USA > Missouri > St Charles County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 33
USA > Missouri > Montgomery County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 33
USA > Missouri > Warren County > History of St. Charles, Montgomery, and Warren counties, Missouri, written and comp. from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together with a condensed history of Missouri > Part 33
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120
The Commons were first enclosed about 1791. As late as 1800 there was a Water street along the river bank, with a small row of small buildings, the lots running back to Main street. The archives of 1799 make the first mention of Second street, and those of 1800 first mention Third street.
The earliest deliberative body or general assembly of the village, of which a record has come down to us, was held early in 1801. This assembly was held on a Sunday, at the request of the Syndic of the parish, and after notice had been given by Mr. Tayon, the com- mandant of the post, for the purpose of determining whether or not the Commons below the village should be fenced. The record states that " all the inhabitants being present," and the question being sub- mitted to them, they unanimously agreed that the lower Commons should be fenced, and the document is signed by twenty-three persons, and that number was no doubt the exact number of families then con- stituting the village population.
The village was first incorporated under the laws of the Territory, October 13, 1809, by the Court of Common Pleas of the District of St. Charles, Alex. McNair ( afterwards the first Governor of the State of Missouri), and Dr. Reynal, being the first commissioners or trus- tees.
As no record of their doings in the government of the village has survived the iron tooth of time, we may suppose that their adminis- tration was satisfactory, as was evidently that of their successors nine years later -the next entry being March 16, 1818. Pursuant to notice, an election was held for trustees of the town of St. Charles, and it appearing by the returns that Charles Phillips, Osborn Knott, Chas. Tayon, James Morrison and Baptiste Brugiere were duly
311
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
elected, the board " met on the 23d instant, and, having passed sev- eral ordinances, adjourned.
There are numerous entries of like character with the last, some- times the subject of the ordinance being given, but never its provi- sions, in process of time four trustees being elected to manage the corporate affairs. April 30, 1825, Ruluff Peck, chairman of the board, resigned his chairmanship and trusteeship, leaving Prospect K. . Robbins, Antoine Janis and George Collier, trustees, who elected George Collier, chairman, and appointed Wm. G. Pettus, secretary, and Andrew Wilson, treasurer ; and the secretary was ordered to settle with the former treasurer, and turn over the assets of the town to the new treasurer, as soon as the latter should have given bond.
From this time for several years the town seems to have gone into winter quarters, or to have had a quarter of a Rip Van Winkle sleep. There is not a syllable of record for five years ; but on the 16th day of April there seems to have been an awaking out of sleep, for on that day a new board of trustees was organized by the election of a chairman and the appointment of a clerk and treasurer, and the new clerk was ordered to settle with Andrew Wilson, former treasurer, who had been appointed to that office five years before.
Under this form of government, the municipal affairs were con- ducted until the town was incorporated as a city. The original charter of the city was passed by the General Assembly and approved March 10, 1849, and in due time submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. The people having approved the charter, an election under its provisions was held May 7, 1849, and the first mayor and council- men were sworn into office and organized the city government May 14, 1849. In its history of 24 years as a city, 11 gentlemen have been honored with the mayorality, one man having served the city 6 years in that office.
Since its incorporation as a city, St. Charles has advanced much more rapidly than before. A comparison of the following figures will show its progress in the way of material prosperity : -
Years.
Assessed Value of Property in City.
Taxes.
1849
$ 192,270
$ 1,076 35
1850
245,855
1,508 28
1855
533,159
3,767 02
1860
794,720
6,429 94
1865
1,069,295
11,126 95
1870
1,370,666
14,171 66
1871
1,580,502
16,277 02
1872
2,167,727
22,178 27
15
312
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
These figures need no comment and no elaboration. The tale they tell is so plain, straight-forward and practical that they must carry conviction to all who examine them, showing a degree of development that is surprising even to those who have been witnesses of its growth. They show no mushroom life, which, like Jonah's gourd, coming up in a night must wither in a day ; but a steady, continuous increase which gives sure promise that what it attains unto it will assuredly hold.
