History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 202

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 202

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The lands consist of about three hundred and twenty acres, of which two hundred are under culti- vation. There is a fine garden, orchard, and vineyard attached, and the usual farm crops. Early vegetables arc raised in quantity, and finc milk is made a spe- cialty. Everything is done to render the institution as nearly self-sustaining as possible, and to aid in fin- ishing its buildings, aud extending its capacity for good. The buildings consist of offices, reading-room, dormitorics, dining room, etc., in a concrete building erected by James E. Yeatman. A splendid stone building for chapel, lecture-room, schools, etc., is only partly finished. The old Hamilton rock house, the fine concrete dairy-house, and large barns are apart from the principal buildings, and arc in use in the agricultural operations. Some of the original Ninian Hamilton orchard trees still exist, and a neat, partly artificial pond in front adds to the attractiveness of the retreat. The Protectorate property is situated in the northern portion of the Ninian Hamilton grant.

Ninian Hamilton came from Kentucky in 1803 along with his father, also Ninian, who located survey one hundred and twenty-four. Ninian was born in Ken- tucky, 1783, and settled on survey seven hundred and sixty-six, where the old State road crossed the valley. He built a house, and was one of the most enter- prising men of the times. He married and had five sons and four daughters, and died about 1834. Ninian (2) was born in 1809, and died in 1856. His grand- mother died in 1851, aged one hundred and four. The heirs sold to A. S. Mitchell, who in turn sold to James E. Yeatman, who ereeted the fine concrete house, and the first in the neighborhood, about 1856. To aid in the construction of the house a lime-kiln

was erected, by the creek, and fine lime made, which was the inception of the extensive lime-works in the valley. Andrew Hamilton, fourth son of Ninian (1), bought the Spanish grant, survey two thousand and twenty-three, and operated a distillery. He sold to John Whitsett, of North Carolina, whose heirs sold to Thomas F. Ackerman, M. D. Heltzell, and others.

Judge Henry Mccullough was born in Kentucky in 1788, and married Priscilla Smith, born in 1787, and the sister of Ninian Hamilton's wife. He was married three times, and had a very large family. He entered land in sections 14, 44, 3 east, and bought a fractional 40 from N. Hamilton for a mill-site. He had a tannery, shoe-factory, and bark- and grist-mill, and was a most enterprising man. He was justice of the peace about thirty years, and judge of the county court from 1849 to 1852. He died July 6, 1853. His last wife, née Delila Hamilton, was killed by a car on the Gleneoe Valley Road, opposite her own door, Aug. 23, 1876, in the seventy-sixth year of her age. . His son David was for many years marshal of the city of St. Louis.

John Stoy was born in St. Louis in 1801, a son of Dr. Stoy, who had a ferry at Carondelet. Dr. Stoy settled beside Peter Breen at Barret's Station. John settled on the road above Glencoe, sections 5, 44, 4 east. He had a large family, and died May 2, 1882.

Bunkum is a settlement across the river from Glencoe, forming the segment of a circle, with the base extending from near Acker's Ford to opposite St. Paul, and flanked by the Antire hills. The land in the vieinity is very rich, and is thickly settled. There are two schools in Bunkum, and the Lewis Chapel, built and maintained for the greater part by the Lewis family.

Martrom Lewis was one of the earliest settlers. He located in the northeast portion of the county ; lived at Lewis Ferry about 1816 ; married Margaret, daughter of Elijah Brockman, of Virginia, and sister of John and William Brockman. She died without family, and he afterwards married Elizabeth Darby, by whom he had three sons who grew to manhood, --- Rufus A., Philander P., and Martrom D. He built a frame residence on the bank of the river opposite Glencoe, and was the first station agent there. He cultivated a very large and fine farm.

Rufus A. Lewis married the daughter of Ander- son Bowles, justice of the peace, who died April, 1877, leaving quite a large family. He represented the county in the State Legislature in 1852-54, and was township assessor. He is an excellent and ex- tensive farmer.

