History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 192

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 192

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PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS .- Joseph A. Brown, 1877-80 ; John R. Warfield, 1881-84.

SHERIFFS .- John A. Watson, 1877-80; Robert Schencko, 1881-84.

COUNTY CLERKS .- William D. Clayton, 1877-78 ; E. L. Dosen- bach, 1879-86.

CIRCUIT CLERKS .- John A. McMinamy, 1877-78; E. H. Ly- cett, 1879-82; Christian D. Wolff, 1883-86.

ASSESSORS .- William F. Pfister, 1877-80; Green Baxter, 1881-82 ; Francis Rewwe, 1883-84.

TREASURERS .- T. T. January, 1877-78 ; F. A. Heidorn, 1879- 82 (died) ; James C. Edwards, 1882; George H. W. Heidorn, 1883-84.

RECORDERS .- William D. Clayton (ex officio), 1877-78 ; E. L. Dosenbach (ex officio), 1879, until July ; William D. Clayton, 1879-80; Francis Ruehl, 1881-86.

SURVEYOR .- Henri Chomeau, 1877-84.

COMMISSIONERS OF ROADS AND BRIDGES .- John A. Massey, 1877-78; Robert C. Allen, part of 1879, county surveyor since.

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS .- J. R. Evans, 1877-79; J. B. Breier, 1880-84.

The population of St. Louis County, according to the eensus of 1880, was 31,888. Of this number

there were : males, 16,988 ; females, 14,900 ; natives, 25,299 ; foreign-born, 6589 ; white, 28,008; colored, 3880.

A comparison of the sum of the population in the townships in 1860 with the population of the county in 1880 shows an increase in twenty years of more than fifty per eent.

WEST END NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD .- In. 1871, James C. Page and Hon. Erastus Wells con- eeived the project of building a railroad to their prop- erty, five and a half miles distant from the borders of the thiekly inhabited part of St. Louis. Others were associated with them, and measures were initiated for the accomplishment of the work; but the charter was found to be defective, and the attempt failed. The pro- jeet was renewed in 1872, but the panie of 1873 ar- rested proceedings, which were not again renewed till the summer of 1874. On the 9th of January, 1875, the road was advertised for sale under a deed of trust, and on the 23d of the same month it was reorganized under its present name, with the following directors : Erastus Wells, president ; J. Lindensehmit, viee-presi- dent; W. J. Lewis, treasurer; J. C. Page, C. D. Blossom, D. K. Furguson, and M. Collins. The work of construction was prosecuted, and on the 11th of June, 1875, the first train passed over the road to Kienlau Avenue, five miles ; in October, 1876, it was open to Normandy, eight miles ; and on the 1st of October, 1878, the first train ran to Florissant, sixteen miles.

In March, 1879, the road was sold under a deed of trust, and the Missouri Horse Railroad Company became its purehaser. In the same month it was again organized, under the same name, with a capital stoek of two hundred thousand dollars and the fol- lowing directors: Erastus Wells, president; J. R. Lionberger, viee-president; Rolla Wells, superinten- dent; W. D. Henry, secretary and treasurer; and James Clark.

The total cost of the road has been three hundred thousand dollars, of which less than fifty thousand dollars has been paid for right of way and depot grounds, while the donated way is worth more than five hundred thousand dollars. The road is not now ineumbered with a mortgage. Hon. Erastus Wells and Dr. J. C. Page have been active workers in this road from the first.

LACLEDE AND CRÈVE CŒUR LAKE RAILROAD .- This company was incorporated Nov. 26, 1880, with a capital stoek of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The construction of the road, the termini of which are indicated by its title, was commeneed immediately after the incorporation of the company, and the first trains

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

passcd over it July 4, 1881. Its total cost was two hun- dred and eighty thousand dollars. It was leased to and is operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. The principal business of the road is the conveyance of passengers to and from the pleasure resort at Crève Cœur Lake in summer, and the transportation of ice in winter directly from the lake, and in summer from the mammoth ice-houses that have been built on its shore. The directors of this road have been from the time of its incorporation Charles B. Shedd, H. H. Stephens, E. A. Shedd, J. S. Field, and A. B. Corey. E. A. Shedd is president; John S. Field, vice-presi- dent ; Charles B. Shedd, secretary ; and H. A. Ste- phens, general manager.

