History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 199

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 199

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

With the establishment of the great Western rail- road system through travel on the rock roads ceased, but to the easy communication with the city which they afford the prosperity of the township is largely due.

Although in close proximity to St. Louis, Central township was not settled and brought under cultiva- tion earlier than other portions of the county. Of the first settlers herc, as in some other portions of the county, many were emigrants from Kentucky and Virginia. Of those who came prior to 1820 the names arc remembered by the oldest inhabitants of the Waltons, sons of John Walton, Moores, Sullens, Links, Musicks, Robert Wash, Douglasses, Cabannés, Watsons, Murphys, Gratiots, Frecmores, Larimores, Polaskes, Charlevilles, Bumparts, Tessons, Mattocks, Kings, McKutchens, Calverts, Carsons, Tyheans, Warfields, Berrys, Curries, Brothertons, Browns,

Gormans, McDonalds, Longs, Lockharts, Smiths, Padgetts, Clarks, Buchanans, and Timons (of the family of Bishop Timon).

Of those who came about 1820 or soon afterwards were the Fitzgeralds, Moscleys, Hunncmans, Claytons, Dennys, Wyatts, McCoys, McCoslands, Suttons, Tay- lors, Lewises, Marshalls, Phillipses, Harrisons, Humcs, Breckenridges, Shumates, Lacklands, Vaughns, Un- derwoods, Hangemeads, Hartshornes, Beards, Mc- Knights, Hucksteps, Howsers, Wares, Blackwells, Descomes, Prices, Darbys, Finks, Smalls, Bonnets, Bruzes, Guins, Gibsons, Browns, Picketts, Hender- sons, Edmundses, Boyntons, McGees, Davises, Bar- rows, Adamses, Williamses, Robinsons, Barrs, Ever- itts, Hanleys, Nays, McKelders, and Truesdells. The population of Central township was in 1850, 1133; 1860, 5848 ; 1870, 8923 ; 1880, 7845.

The pioneer grist-mill in the township was estab- lished in the southwestern part, by David Huckstep, in 1825. It was what was known as a horse-mill, propelled by a wheel that was turned by four horses, and it had one run of rock stones.

.In 1830, George Gordon built a steam grist-mill in the northwestern part of the township. It had a run of rock and another of burr stones. It was burned after about twelve years.

Olive Street Mill, three miles east from Crève Cœur Lake, was built in 1873 by a stock company, of which E. H. Stratman was the president. It after- wards became the property of Henry Stratman, and in 1880, J. A. and J. F. Hibbert, under the firm- name of Hibbert Brothers, became owners. In 1881, J. F. Hibbert, the present owner, became sole pro- prietor.

The mill is a substantial brick building with two run of stones, and it has a daily capacity of fifty bar- rels of flour. The machinery is driven by an engine of forty-five horse-power. It is a merchant mill. The proprietor is about to introduce rollers and in- crease the capacity of the mill to one hundred barrels daily.

The first tannery was established in the north- western part of the township, by a Mr. Moore, about 1815. It had ten vats, and was operated till 1832, when it was abandoned. In 1821, Ralph Clayton erected a tannery near the present town of Clayton. It had cighteen vats, and it was worked by Mr. Clay- ton till 1856, when it ceased to be operated because of the failure of water. A shoe-shop was also carried on by Mr. Clayton during many years, or till ready- made shoes and boots deprived country shoemakers to a large extent of their occupation.

It is believed that the first blacksmith in the town-

1911

COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

ship was George Carson, whose shop was half a mile west of the present court-house. Other early black- smiths were James Sutton, on the Manchester road, Mr. McCormick, and Martin F. Hanley.

The pioneer shoe-shop was that of Mr. Clayton. It was during several years the only shoe-shop in the township. Fewer mechanics' shops came into ex- istence in Central township at an early day than would have been established because of its proximity to the city of St. Louis, where shops and mills were set up at a very early period, even before this township was settled to any extent.

Clayton .- Previous to the location of the county- seat no town existed where Clayton now is. When the location of the county buildings was under con- sideration, Ralph Clayton proposed to donate for the purpose one hundred acres of land. His offer was accepted, as well as that of Mrs. Hanley, who donated four acres, and the county buildings werc located there, in accordance with the will of the people, expressed at an election held Dec. 4, 1877. Since that time the town has come to include twenty dwellings, three hotels, one grocery, three printing-offices, three attor- neys, one singing hall, and the county buildings. A rapid growth in the future is inevitable.