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Philander P. Lewis married Mary Clark, and re- sides in Bunkum.

Martrom D., the youngest son, succeeded his father as station agent, and studied and practiced law in St. Louis, but still owns property here. Ile married Susan, daughter of the Hon. Judge Tippett, and has for years been public administrator of St. Louis.

Starting out anew at the west end of the State road, we begin with Samuel Harris, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1787, went to Kentucky with his parents in 1796, and came to near Fee-Fee in 1808. He mar- ried Sarah Inks; went against the Indians with the Missouri volunteer scouts in 1812-16; bought out Lambert at the edge of the county, in section 19, 44, 3 east, in 1827 ; was a carpenter, and kept a tavern and post-office. This was the first office west of St. Louis, and he distributed the inail by rider to Jeffer- son County, by Hillsboro' and Herculaneum. Hc

erected a small mill; his wife died in 1836, leaving · William, Joseph, Lefremsier (in California), James, Wash, and Isaiah C. He married Mrs. Ann Thomas, née Brawley, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. He died in 1851.

Isaiah Clark, his youngest son, was baptized by and named after Rev. John Clark, the early Baptist mis- sionary. He married Miss Turpin, of Allenton, by whom he has a large family, and lives near Fox Creek.

Dutch Hollow .- The next point east of the " Sam Harris place" is a picturesque valley on the line of the State road, and embraces portions of sections 17, 19, 20, 44, 3 east. In the upper portion is a neat hamlet, known by the same name, and containing a store, shoemaker's, harness-maker's, two blacksmiths', and a carpenter's shop, and a commodious tavern, with a number of farm-houses quite near. During the California and Kansas emigration this was a cele- brated camping-place. It was a relay point for the Jefferson City stages, and has suffered by the rail- road. It is about thirty-one miles from St. Louis.

Charles Paffeath, known far and wide as " mine host, Dutch Charley," was born in Lichtlin, Prussia, in 1809, and came with an uncle, Herman Stein, and others to the United States in 1834. Hc entered land in section 17, 44, 3 east. His uncle died the same year of cholera, and he married the widow, his senior one year, who died in 1871. He sold out his original entry to Joseph Henseller in 1845, opened storc and tavern in " Dutch Hollow," and gave it the name. He graded and graveled the State road from the county line to Judge Tippett's, and in 1858 rented his place and paid a visit to Europe. He had bought a fine piece of land from Miner Ferris, which

he greatly improved. The cultivation of fine fruits and vines is with him a passion. He has a fine frame house, in which he still lives.

Melrose is a small hamlet that forms the terminus of mail route 28,457 from St. Louis. It is about three miles south of the Missouri River, on one of the highest points on sections 7, 8, 44, 3 east. It was laid out by Charles H. Haven with great care, as the nucleus of a great " Park of Fruits of One Thousand Acres," about 1851. The first store was opened by Charles Wetter, and the first dwelling- house crected by John Ratford. The home dwelling, " Woodlawn," was a tasteful Gothic cottage, with grounds laid off and planted in the higliest style of art. The vineyards and orchards werc truly fine, and cost in all about fifteen thousand dollars.

The seminary was a capacious frame building, three stories high, and was intended as a day and boarding- school for young ladies. It was occupied by Mrs. Pinckney, of Philadelphia, and the Rev. Mr. Finlay, of Pennsylvania, for some time. It has also been used as a Catholic chapel and a tenement-house. The property was sold by the sheriff in 1879, and the home grounds and lands were bought by John Wild: berger, of Cheltenham. Many of the original build- ings have decayed. The store and post-office is a handsome new frame building, owned by Herman Kreinkamp, and occupied by Louis Wackher, the postmaster.