The company has expended twenty-five thousand dollars in improving and beautifying the grounds on the east or bluff side of Crève Coeur Lake, and the place is now one of the most attractive pleasure resorts in this region. Hotels and further improvements are contemplated, and when these are completed the citi- zens of St. Louis will enjoy privileges to which they have hitherto been strangers.

On the opposite side of the lake immense ice-houses have been built, and others are in process of construc- tion, for the utilization during the warm season of the ice which forms on the surface of the lake in the winter. This enterprise is conducted by an organiza- tion known as the " Crève Coeur Lake Ice Company."

ST. LOUIS SEMINARY for young ladies was projected in 1871. Property possessing great natural beauty, valued at ten thousand dollars, was subsequently im- proved at an expenditure of eleven thousand dollars, and other improvements render its present value twenty-five thousand dollars. The site is a command- ing eminence north of the city of St. Louis, three- fourths of a mile from city limits, on the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway, overlooking the city and the Mississippi River, and is only a few hundred yards from Woodland Station. The location, though so near the city, is remarkably quiet, there being no business houses near, and is surrounded by beautiful suburban homes.

The spacious, well-constructed building is sur- rounded by a shady lawn of eight acres, tastefully laid out with walks, bordered with flowers and orna- mental shrubbery, all conspiring to render the placc an attractive home. The large, well-ventilated rooms have all been arranged with a view to health and comfort.

The school is the property of B. T. Blewett, LL.D., and is select in its character, receiving only a lim- ited number of those desiring a high grade of schol- arship. Though no sectarian influence is brought to

bear upon the pupils, their religious welfare and moral training are most studiously guarded, and every en- deavor is made to render the school a Christian home. The limited number allows each pupil to be individu- alized and to receive that special attention requisite to her culture, affording a great advantage over schools in which large numbers are crowded together. The seminary, up to this period, has sent out only thirteen graduates. The grade of scholarship is designed to be thorough, affording the very best literary advan- tages. Vocal and instrumental music, painting in oil and water colors, drawing, sketching, and whatever else may be needful in the thorough culture of a young woman, are most carefully attended to in this sem- inary.

There will soon be added to the accommodations, already inviting, spacious and airy school-rooms, with all the desired appliances. An important feature in this school is that the year opens in September and closes the middle of May, before the enervating heat of summer oppresses, and all the arrangements, as well as the eligibility of the location, contribute to the health and the general welfare of the pupils. The principal has a select library of fifteen hundred vol- umes, to which the young ladies have access, besides which they have the advantage of the libraries of the city, and the art galleries, museums, lectures, concerts, and other appliances for their culture.

Benjamin Turner Blewett was born in Warren County, Ky., Sept. 17, 1820, and was the eldest son of Edward Blewett, a Kentucky farmer. He early evinced a strong desire for the acquirement of a thorough education, and although his opportunities were few, and the circumstances by which he was surrounded discouraging, yet by the exercise of great energy and indomitable courage he succeeded in overcoming all obstacles and accomplishing his object. At the age of twelve years he spent a winter in teaching the younger members of his father's family, and in his fifteenth year taught some of the children in the neighborhood be- sides, the fees being allowed him by his father to pay his school expenses for the remaining months of the year. In this way he spent two years, when a larger school was offered him, which he accepted and taught success- fully for two years more. He thus amassed a suf- ficient sum to attend an academy in Bowling Green, Ky., taught by Josiah Pillsberry, to whom he was largely indebted for that thoroughness in scholarship which has been the key to his success in life. He attended this academy one year, and then accepted the charge of a school, which he conducted suc- cessfully for a year. At this time an event occurred which changed his plans for life. While deliberating

yours liny 13. J. Blewell

LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF LLINOIS.

1879

COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

whether to read law or to complete his course of study he became eonvineed of the truth of religion. He now felt it his duty to fit himself for the ministry, and in his twentieth year he entered Georgetown College, Kentucky, which was then under the presideney of Howard Maleom, D.D., one of the most celebrated theologians and scholars of the day. At the elose of his sophomore year his means were exhausted; but about this time there occurred a vaeaney in the prin- eipalship of the academy connected with the college, to which he was appointed on the recommendation of the president and trustees. He discharged the duties of this responsible position satisfactorily for two years, and then' re-entered college, and was graduated in 1846. He was at onee reappointed principal of the academy, and brought it to a higher state of effieieney and prestige than it had ever attained before. In the mean time he superintended a large Sabbath-sehool, to which he devoted nearly every Saturday and Sun- day, and often several evenings of the week.