Ralph Clayton, whose name the town bears, was born Feb. 22, 1788, in Augusta County, Va., of English parents. He resided at his native place till 1820, when he removed to what is now Central town- ship, and located seven hundred acres of land. He at once cstablished a tannery, and at the same time commenced the cultivation of his farm. He con- tinued the business of tanning till 1856, and he still resides on the farm that he first located. He was prominently identified with all that has tended to the progress of improvement in this region. He is now, at the age of ninety-five, in good health, and is quite active. He was married in 1831 to Rosanna Mc- Causland, who died in 1862, leaving three children, who are all now living.

Mount Olive Saengerbund .- This society was incorporated Sept. 4, 1882. Its purpose, as set forth in its constitution, is " the culture of vocal music and social improvement." The society now consists of thirty active and sixty passive members. The meetings have been held in the Mount Olive House, but a new hall at Clayton is nearly completed. It is sixty by one hundred and twenty feet, and is divided into principal hall, dining-room, dressing-rooms, library, etc., and its cost is four thousand dollars.

Methodist Episcopal Church South of Clayton. -Prior to 1881 the Methodists in the vicinity of Clayton worshiped at Mount Olive. In that year the

Mount Olive Society was transferred to Clayton, which had become the county-seat.

The society was organized at Mount Olive in 1860, and in that year a house of worship was erected on land donated by Martin F. Hanley and Cyrene C. Hanley, his wife. This house was for the use of all Protestant societies and for school purposes. The trustees for its erection were William B. Woodson, Jesse B. Underwood, and John Suter. In this house the society worshiped till the removal to Clayton. It is a brick structure, with a basement for school pur- poses, and the seating capacity of the auditorium is two hundred and fifty.

The basement is used for a school, and the upper room is, according to the terms of the deed, for the usc of any Protestant denomination desiring to hold services in it.

Of the clergymen who have officiated at that place, the names are remembered of Revs. D. D. Shumate, - - Scruggs, J. S. Frazier, - Treadwell, John A, Robinson, and A. T. Tidwell.

During two years after its removal the socicty wor= shiped in a school-house at Clayton, but in 1882 a house of worship was erected, and dedicated on the 7th of January, 1883. It is a frame structure, twenty-eight by forty-two feet in size ; its cost was two thousand dollars, and it is unencumbercd with debt. The membership is twenty-seven.

The clergymen who have served this society since its removal are Revs. B. R. Thrower, J. R. Hicks, J. W. Cunningham, and William Tyler.

Clayton Democrat .- In the latter part of Janu- ary, 1877, the Weekly Mail was established at Kirk- wood by a company, with William L. Thomas as pub- lisher. After a time the establishment was purchased by - Johnson, then in succession by Thaddeus M. Gardiner, Lewis & Stevens, and Thomas P. Diggs, and June 10, 1881, the present editor and publisher purchased the office. While Mr. Thomas was pub- lisher the office was removed to Mount Olive, and by Mr. Gardiner it was taken to Clayton, where the jour- nal has since been published. It is a weekly, and, as its name indicates, it supports the principles of the Democratic party.

The Star-Republican .- The Western Star was first published in the fall of 1877 by B. B. Crossman at West St. Louis. In August, 1878, Mr. Crossman commenced the publication of the St. Louis County Republican at Kirkwood, and in 1879 the two were consolidated under the name of the Star-Republican and published at Clayton, to which place the office was removed in December, 1880, and it has since been published at that place. The journal is the firm and

1912

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

fearless advocate of the principles of the Republican party and of temperanee.

The St. Louis County Waechter .- In 1876, William Raine established this journal in St. Louis, and continued its publication during two years. It was then purchased by C. W. Eek, who removed the office to Clayton in 1880, and has sinee continued its publication there. It has from the first becn pub- lished in the German language, and it is the organ of the German Republicans in St. Louis County. The Waechter is the only German paper in the county.

The St. Louis County Watchman .- In the spring of 1881, F. W. Rauchenstein beeame joint proprietor of the office of the Waechter, and in the autumn of the same year the firm commenced the publication of the St. Louis County Watchman, a Republican journal in the English language. Both journals have sinee been published by the firm of Eek & Rauchenstein from the same office in Clayton.

The first power-press in St. Louis County was brought here by this firm in the fall of 1881, and the first number of the Watchman was printed on it.