The road from Melrose enters the State road about twenty-ninc miles from St. Louis, and opposite the beautiful residence of John Letcher, oldest son of Isaac and Julia (Bobbs) Letcher, of St. Louis. He was born in St. Louis in 1823, and was one of the pupils of Elihu H. Shepard. He marricd Cornelia, daughter of George C. Frazier and Priscilla Caulk. He taught school for several years, and purchased his present place, section 16, 44, 3 east, in 1858, while it was still in woods, and has brought it up to the pres- ent finc condition of " Rose Mount." He is a lover of finc fruits and flowers, and is a principal supporter of Bethel Church and Sunday-school, and an active member of the Good Templars.

Fox Creek is a hamlet on the State road, and de- rives its name from being the location of the post- office that has so long borne that name, although itself on the head-waters of Wild Horse Creek. The land in section 9, 44, 3 east, was entered by Martin Hencken in 1838, and subsequently added to by purchase from Nathaniel Bacon. Hencken came from Bremerhaven in 1836 with his wife and family, and at the time of his death left a family of five sons and two daughters, all of whom live in the neighborhood except Martin, who

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COUNTY OF SAINT LOUIS.

is in New York. His wife died on March 4, 1879, aged eighty-one. Frederick Hencken, his youngest son, began store-keeping in 1859, and was appointed postmaster of Fox Creek post-office in 1860. He married Mary H. Becker, and has a young family. He built a steam mill, noticed elsewhere.

There are now quite a number of buildings in and around Fox Creek, together with a blacksmithy, car- penter, wagon-maker, and undertaker-shops, and a tavern, besides the store and post-office.

Cedar Grove was the residence of Judge Peregrine Tippett, long and well known as one of the most active and intelligent citizens of the county. Hc came from Maryland about 1832, remained a few years in St. Louis, and entered land in section 3, 44, 3 east, in 1835 ; laid out a farm, planted a large orchard of choicest fruit, and was an authority as a farmer and pomolo- gist. " Aunt Susan's Favorite" apple originated here from seed sown in 1837 by Mrs. Tippett, née Susanna Lee. In the original orchard, near the site of the " old cabin," stands a service-berry tree of gigantic proportions, at least one hundred feet high and beau- tifully balanced, in early spring a veritable " moun- tain of snow."

The judge in early times kept a storc and wayside inn, was justice of the peace for many years, and judge of the County Court from 1858 to 1864. He moved to Mississippi and died, leaving two sons and a daughter. One son, Henry, is dead, and the other, Philip Lee, lives in Jackson, Miss. His only daughter, Susan, is married to M. D. Lewis, public administra- tor of St. Louis City. The property is now owned by Joel R. Frazier, his nephew-in-law.

Philip Tippett bought the farm adjoining his brother, Judge Tippett, from Mark Stevenson. He was born in Maryland in 1804, came to the neigh- borhood of Chesterfield about 1837, and taught school for many years. He was justice of the peace several years, and clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in St. Louis from 1846 to 1850. He married the widow of George C. Frazier in 1844, by whom he had one son, Josiah, now in Colorado. He was accidentally drowned in the Meramec at Glencoe while fishing, along with his son, in April, 1870. Mrs. Tippet died March 7, 1875.

Jocl Richards Frazier is the son of George C. Frazier, from Kentucky, and Priscilla, daughter of Richard Caulk, born July 3, 1804. He was educated in Central College, Missouri, and taught school for many years. Hc married his cousin, Katherine Fra- zier, of Kentucky. He owns the Judge Tippett property and the adjoining Walter Shields land, in section 3, 44, 3 east. He was township assessor in

1877-80. He is an active supporter and officer in - Bethel Church and Sunday-school, and an earnest promoter of the Law and Order Association. His father, George C., was a man of superior ability and education, taught school near Chesterfield, and in St. Charles County was justice of the peace for several years about 1837, and died about 1841.

