levy a five-mill tax for the erection of two new brick school buildings was carried with only twenty votes in opposition to the measure. The people of Sedalia have reason to feel proud of their well organized schools and efficient teachers. The members of the board of education are men well qualified for their responsible trust, both as regards their knowledge of their duties, and their active interest manifested.
The first schools taught in Sedalia were private enterprises, supported by subscription and tuition assessments. The first school was "kept" in the first store room, situated on the old site of John Gallie's lumber yard. The store was owned by T. M. Hodge, and the school was taught by E. W. Washburn and his daughter. This was during the war, and only a few pupils attended. Miss Laura Moses was the next teacher. She afterwards married Judge Chan. P. Townsley. Next, W. H. Allison built a frame school house, a little north from the Missouri Pacific general offices in East Sedalia. The building which he erected was two stories, and cost about $2,000. It was originally intended for a female seminary. The building was sold. This school was the most important up to the
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fall of 1866, when the common school system was adopted. The present generation know nothing of the disadvantages to which the first resi- dents of the city were subjected in school matters. The history of the common schools of Sedalia properly begins in the fall of 1866.
At an election held the 15th day of September, 1866, in pursuance of an act of the General Assembly authorizing any city, town or village to organize for school purposes, the following board of education was elected: Wm. Beck and F. Crandall, for a term of three years; A. Ensel and Thos. J. Montgomery, for a term of two years; E. W. Washburn and William Bloess, for a term of one year. At a meeting of the members of the board, held September 19, 1866, for the purpose of organization, E. W. Washburn was elected president; F. Crandall, secretary, and Wm. Beck, treasurer.
An enumeration of the children in the city between the ages of five and twenty-one being authorized by the board, the number reported Oc- tober, 1866, was as follows: Whites-Males, 262; females, 283. Total, 545. Colored-Males, 108; females, 113. Total, 221. Total number of children in the district of school age, 776.
Initiatory steps were taken in the early part of 1867 to erect two suitable school buildings; one north and the other south of the Pacific railroad, and to this end the ground on which the Broadway school build- ing was afterwards erected, was purchased; city bonds to the amount of $30,000 were issued.
At a meeting of the board held August 12, 1867, Prof. G. O. Brown, of Ohio, was elected superintendent of the Sedalia public schools for a term of six months, commencing January, 1868, at a salary of $140 per month, to which position he was again elected for the year 1868-69, at a salary of $1,500. He, in connection with Prof. G. W. Ready, then principal of the high school, succeeded in organizing the schools in such a manner as to render them at once popular with the citizens.
The Broadway school building was erected during the year 1867.
The first school was organized February 10, 1868, in the Broadway building, with the following corps of teachers: Grammar grades, Misses Peabody and Griffin, at a salary of $60 per month; intermediate grades, Mrs. Brown and Miss Tindall, at a salary of $50 per month, each; pri- mary grades, Misses Adamson and Groesbeck, at a salary of $40 per month, each ; Prof. G. W. Ready, principal of the high school, at a salary of $85 per month. Later Miss Jennie Bard was employed as an assistant, at a
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salary of $40 per month. Mr. Miller was employed to teach the colored school, north of the railroad.
At a meeting of the board held May 30, 1868, it was agreed to issue bonds to the amount of $10,000, for the purpose of erecting a new build- ing north of the railroad.
On May 29, 1868, Prof. G. W. Ready was elected superintendent of the schools, a position he continued to fill for nine years.
During the year 1870, the two-story brick building north of the Pacific railroad, now known as the Franklin school, was erected and occupied, with W. O. Dunlap principal, and Misses Kidd, Maddox and Wadleigh, assistants.
On May 29, 1873, a proposition was submitted to the voters of the city, to issue bonds to the amount of $12,000, for the purpose of erecting a two-story brick building in East Sedalia on East Broadway. The propo- sition failing to receive the required number of votes to secure its adoption, the board proceeded to erect a two-room frame building, which was completed and used as a school the same year. This school, known as Washington school, was under the care of Miss Mary Green as principal, and Miss Minnie Chappelear as assistant.
In August, 1874, Prof. E. R. Booth was elected principal of the high school, and at the close of the term, the following pupils having com- pleted the regular course of study, were awarded diplomas: Misses Maud Gent, Ellen Hackett, George Jackson, Dora Lamy and Bettie Rogers. This was the first class that graduated from the high school.
At a meeting of the school board, held August 8, 1876, it was de- termined to suspend the high school department in consequence of the limited funds at the disposal of the board. For the same reason the Ger- man department was also abolished. As a result of this action of the board the high school department was discontinued for two subsequent years, when it was partially restored.
Broadway school was located on Broadway, between Kentucky and Moniteau streets, and was established in the year 1867. It was a two- story brick building, containing seven school rooms, one recitation room, a library room, and superintendent's office. During the summer of 1880 an additional story was added to the building. Cost of building and grounds was $40,000.
Franklin school was conducted in a two-story brick building on the northwest corner of Moniteau and Cooper streets. This building was
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erected in the year 1870, and cost, with grounds, etc., about twelve thousand dollars.
Washington school was located on East Broadway in a wooden, two- story building containing four rooms. The school began in 1873, with primary department and but two teachers. In 1878 two rooms were rented at the rear of the building and studies increased to the sixth grade. Two years later there were two additional rooms added to the building and studies increased to the eighth grade.