Webster Groves .- In 1861, where is now the town of Webster Groves, stood only the railroad depot and a small store kept by Augustus Moody. A few residenees also were seattered in the vicinity. All the land north from Lockwood Avenue, except here and there a lot, was owned by John C. Marshall. South from that avenue J. P. Helfenstein, Edward M. Avery, William Gore, William M. Prant, J. Richard- son, and Edward Lancaster were the owners of the ground.

Mr. Marshal had, a few years previously, laid out a portion of his land in town lots. In 1861, Charles Connon purchased four of these lots near the depot, and in 1862 ereeted a greenhouse, to which he has sinee added eight others. South from Lockwood Avenuc the owners of the land have sinee laid out town lots, most of which were promptly sold.

In 1863-64 an impulse was given to settlement here, and the town commenced a more rapid growth. Real estate advanced greatly in price, and men of business in St. Louis established homes for their fam- ilies here. The town received its name of Webster from Webster College, which had been located near it, and which was named in honor of the great statesman, Daniel Webster. When a post-office was established here it was found there was another town of Webster in the State, and the word " Groves" was added.

Since 1864 the town has had a steady growth, till now there are within the limits of the school district which includes it (one square mile) fifteen hundred inhabitants. The place has three physicians, three

groceries, one drug-store, one shoc-shop, one tailor's shop, three meat markets, and onc blacksmith-shop. Of course the nearness of the town to St. Louis and the excellent facilities for communication prevent the large development of business establishments here.

EMMANUEL CHURCH (EPISCOPAL) .- This parish was organized in 1866, and in that year Richard Lockwood erected, at the intersection of Lockwood Avenue and Big Bend road, a church edificc, which he presented to the parish. It is a neat stone build- ing, with a seating eapaeity of two hundred, and the parish has no debt. A rectory was subsequently built near the church.

The rectors of the parish have been Revs. P. N. Meade, Dr. Easter, A. Battle, Charles Ganthier, and the present rector, Rev. Mr. Griffith.

BAPTIST CHURCH (COLORED) .- This was organ- ized in 1867, with thirty members. The society has a house of worship capable of seating about one hun- dred. The present membership is forty. The church has not enjoyed the ministrations of a pastor during many years, till, in the latter part of 1882, Rev. Samuel Lot was called.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- Jan. 31, 1866, this society was organized with ten constituent members. The first place of worship was a building known as the chapel, that had been erected for school purposes by William M. Prant, R. P. Strudley, and J. P. Helfenstein. The growth of the congregation neees- sitated a larger place of worship, and in December, 1869, they removed to the public school-house, where they worshiped during two years. In 1871 the present church edifice, on Loekwood Avenue, between Elm and Gore Avenues, was built. It is a stone structure, with two hundred and fifty sittings, and its cost was sixteen thousand dollars. The socicty has no debt. The pastors have been Revs. Henry M. Grant, James Cruikshanks, Robert Kerr, Leroy Hand, and E. B. Burrows. The membership is ninety.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- In March, 1866, this society was organized by Henry A. Nelson, D.D., with twenty-five members. Until the crection of their church edifice the society worshiped with Rock Hill Presbyterian Church, but in 1867 their house of worship was completed, and dedicated February 10th of that year. It is a frame structure, with three hundred sittings, and it stands on the corner of Loek- wood and Gore Avenues. It is not encumbered with debt. Their pastors have been Revs. Raphael Kessler, J. Marks, D.D., and the present pastor, P. H. K. Mc- Comb. The church has been uniformly prosperous, and the present membership is one hundred and twenty.

1913

COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

WEBSTER GROVES PUBLIC SCHOOL .- Before 1868 no publie school was nearer to Webster than Rock Hill, one mile distant. In that year a district of one mile square, including the town, was constituted, and a school building was erected. It is a frame struc- ture, forty by sixty feet in size, and its cost was ten thousand dollars. With a wise provision for the future growth of the town, this house was made of a capacity double the requirements of the population at that time ; four school-rooms were finished, only two of which were at first used. The full capacity of the house is now required, and the question of adding to the existing facilities is under consideration. Four teachers are employed, and the aggregate annual at- tendance is three hundred. A colored school, with one teacher, is kept in another part of the town.

SOCIETIES .- Webster Groves Lodge, No. 1729, K. of H., was organized in August, 1879, with forty- three members, and Charles Connon, P. D., Dr. B. G. Bristol, D., N. D. Thompson, V. D., Charles Knight, R., and Charles Babbington, F. R. The presiding officers have been B. G. Bristol, H. Leven. The present officers are Adrian De Young, D .; William Jackson, V. D .; H. L. Peterson, R .; and Charles Babbington, F. R. The present membership is fifty- five. One member of the lodge has died.