· Pond, or Speers' Pond, is a small but noted set- tlement, on the State road, twenty-six miles from St. Louis. It has a store, and post-office of the same name. The land, section 2, 44, 3 east, was pre-empted by John Brockman, from Virginia, in 1835, and was sold to Cyrus Speers (son-in-law of George Ferris), who kept a store and tavern for many years. This was for a long time the " voting-place" for the town- ship, and the scene of many a political fracas. Mr. Speers sold his property to Mr. Hilkenkampf; he to Frederick Dreinhofer, from Osnabruck, Germany.

A new store was put up by Frederick Essen, whose widow married Charles Hillebrand. The store was- burned down, and a fine new one erected, which, with the post-office, is managed by the widow of C. Hille- brand.

James Wright came from Virginia about 1840, and settled in section 31, 45, 3 east. He exchanged lands with Louis Bartrow, who settled on sections 11 and 12, 44, 3 east. Mr. Wright married Miss Swee- ney, of Maryland, by whom he had one son and daughter, Margaret, wife of Jolin T. Brown. Mrs. Wright died Jan. 8, 1859, aged fifty-thrcc, and he died April 4, 1872, aged sixty-nine.

Thomas M. owns a portion of the property, which he has greatly improved. He married Martha, daugh- ter of John Howell, and has a rising family.

William Eatherton was born in Spottsylvania County, Va., in 1807, and came to Missouri in 1839, settling in Gasconade County. He came to the pres- ent place, section 6, 44, 3 east, in 1844, and kept store for several years. He married Frances Pendleton, who died in 1856. In 1858 he married Virginia A., daughter of B. F. Lipscomb, who came from Virginia in 1839, and settled on Wild Horse Creek.

John W. Doss came from Kentucky about 1844, settled in section 31, 45, 4 east, and was justicc of the peace for several years.

Ellisville is twenty-two and one-half miles from St. Louis, in section 32, 45, 4 east. The post-office, store, and quite a number of buildings are over the line in Bonhomme township. It was settled by Capt. Harvey Ferris, from Kentucky, before 1837. He built the large " brick house," then a notable structure, and which is still standing. Capt. Ferris sold to Ves- puccio Ellis, afterwards United States consul to Vene-

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zuela, and closely associated with the events that cul- minated in the Mexican war. Mr. Ellis sold to Mr. Hereford, from Virginia, father of Dr. Hereford, of Bridgeton, and Mrs. Dr. Beale, of Eureka. In 1842 he secured the location of a post-office at this point, and named it Ellisville, after his old post-office in Virginia. He sold to Samuel Wilson, and he to Maj. Clarkson, of Kentucky, who in turn sold to Capt. Hutchinson, of steamboat famc, who laid off a large training course, with finc stables, and engaged in the raising of fine horses. He planted extensive orchards, and greatly improved the surroundings and the stock of the country at large. He was, however, disap- pointed in the results, and subdivided his farm into small lots. Adam Doehring purchased the briek house and a considerable portion of the land.

Leaving the State road and turning to the western edge of the township, we find the following early settlers :

Baldwin Locker, located near the Wild Horse road, was born in Louisa County, Va., March 15, 1803 ; married Annie Carpenter, of same county, born in 1804. He came to Missouri in 1838, and entered United States land in scetion 5, 44, 3 east. He had four sons,-Louis (dead), Robert, Thomas, and John (in Montana). He died in 1875, and his wife in April, 1877. Both buried in Bethel Cemetery.

Herman Steines came along with C. Paffrath and others in 1834. He settled on section 6, 44, 3 east, and adjoining lands in Franklin County. He taught school for many years, was justice of the peace during several terms, and was assessor of the township for some years. He died, leaving a widow and a number of grown children.

His son Frederick is now justiec of the peace, and lives on a portion of the Wm. Hamilton survey, 385.