Lincoln school (colored) was instituted in the year 1868, and was first opened in a frame building, located on the present site of Franklin school. In the year 1870, the building was moved two blocks further north, and one east, to its present location. In 1879, two rooms were added to the building.
The Sedalia Seminary was established in Sedalia September 5, 1876, by Prof. J. B. Van Petten. In 1877, it was united with the Missouri Central Normal School and Collegiate Institute, which had been estab- lished in Sedalia at the same time, by Prof. E. R. Booth .. The two schools united were called the Sedalia Collegiate Institute, and was conducted under the associate principalship of Professors Van Petten and Booth. When the institution had prospered nearly three years, its buildings, library and apparatus were destroyed by fire. But other accommodations were provided and the school continued its session to the end of the school year of 1878-79, Professor Booth then retiring. Prof. Van Petten consolidated the Collegiate Institute with the Queen City Seminary, which had been in successful operation one year, under Prof. G. W. Ready, corner Fifth and Lafayette streets. The schools thus united took the original name of the Sedalia Seminary and for three years the insti- tution was under the management of Professors Van Petten and Ready.
The Sacred Heart Church dates the opening of Sacred Heart school to the foundation of the parish. The dedication of the church and school took place on the same day. On Sunday, October 1, 1882 (Feast of the Holy Rosary), the school was blessed and on Monday, October 2, Sr. M. Natalia, the superioress, opened the first scholastic year with seventy- eight pupils.
Sedalia had a business college in the early days. It has long since suspended. It was called the Sedalia Business College, established in the early part of 1881. The owners and principals of this college were Messrs. Moore and Fraker.
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The 1918 board of education, for the city, and officers are as fol- lows: W. H. Van Wagner, president; W. H. Cloney, vice-president; Ed- win J. Evans, secretary ; Dr. W. H. Weaver, treasurer; David Roberts and Dr. F. R. Morley.
No other city in Missouri with a population double that of Sedalia can boast of more or better schools than this city has. The public schools have always received loyal support from our citizens and be- cause they have merited it. The Sedalia High School is situated at Sixth street and Massachusetts avenue. The building is an imposing stone structure with three stories and finished basement. Their labora- tories are modern and equipped with the latest devices found in schools for the instruction of students. The department of manual training teaches the student practical construction of many commercial commo- dities and fits them for employment along those lines. The school teaches prescribed courses in English and science and prepares the student for advanced work in the different colleges and universities. The school is a first class high school and is so accredited among the higher insti- tutions of learning. The attendance this year (1918) is 550. The build- ing, grounds, furniture, fixtures and equipment of this school repre- sent a value of $95,000.
Broadway school, located on West Broadway between Kentucky and Moniteau avenues, is the largest of the grade schools in the city and as large as any in the State. It is a modern two-story brick, with base- ment, containing sixteen large rooms. This building is new, modern throughout and represents a money value of $65,000. With grounds, furniture and equipment it is valued at $85,000. Being the most cen- trally located, its attendance exceeds that of any other school in Sedalia. Attendance for this year is 725.
Summit school, located at Sixth street and Summit avenue, building, grounds, furniture, fixtures and equipment, represents an expenditure of something like $43,000. It is a large two-story brick building, modern and up to date for school work. It has ten rooms, conveniently furnished and has the second largest attendance of any of the grade schools in Sedalia. The enrollment this year is 500.
Prospect school, situated at Second street and Prospect avenue, is one of the older schools of the city. It represents a money value of $43,000, in building, grounds, furniture and equipment. The building is an ex- cellent two-story brick, modern throughout, has eight large rooms and an attendance of 385 pupils.
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Whittier school, at Sixteenth street and Montgomery avenue, is a sub- stantial two-story brick building with basement. This building is thor- oughly modern and has all of the conveniences of the modern, present- day school buildings. It has eight large rooms and attendance of 375, and with grounds, equipment and furnishings it represents a money value of $26,000.
Jefferson school, located at New York and Chestnut avenues, is an eight-room, two-story brick building, with basement. This school build- ing is modern and has all of the equipment and convenience of the other school buildings in the city. Buildings, grounds, equipment and furni- ture represent a value of $25,000. The enrollment this winter is 250.
Horace Mann school, at Sixteenth street and Park avenue, is one of the new school buildings of Sedalia. It is an eight-room, two-story brick building with basement, and with grounds, equipment and furniture represents a value of $40,000. The building is modern and up to date and has all the conveniences incident to the modern school. The enroll- ment this winter is 300.
Lincoln school, located on Osage and Henry streets, is the colored school. This school, in addition to teaching the grades of common school, is a high school and has and gives all the advantages of the modern high school. It is a large ten-room, two-story building, with basenient, and with grounds, furniture and equipment represents a value of $38,000. Building is a modern structure, with about the same conveniences as the other schools. The enrollment this year is 325.
Washington school, located at Fifth and Wagoner streets, is one of the smaller schools. It has three rooms, conveniently furnished and modern equipment in every particular. The attendance this year is 120.
Eugene Field, at Twenty-fourth and Ohio avenue, is a two-room frame school building. It is nicely furnished and splendidly equipped. The at- tendance is seventy-five.
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