Mr. Blewett married in July, 1848, Miss Aris Hedge, of Augusta, Me., and their union has proved an unusually pleasant and happy one. About this time he was solicited to take charge of the High School at Russellville, Ky., which was eondueted under the aus- piees of an association of Baptists. As this opened to him a wider and more independent field of labor, he sent in his resignation to the trustees of George- town College, which was very reluctantly accepted, and in January, 1853, removed with his family to Russellville. He entered upon the discharge of his new duties under very discouraging circumstanees. The school building was unfinished, having only just been roofed, and was open and surrounded by rubbish. The ten thousand dollars which had been seeured for the enterprise having been expended, the structure as it stood was offered him by the trustees, on condition that he finish and furnish it. He was to retain the oeeupaney of it for five years free of rent, and to conduet it at his own expense for the education of young men. To attempt to do this was considered a rash and almost impossible undertaking, but Mr. Blewett, determined to sueeeed, at onee engaged a eontraetor to finish the building within a year, at a eost of six thousand dollars, and. gave his personal obliga- tion for the money. He spent the year in superin- tending the structure and solieiting funds for the enter- prise in a community which had not been educated to liberality, and which had been thoroughly eanvassed before, but by persevering effort the building was fin- ished and furnished at a cost of eight thousand dol- lars in one year. In January, 1854, the sehool was formally opened with twenty-five pupils, the fees for

the first term barely paying the assistant. Mr. Blew- ett had now been arduously at work for a year and a half without any remuneration. There was so little faith, even on the part of friends of the enterprise, in its ultimate sueeess that many hesitated to give it their confidenee. The school year opened in Sep- tember with about fifty pupils, which number increased during the year, and at the beginning of the second year it opened with one hundred pupils.

During this year the school was converted into a college, chartered under the name of Bethel College, and Mr. Blewett became its president. The new re- sponsibility, although attended with all the hardships, annoyances, and difficulties ineident to enterprises of the kind, was unhesitatingly aeeepted by Mr. Blewett. The institution was deeply in debt, but Mr. Blewett succeeded in effeeting its reorganization and in win- ning the public favor by means of earnest, patient, and unyielding effort. At this juncture the son of Chief Justice Ewing, of Kentucky, bequeathed to the institution $10,000 in eash and real estate valued at $20,000, on condition that in addition to his $10,000 the trustees raised $30,000. The president went into the field, leaving the management of the college largely to his efficient wife, to whose energy and eul- ture he is greatly indebted for his sueeess, and after eighteen months of patient labor seeured the neees- sary $30,000. In the mean time Chief Justice Ewing died, leaving the college $3000 in eash and real estate valued at $60,000.

At the breaking out of the war in 1861, President Blewett resigned, the college having disbanded, and was thus turned away by the events of the war from a work in which his best energies had been employed. During this period the institution had graduated sev- eral young men, who have sinee filled prominent posi- tions in various professions and industries. The edifice had eost $16,000 (paid for), and $100,000 in endowments had been seeured.

Mr. Blewett then went to Augusta, Ky., and took charge of Augusta College, which he eondueted with sueeess up to 1871, when he was invited to assume the management of the young ladies' seminary located at Jennings, an inviting suburb of St. Louis. The establishment of this sehool required energy and pa- tient perseveranee, but Mr. Blewett's experience gave him special fitness for the work. All the obstaeles which confronted him at first have given way, and after twelve years of earnest labor his sehool is now a complete sueeess.

In 1875, Mr. Blewett received the following letter, announeing that the honorary degree of LL.D. had been conferred upon him :

1880

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

" RUSSELLVILLE, KY., June 10, 1875.

" PRESIDENT B. T. BLEWETT :

"Sir,-At the annual session of the board of trustees of Bethel College, by authority of its charter and the amendments thereto, the degree of LL.D. was by special order of the board conferred upon you.

" It affords me especial personal gratification, my dear sir, to make this communication. I trust it will refresh memories yet dear to us all.

" Very truly, etc., " RAND H. CALDWELL, " Secretary B. T. B. C.

"Our commencement exercises were far the best since ante- bellum days, and augur well for our future."