Rev. Robert G. Coleman came from Spottsylvania County, Va., in 1837, the year of the flood in the Missouri bottom. The "great flood" occurred in 1844, and forms an important epoch in the history of Bonhomme bottom, its marks being yet dis- tinctly visible and a long lake formed where culti- vated fields existed. The water was up to the wagon- bed bottom in crossing over from the Lewis Ferry. In 1837, Mr. Coleman bought a part of the MeCourt- enay tract, and later, portions of the Bell, Caughlin, Henry, and Mackay tracts. This traet bears date from Zenon Trudeau, 1798. Alexander McCourtenay deeded survey 152 to his brother John, and John subsequently to his son Martin. The Rev. R. G. Coleman had four sons, William H., Spencer G. (in Franklin County), John M. (dicd in 1849), and Robert G. He died about 1842.

William H. Coleman was born in 1815 in Virginia, came to Missouri with his father in 1837, was mar- ried to Hardinia Bromley Goodwin, daughter of K. Goodwin, of Lexington, Ky., in 1839. He erected a log house on the placc, and in 1848 the present sub- stantial brick mansion.

The river is cutting away the bottom lands here with fearful rapidity, and unless its direction is changed it will sweep on to the bluff. W. H. Cole- man has lost at least thirty aercs, and Senator Cole- man as much.

Mr. Coleman has held no public office, but has ever been the active promoter of public enterprises. He is an earnest Granger, and Bonhomme Grange Hall, built by a joint stock company, is on his land on the Bly place. The Bacon school-house, one of the earli- est in the township, was located near the same spot.

Robert Goodwin Coleman, ex-State senator, the youngest son of the Rev. R. G. Coleman, married his cousin, Eliza, daughter of Henry Tyler. The oldest son, John, married Mary, daughter of John Orr, and the oldest daughter married her cousin, Dr. Robert G. Coleman. He built his first house in 1844, and his present residence in 1869. He was elected State senator in 1857, and again in 1877. He was one of the first Good Templars in the county, in the lodge organized at Antioch, in 1856, of which he was Grand Templar.

Henry Tyler came from Caroline County, Va., in 1837, and bought some large traets of land in the Mackay grant 1955. He had five sons and two daugh- ters, -- Mrs. Senator Coleman and Mrs. Edmond A. Niekerson, of St. Louis. Capt. William Tyler, brother of Henry, came about 1835, and bought a portion of the Graham grant 134. He had four sons,-Zachary, John S. (now dead), Dr. B. R. (now removed from the county), and Alexander L., of St. Louis. He represented the county in the State Legislature about 1840-42, and died in Virginia about 1864. James R. Eatherton now owns the property. Along with Capt. Tyler there came Zachary Tyler and Dr. Halli- day, and about the same time William Boxley, Massey, and Daniel Coleman, from Caroline County, Va. William Boxley purchased the Darby property, which he sold again, and went to Southwest Missouri. Dr. R. H. Stevens and his brother came about 1838, and bought largely in the Musiek & McDonald tracts, surveys 122 and 150, which he ultimately subdivided and sold, and removed to near Crève Cœur.

Orrville is a small hamlet on the edge of the The- ophilus McKinnon survey 163, in the beautiful Bon- homme Crcek bottom, and takes its name from the Orr family, long settled there. It has a store and

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post-office, kept by Gustave Hoppenberg, a sehool, blaeksmith and wagon-maker, and a number of other buildings. The residenee of William P. Bacon is a fine frame building, and he is the representative of an old line of settlers.

John Orr and James Orr, brothers, came from the Cow_ Caddens, Glasgow, Scotland, and bought the Richardson survey 134. John married Maude Eleanor Graham, daughter of Alexander Graham, part of whose farming-lands now form Wild Horse Lake. They had four children, James, Mary, John, and Robert. He died about 1829. William Bell, of survey 909, was Mrs. Bell's uncle and also from Scot- land.

James married Elizabeth C. Breckenridge, and died without children.

John Orr, the second, married Margaret, daughter of Parks Bacon. His children are William T., Mary, Walter, and Julia, all married in the neighborhood.