Grove Council, Legion of Honor, was organized on the 15th of December, 1879, with fifteen charter members. The officers were George B. Waters, C .; William Moore, V. C .; Robert H. Thompson, R .; J. M. Steere, T. The Chancellors since have been M. B. Williams, F. D. Booth, and the present incum- bent of the office, A. De Young. The other officers are D. S. Willard, V. C .; James MacCausland, R .; and J. M. Steere, T. The present membership is thirty-two.

Des Peres Presbyterian Church. - This is located on the Geyer Maddox road, three miles north from Kirkwood. The present house of worship was erected about 1832. It is a stone edifice, with about one hundred sittings. Of the original constitu- ent members of this church only Mrs. Rebecca Mccutchen, now ninety-two years of age, survives. Rev. J. N. Gilbreath was the pastor of this ehurch during about twenty-five years. Besides him the names are remembered of the following pastors : Revs. John Lyons, Joseph Fenton, H. A. Booth, William Lapsley, William Claggett, A. Shotwell, William II. Parks, H. Moreton, and the present pas- tor, J. Addison Smith. A parsonage has recently been erected near to the church. The society has a membership of fifty, and no debt.

German Evangelical Zion's Church .- As early as

1838 a society existed and worshiped in a log church between the Clayton road and Des Peres. In this building the society continued to worship till 1871, when the present church was erected, near the inter- section of the Ballas and Clayton roads. It is a fine brick structure, forty by sixty feet in size, and its cost was eight thousand dollars. There is no debt on the church property. A school-house and teacher's or pastor's residence arc near the church, and a parochial school is maintained during a portion of each year.

The pastors of the church have been Revs. E. L. Nollau, 1838; E. Arenlarius, 1841 ; I. Knaus, 1845 ; John Wettle, 1846; W. Schueneman, 1850; I. F. Roewing, 1854; C. F. Doehring, 1860; N. Joseph, 1864; I. G. Neuschnud, 1870; F. Delveau, 1874; Philip Karbach, 1880; and the present pastor, Chris- tian Irion, 1880.

German Evangelical Lutheran Reformed United Church of Central .- This society was or- ganized in 1844, at a place then called the Bon- homme road, now Olive Street, eleven miles from St. Louis, with about twenty members. A log building was erected, and in this services have since been held. It has a gallery, and its seating capacity is two hun- dred. In 1869 the church was renovated and changed by increasing the height, adding the gallery, ceiling the inside, and weather-boarding and painting the outside. A belfry and steeple were also added, and the building has now the appearance of a frame house. These repairs were made at an expense of five hundred dollars. The house is also furnished with an organ, the cost of which was two hundred dollars.

Several years before the church was repaired a par- sonage was built. It is also a log building, covered with weather-boards. The church has no debt.

The following are the names of the pastors who have served this church : Revs. William Schueneman, Henry Knetterer, Michacl Kruse, and the present pastor, S. Payn.

A parochial school has from the first been main- tained in this ehureh, and instruction is given in both the German and English languages.

Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel's Church of Central .- In 1844 this society was organized on the old Bonhomme road, eleven miles from St. Louis. In that year a small log house of worship was erected, and the congregation has worshiped in this till the present time. It has a gallery, and its scat- ing eapacity is one hundred. Some years since the outside was weather-boarded, but a new church is nceded, and the congregation is about to erect one a short distance from this, on the Olive Street road, at

1914

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

a cost of five thousand dollars. The society purchased an organ in 1872 at a cost of five hundred dollars. The church has no debt. The membership is fifty.

A log parsonage was many years since built. A parochial school has been maintained by this congre- gation since its organization. For this school a neat brick house was erected in 1881, having accommoda- tions for fifty scholars. The average attendance at this school, at which both German and English are taught, is forty. The following names are remem- bered of pastors who have served this church : Revs. I. F. Buenger, J. A. Mueller, - Harms, C. W. Frederking, H. F. Meyer, W. Hallerberg, T. Land- graf, A. Cordes, and the present pastor, R. Winkler.