Mr. Blewett has four children,-two sons and two daughters. One of his sons is a graduate of Colby University, Maine; the other of Washington Univer- sity, St. Louis. Both are principals of prominent schools in St. Louis. His daughters are highly cul- tivated, and assist him in the seminary. Mr. Blew- ett is in the sixty-third year of his age, still vigorous, and as earnest in his labors as ever. He conducts a private select school of high grade, which is filled with the daughters of representative families, and de- rives a keen pleasure from devoting his best energies in the evening of his life to the education of young women.

In the vicinity of St. Louis will be found some of the handsomest suburban residences in the country. Among these one of the most noticeable is the coun- try-seat of William L. Black, one of the leading bus- iness men of St. Louis.

TOWNSHIP OF CARONDELET.1

Carondelet, which took its name from Baron Caron- delet, is the southeastern township of St. Louis County. The township of Central and the city of St. Louis bound it on the north, St. Louis and the Mississippi River are east of it, the tortuous Meramec River, which separates it from Jefferson County, forms its southern and southwestern boundary, and a portion of Bonhomme township lies directly west from it. As originally constituted it embraced congressional town- ships 42, 43, and 44 north, ranges 6 and 7 east ; but when the town of Carondelet was organized the north- east corner of the township was taken off, and when the city of Carondelet was absorbed by St. Louis the latter city extended its limits so far as to include a large portion of the township besides.

Gravois Creck drains the northern part of the town- ship, and unites with Des Percs River in South St. Louis, and Mattis Creek, an affluent of Meramcc River, is the principal stream in the southern part.

Prior to the commencement of the railroad era highway communication with -St. Louis was a matter of the first importance to the farmers, millers, and others in the township, and the county authorities, recognizing this necessity, adopted measures for the establishment and improvement of avenues to and from the city. These roads were either gravcled or macadamized, forming what are ordinarily known as rock roads. Such are the Gravois road, which leads to Fenton and Hillsboro', the Lemay, Tesson, Tele- graph, Watson, and Denny roads, and others.

The township has railway connection with St. Louis by the Missouri Pacific, which crosses the north- western corner; by the Carondelet and Kirkwood Branch of the same road, which passes through the northern part, and by the St. Louis and Iron Moun- tain Railroad, which runs along the shore of the Mis- sissippi River.

The settlement of Carondelet township commenced when the country was under Spanish rule. Farms and stock pastures were developed, and grist-mills and saw- mills were established in various parts of the township. Many of the grinding-mills were propelled by horse- power, and a large portion of these were tread- mills.

Among the early settlers2 were De Lor, Sapping- ton, Mackay, the Fines, Musick, Long, Wells, St. John, Bowles, Parke, Barada, Guion, Le Brond, Tesson, soon followed by the McCormicks, Hunt, Dent, Cromwell, Smith, Pipkin, Sale, Grens, Berry, Richardson, Cowen, Eads, Lovejoy, and others.

John Sappington, Sr., crected a horse-mill for grinding grain, the first in the township. Z. Sap- pington, M. Tesson, and William L. Long each built grist-mills of two horse-power. Jonah and John Sappington, Jr., built a large and profitable tread-mill for grinding grain and sawing lumber. A large stone water-mill was built by G. Sarpy on the Des Peres River, at the Gravois road crossing. This mill was a great convenience to the farmers in the counties of St. Louis and Jefferson.

Capt. James Mackay, for a time in Territorial au- thority under Don Zenon Trudeau, purchased and set- tled on survey No. 3066, and opened a farm, on which he made many improvements. He resided on this farm till his death. He was a land surveyor. His son, Zenon Mackay, now resides on this farm, and owns a large portion of the tract which his father pur- chased.

Joseph Wells settled on the western part of survey No. 9 in 1806, and was a successful farmer and stock-

1 With acknowledgments to John F. Long and Thomas J. Sappington for valuable assistance.

? Pioneer history furnished by J. F. Long.

"MAPLE GROVE." RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM L. BLACK, HALL'S FERRY ROAD, NEAR BADEN, ST. LOUIS, MO.

1881

COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

raiser. His life was long and useful, and he left many descendants worthy of his good name.

John Long and family came from Bonhomme to the central part of the same survey in 1807. He entered adjoining lands, and was a successful farmer to the time of his death in 1826.

Philip Fine, Sr., located on survey No. 50, ncar the mouth of Meramec River. Hc established Lov- ering's Ferry, so called after his son-in-law, Lawson Lovering.

David Fine opened a farm on his grant, No. 1988. He and his wife, with Eli Musick and wife and Judge Joseph Sale, organized the first Baptist Church in the township, now known as Concord Church.