Robert Orr was born in 1829, and bought the The- ophilus MeKinnon survey 163. In 1849 he mar- ried Laura, daughter of Thomas Caulk. He was jus- tiee of the peace for six years. He sold to John Hoekersmith. He has three sons and four daughters alive.

Richard Caulk came from Maryland ; was an officer in the Spanish army, and obtained a grant of four thousand arpens of land. He settled on survey 125 ; married Sallie, daughter of Lawrenee Long, and had six children, -- Ruenna, Thomas, Priscilla (Mrs. Fra- zier-Tippett), Ann Eliza (Mrs. Hugh Miller, now in Colorado), Isaac (dcad), and Sarah (Mrs. Alton Long).

Thomas Caulk, the oldest son, was born in this county in 1800, and received a grant of six hundred arpens in Pike County for that faet ; he settled on survey 126 under Charles Kyle; he married Miss Worthington ; was assessor, and was in the State Legislature in 1837, and went to the Indian nation.

The Bacon brothers came from Virginia about 1812. They were William, Ludwille, Nathaniel, and Nicholas. Ludwille entered land at the mouth of Bonhomme Creek ; he married a Long ; his son Parks married Elizabeth C. Breckenridge, by whom there were four children, of whom Willam P. Bacon and Mrs. Margaret Orr still reside in the vicinity. Nancy, daughter of Ludwille Bacon, married Robert Lewis, from Loutre Island, and had a family, among them Garland and Warner Lewis, the well-known lawyer and editor.

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Hyatt (née Breckenridge) is one of the most notable residents of the neighborhood. She was born in Kentucky in 1797 ; married Parks Bacon,

noted before, and was left a widow ; she then married James Orr, unele of John and Robert Orr, by whom she had a son James. Again widowed, she married N. Ferguson and had two daughters, Mrs. Hocker- smith and Mrs. Humes ; left a widow for the third time, she married Judge Hyatt, of Florissant, and is yet again a widow, hale, bright, and entertaining.

James Ball lives on Bonhomme Creek, sections 22, 45, 3 east, and is the representative of one of the earliest settlers in the township. His father, James Ball, came from Kentucky with Daniel Boone, and was for many years his elose companion. He was an intelligent man, his library in these "wild woods" comprising about fifty volumes, and he had the first family Bible and elock in the township. His family record is most minute and distinct. Although a small man, he was brave and daring in the extreme. He had a large family of daughters ; the youngest is the wife of J. Robert Eatherton, who has been a con- spieuous and highly enterprising citizen, and owns the Capt. Tyler farm.

Lawrence Long eame to Missouri from Virginia along with Samuel Conway about 1796. He settled on a Spanish grant of one thousand arpens, including the site of Chesterfield. His descendants are mostly in Bonhomme township. His children were Lawrence (married Sarah Post), James (married Leah Fitz- water), Alton (married Sarah Caulk).

James and Leah Long were main supporters of Chesterfield Church.

Chesterfield is on the very edge of the township, and is as much in Bonhomme as in Meramec. It con- tains about a dozen dwellings, church, and school, and has a long and interesting history. It has lately ob- tained a post-office at Wetzell's store, with Henry Wetzell as postmaster. C. Andrae is an old settler.

The town was laid off by Col. Justus Post in 1817. Elihu H. Shepard says of him, " He was one of the best informed and wealthiest citizens of the Territory, had been educated at West Point, was a profound, praetieal mathematician, and had served with credit in the United States army during the war of 1812. He was possessed of an estate of one hundred thou- sand dollars, mostly in eash, purchased large tracts of land, built a country residence and a mill in Bon- homme (Meramee) township, made other improve- ments, and gave embellishment to the country and life to business around him. . . . He became director in the Missouri Bank, and became involved, . . . left Missouri and settled in America, Ill., and died, having disposed of his large estate in St. Louis County for a trifle when he left, which, if held to his death, would have left his two sons millionaires." The brieks for

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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 202

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