Since 1872 St. Charles, as it had prior to that time, has had a steady and substantial growth, both in the valuation of property and the general improvement of the place. Many handsome and valuable buildings have been erected and important public improvements have been made. The city is well lighted with gas, the streets are graded and macadamized, and waterworks have been constructed which supply an abundance of water.
The manufacturing interests are developing into importance, and considering the advantages of the place for manufactories, it is not improbable that St. Charles will become one of the important manu- facturing centers in Missouri. As a market for farm products it has already taken high rank among the principal interior places of the State. Especially is this true in regard to wheat. St. Charles county, as we have noted elsewhere, is the principal wheat producing county of Missouri. In 1880 the wheat crop of the State was 24,966,627 bushels. Of this St. Charles county produced 1,124,518 bushels, or over 115,000 bushels more than any other county, St. Louis coming next, the product of which was 908,838 bushels. St. Charles is also an important trade center for cheese, of which this county is one of the principal producers. The product of St. Charles county in 1880 was 10,100. There were but four other counties in the State the products of which exceeded this. The general business of St. Charles is very large, considering the population of the place, and the fact that it is so near to St. Louis ; and it is a fact worthy of remark that there have been fewer failures here in the last ten years than any other city, not exceeding it in population, in the State.
NEWSPAPERS.
While St. Charles was the temporary seat of government, a news- paper, called The Missourian, was published there by Robert McCloud, a practical printer, and step-son of Joseph Charless, Sr., one of the founders of the Missouri Republican. This was succeeded by the Clarion, which was established by Nathaniel Patton, of Howard
313
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
county, and published by him until his death, which occurred in 1837. After his death the paper was continued by his widow, under the editorial management of Hon. Wm. M. Campbell. (Mrs. Patton subsequently married Wilson B. Overall. ) The paper then passed successively to Messrs. Julian & Carr, as the Clarion, in 1839 ; to Berlin & Knapp, as the Free Press, in 1840; to Overall, Julian & Carr, as the Advertiser, in 1842; to Douglas & Millington, as the Western Star, in 1846; to Orear & Kibler, as the Chronotype, in 1849; to Orear & McDearmon, in 1852; to N. C. Orear, in 1853; to King & Emmons, as the Reveille, in 1854; to Hinman & Branham, in 1856; to Hinman, in 1858; to Edwards & Stewart, in 1865; to Emmons & Orrick, as the Cosmos and Sentinel, in 1867 ; and to W. W. Davenport, as the Cosmos, in 1868. This paper, therefore, run- ning back through several suspensions, and numerous changes of name and proprietors, is, perhaps, the oldest paper in the State, ex- cept the Missouri Republican.
The St. Charles News was originally started at Wentzville, in this county, about seven years ago, by William S. Bryan, now of the Montgomery Standard ; but having developed into something requir- ing greater facilities, the office was removed to St. Charles and the publication continued under its present name. It passed afterwards into the possession of Edwards & Bryan, King, Keithley & Co., F. C. King & Co., and lastly James C. Holmes [See page 221]. The office is valued at $5,000. There are several presses in the office used also for job work.
The Wahre Fortschritt (True Progress ) was a German newspaper, Republican in politics, but did not have a very long life. It was published by the Fortschritt Association, and devoted to politics and the general interests of the county.
The Demokrat, also a German paper, is owned by Mr. John H. Bode, who has quietly and gradually worked himself into a good business. The office is valued at $10,000. There are two job presses, one hand press, one cylinder press, run by a 3-horse power engine. The Demokrat is Democratic in politics. It has passed into its thirty-third year, and is said to be the only German newspaper in Missouri that has been published continuously for that length of time.
At the Demokrat office is also printed the Friedensbote (Messenger of Peace ), the denominational paper of the German Evangelical Synod. It is now in its twenty-third volume. It was first published in Femme Osage township, in this county, whence the office of publication was
-
314
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
removed to St. Louis, and afterwards to St. Charles, where it has been issued for several years. It has a circulation of 8,000 copies and constantly on the increase.
Thus there are four newspapers printed in St. Charles, representing the various phases of political opinion, with one whose sphere is entirely beyond the pale of politics.