G. St. John resided many years and died on survey No. 3065, on the Meramec River. After his death his son-in-law, Dr. Butler, lived on the place and practiced his profession with success.

In 1818, Commodore Theodore Hunt purchased of William S. Long the eastern portion of survey No. 9. He resided on and improved this during about three years, then sold it to Col. Frederick Dent, the father of Mrs. Gen. Grant. Mr. Dent remained on this farm, making valuable additions and improvements, till 1865, when he removed to Washington City, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His remains were brought to St. Louis by Gen. Grant, and buried, with those of his wife, in Bellefontaine cemetery. Col. Dent was an active pro- moter of the public schools in the county, and to his efforts the people are largely indebted for the efficiency · of the public schools. He was at one time treasurer. His youngest son, Judge Lewis Dent, erected a neat and costly residence on a high commanding swell of the same tract, and named it " Wish-ton-wish." It was accidentally burned in 1871.

Jonah Parke, a pioneer from Madison County, Ky., in 1804, settled, in 1807 or 1808, on survey No. 2995, and there passed a long and happy life, loved and honored by all who knew him. At his death his two youngest sons, Charles and Samuel, sub divided the tract, a large portion of which is owned by Judge Shore, of the St. Louis County Court.

Col. Philip Pipkin, a colonel under Gen. Jackson in the Creck and Seminole wars, came from Tennessee in 1830, and in 1836 purchased a part of the David Fine survey, No. 1988, erected a comfortable dwelling and other buildings, and opened a profitable farm. He was highly honored and respected for his gallantry as a soldier and his integrity as a citizen. He died in 1841, lamented by a large circle of acquaintances and friends.

Anderson Bowles came from Virginia at an early

day, and located near the present site of Kirkwood. His amiable wife was one of the first members of the Methodist Church, and was widely known as " Mother Bowles."

These pioneers have passed away, but those of their descendants who remember them recall with pride the sterling virtues which adorned their char- acters, their high moral worth, their stern integrity, and their active benevolence.

The population of the township was, in 1850, 2354; 1860, 7831; 1870, 5387; 1880, 5691.

Concord Farmers' Club .- This association was first organized on the 5th day of April, 1873, at the residence of Mr. Adam Schuetz, on the Tesson Ferry road, by the farmers in the immediate vicinity. Sept. 21, 1874, a certificate of incorporation was issued to C. D. Wolff, J. Henry Zelch, Henry Crecclieus, C. J. Tautphoeues, George Schaedler, Otto Theiss, Henry Horst, Christopher Heim, and others. During the same year a building site of about two acres was pur- chased on the Concord School road, one-fourth of a mile west of the Tesson Ferry road, and one and one- half miles south of the Gravois Rock road and town of Sappington (it being a part of what is known as the Saugrain tract), on which the present " Farmers' Club Hall" was erected at a cost of two thousand two hundred dollars, to which improvements to the amount of several hundred dollars have been added since. The building is a frame structure, two stories in height, seventy-five by thirty five feet, size of main hall forty-five by thirty-fivc fcet, the whole building consisting of nine separate apartments.

The object of the club is the improvement of its members in everything pertaining to agriculture, hor- ticulture, and domestic economy. No sectarian or political discussions are permitted to be introduced in the club. Only practical farmers and horticulturists of good moral character are eligible for active member- ship, but persons engaged in other pursuits may be- come honorary members. The present number of active members is one hundred and three, number of honorary members thirteen, making the total mem- bership one hundred and sixtcen. The club has a library of over five hundred volumes, with an addi- tional yearly appropriation of one hundred dollars for books. The regular meetings of the club are held on the first Saturday of cach month from April to Sep- tember, inclusive, at eight o'clock P.M., and on the first and third Saturdays of each month from October to March, inclusive, at seven o'clock P.M. Its officers are clected at the first meeting in January of each year, and it is officered at present as follows : Presi- dent, Thomas J. Sappington ; Vice-Presidents, Henry

1882

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Crecelieus and George Schaedler ; Recording Secre- tary, William H. Sappington ; Corresponding Secrc- tary, Jacob Schiaedler ; Secretary of Finance, Lewis Crecelieus ; Treasurer, C. J. Tautphoeus ; Librarian, C. Heim; Assistant Librarian, William Nebe; and an executive committee consisting of five members.

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 192

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358