Rock Hill Presbyterian Church .- This is on the Manchester road, ten miles from St. Louis and one mile north from Webster Groves. A society was or- ganized here in 1844, with nine constituent members. The congregation first worshipcd in the house of James C. Marshall, then in a storehouse on his land. In 1845 the present church building was erected on land donated by Mr. Marshall, and the erection of the building was superintended by him. It is a stone structure with a seating capacity of two hundred, and it is unincumbered by debt. In 1867 a parsonage was built contiguous to the church at a cost of three thousand dollars, and on this there is no debt. The land on which it stands was donated by Mrs. Elizabeth Marshall, widow of James C., who died in 1864. The names of the pastors who have served this church are Revs. William Holmes, William Gros- venor, Albert De Shiel, James Darrah, David Di- mond, S. H. Hyde, Benjamin Mills, Henry B. Holmes, William Wilson, and the present pastor, John Leighton. The membership is forty.

St. Martin's Church (Catholic) of Central .- This parish was organized at a very early date, and it was the mother-church from which many others have gonc out. R. D. Watson donated the ground on which the church and parsonage were built. These are brick buildings, and the church has a scating ca- pacity of one hundred and fifty. The names are re- membered of the following pastors who have had charge of this congregation : Rev. Fathers - Don- nelly, James Murphy, James Higgins, Dennis Ken- nedy, Patrick Brady, Thomas Cleary, Lawrence Smith, and the present pastor, J. B. Jackson, who entered on his dutics in 1865.

Evangelical Lutheran St. Paul's Church, U. A. C. (Unaltered Augsburg Confession), at Des Peres .- This church was organized in 1848, with twenty-five members. The congregation first wor- shiped in a log church that is now used for the pa-

rochial school. The present church, which is of brick, with a seating capacity of four hundred, and has a steeple, bell, and organ, was erected at a cost of nine thousand dollars, on the corner of the Manchester and Ballas roads, in 1866. The congregation has also a parsonage and a residence for the teacher of the parochial school, which has been maintained since 1848, and in which instruction is given in German and English. The attendance at this school averages seventy. The Lutheran congregations at Ellisville and Kirkwood went out from this church.

The first pastor of this society was Rev. I. A. F. W. Mueller, succeeded in 1856 by Rev. A. Lehman, who died in 1875, and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Theodore Messler. The membership of the church is sixty-six. The society has a cemetery near the present church. It includes two acres of ground, and its cost was three hundred dollars.

Eden Methodist Episcopal Church South .- This society was organized in 1852. The first place of worship was the Ritner school-house, but soon after the organization the present house was built on the St. Charles Rock road where it is crossed by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad. It is a framc building, with a seating capacity of four hun- dred, and it is unincumbered with debt. The following names of preachers who have officiated here are re- membered : Revs. W. D. Shumate, J. W. Lewis, J. E. Godbey, J. S. Frazier, I. R. Hicks, J. W. Cun- ningham, J. W. Robinson, B. R. Thrower, Wesley Browning, and F. A. Morris.

St. Ann's Church (Catholic) at Normandy .- In 1855, Mrs. Ann Hunt donated to the Jesuits ten arpens (eight and a half acres) of land at Normandy on which to build this church. In that year a church building, which is at present used as a library, was erccted. Two years later, or in 1857, the growth of the congregation necessitated the erection of a larger house of worship, and the present stone structure was built. In 1872 it was enlarged and renovated, in 1875 a steeple was added, and from year to year since statuary, paintings, and fixtures have been added, till now it is one of the most beautiful and tasteful churches in the United States. Its scating capacity is three hundred and fifty, and its value is twenty-seven thou- sand dollars. In 1868 a brick parsonage was erected at a cost of five thousand dollars. A parochial school was established in 1857, and a school building was then erected. This was enlarged in 1874, and again enlarged in 1882, and its present capacity is one hun- dred pupils. Three teachers are employed, and the average attendance is sixty.

The pastors have been Revs. P. J. De Smet, who

1915

COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

established the parish, - Van Hulst, - Con- don, previously pastor of St. Xavier, and the present pastor, F. X. Kuppens, S.J. All these were Jesuits.

Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church South. -Although many Methodists resided in the vicinity of Crève Cœur, no society existed there prior to 1870. In that year a society was organized, with about seventy- five members, and the present house of worship was built on the corner of the Olive Street and Ballas roads. It is a brick structure, with two hundred sittings, and its cost was two thousand dollars.

The pastors who have served this society have been Revs. Walter D. Shumate, who was mainly instru- mental in organizing the society and building the church, F. S. Frazier, - Treadwell, John W. Robinson, A. T. Tidwell, and the present pastor, William Tyler.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 199

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