They all seem to be prospering, and as county papers working together, when need be, for the common weal, we hope they may grow with the growth, and strengthen with the strength of the city and county.
The circulation of the St. Charles newspapers is over 11,000 copies.
SCHOOLS.
From our review of the churches it is natural to expect that a fair showing would be made in the line of schools. People who put their hands in their pockets to build churches for themselves are very apt to prepare for the intellectual and moral culture of their children.
In 1835 Mrs. Catherine Collier and her son, George Collier, founded St. Charles College, the latter purchasing the grounds and erecting the necessary buildings at a cost of $10,000, and the former setting apart $5,000 for an endowment fund. In 1836 the College was opened under the presidency of Rev. John H. Fielding, he being assisted in the conduct of the college by three professors, Mr. Collier for many years paying the president's salary out of his own means. In 1838, the college having become incorporated, Mr. Collier conveyed the property to the corporation.
By a subsequent act of the Legislature the institution was in a measure placed under the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1852 Mr. Collier died, leaving a provision in his will that whenever that church should deposit with the county court of St. Charles county $10,000 in the bonds of any State that had never repudiated its public debt, nor failed in the prompt payment of the interest on its public debt, for the use and benefit of the college, then his executors were to deposit a similar amount of similar bonds for the same use and benefit. The provisions of Mr. Collier's will were complied with, and the deposit of $20,000 in Missouri State bonds made with the St. Charles county court ; and the court holds the bonds in trust now, and the interest arising from them is applied for the benefit of the college. By some blunder the $5,000 donated as an endowment by Mrs. Catherine Collier were lost, but were promptly
315
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
restored by her son, George Collier, who placed the same amount in the hands of Hon. Trusten Polk for the like benefit as the original amount.
Under this organization and with these resources the college was kept in active and successful operation, under the presidency of Fielding, Ebbert, Anderson and others, until 1861. During the war, for the most part, its doors as a college were closed, the building being used for other purposes, until, by act of the Legislature, it passed to the control of other parties. The college, with all its privileges, was afterwards restored, by a decree of the Supreme Court, to its former owners, who have maintained the institution as a college. Though St. Charles College has never been one of the great ones in the earth, it has been eminently useful. The writer remembers with pleasure the days he spent within its walls, in preparation for the battle of life ; and can recall the names of many of the sons of St. Charles College now filling honorable positions in various departments of human effort and usefulness.
LINDENWOOD COLLEGE.
[Contributed].
It is said that in 1829 Maj. Geo. S. Sibley, connected with the army service, was bondsman for a friend to the amount of $20,000. The friend failing, the Major had to meet the obligation. The only piece of property that could be secured from the friend was 120 acres ad- joining St. Charles.
This the Major and his wife came to see, and as they stood upon the brow of the hill overlooking the town and a widespread and beautiful landscape, they resolved that upon this spot they would lay the founda- tion of a school for young ladies. Accordingly, the following year, a log cabin was erected and the school opened with promises of speedy enlargement.
They called it "Lindenwood," from its beautiful grove of large linden trees. The land rises with a gentle ascent from the river till it reaches the college, which crowns the summit, the altitude being about 150 feet above the Missouri river.
Its ample grounds, groves and gardens afford abundant space for exercise and recreation, and the experience of more than 50 years fully attest its heathfulness.
Soon after its opening the Lord brought its founders to the feet of Jesus, and henceforth their ambition was to honor Him in establishing a Christian college ; but it was not until 1853 that their plans assumed definite shape.
316
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
In the meantime the school, under their wise management, had grown in numbers and influence. The log cabin had been added to from year to year until the building could accommodate about 50 pupils. Many young ladies were educated under the roof of this Christian home and sent out to fill honorable positions in society.
Maj. Sibley and his wife found sympathizers and helpers in Judge and Mrs. S. S. Watson, who nobly and generously came forward to aid in laying the foundation of a permanent institution.
In 1853 (January 5th), Messrs. Sibley and Watson, in a formal let- ter, tendered to the Presbytery of St. Louis valuable gifts of land and money. The former offered the whole of his Lindenwood estate, comprising 120 acres, and valued at not less than $30,000. The last named gentleman offered to give 160 acres of land and $1,000, equal to $5,000, provided the Presbytery of St. Louis would in six months raise $20,000 for the erection of suitable buildings. Subsequently, Judge Watson gave $5,000 unconditionally. A charter was obtained in February, 1853, by which the control of the college was placed in the hands of 15 directors, appointed by the Presbytery of St. Louis.
On the 22d day of May, 1856, a contract was made for a new and commodious building, and on the 4th of July the corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies. The building was completed in July, 1857, being three stories high, and 73 by 48 feet.
Rev. A. V. C. Schenck was elected president, and the college opened with flattering prospects on September 6, 1857. Mr. Schenck served with acceptance until his resignation in June, 1862.
Rev. Thomas P. Barbour was elected president July 26, 1862, and served until December, 1864.
Mr. French Strother served as president from July, 1866, to 1869.
During these years and until the reorganization in 1870, the college greatly suffered from the contentions incident to the Civil War.
In 1870, the property having been decided by the Supreme Court as belonging to the General Assembly of the North, it was placed under the control of the Synod of Missouri.
Rev. J. H. Nixon, D. D., was elected president, and ample means secured for refitting and equipping the building. During his presi- dency, ending June, 1876, the college attained a high degree of prosperity.
During the following four years (1876-1880) Miss Mary E. Jewell presided over the college, aided by an able corps of teachers.
In June, 1880, Rev. Robert Irwin, D. D., of St. Louis, was elected president, and entered with earnestness upon the work of enlarging
317
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
and reorganizing the college. It was found at the beginning of the year that the accommodations were too limited for the many applicants who sought admission, and efforts were at once commenced for the erection of an additional building. The friends of the College in St. Louis generously came to the help of the enterprise, so that in Sep- tember, 1881, a commodious wing, costing about $14,000, was fully completed and occupied. The capacity has been taxed to the utmost, and additional buildings are found a pressing need. The purposes of the founders have been carefully regarded, and the college maintained as a Christian institution, in which the Word of God has been regarded as the essential element in the development of character.
Many of the graduates of the college are filling important positions as missionaries and teachers, not only in this country, but in Persia, India and Japan.
The course of study is complete and thorough - especially adapted to the broad and liberal education of women.
It is the purpose of its friends to make the college worthy of the patronage of parents who seek for their daughters a refined, womanly education.
Strother Female Institute was under the supervision of Mr. and Mrs. F. Strother, the former presiding over the literary department, and the latter over the musical department. They conducted Lindenwood Female College for four years, and upon relinquishing control of that institution, opened this Institute in the city, where the ordinary branches now usual in female schools of high grade were taught. They are now in Monroe county, near Paris.
Lindenwood Female College and the Convent of the Sacret Heart are female schools - the others are either boys' schools or mixed.
Miss Mowatt has for many years past conducted a private school, which is still in operation.
The German Methodist Church has a school, which is held in their old church, and is intended for the tuition of the children of that con- gregation.
The same remark also applies to the German Evangelical Church.
The Lutheran Church has under its control five schools altogether, two of them being in the city. This congregation sometime ago erected a large and well-arranged school-house, at a very considerable expense.
The enterprise evinced by this church is commendable, and shows the deep interest its members feel in the education of their children. Each of the Catholic churches has a large and flourishing school under
318
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
its supervision. That one in connection with the original Catholic Church of St. Charles, known as the Convent of the Sacred Heart, has been in operation for many years, and has achieved and still maintains among its patrons a high reputation as a female school.
Besides the private and parochial schools, which afford a means of education to those who desire and can afford to send their children to them, there are two public schools which give free tuition to all chil- dren between the ages of 5 and 21 years, living within the bounds of the city, who wish to attend. The public school has fully kept up with the growth of the city. Formerly the little school-house, which was at one time used as the Episcopal Church, and later occupied by Mr. Goebel for photographing purposes, sufficed for all the wants of those attending the public schools. It soon became too small, and the direc- tors erected a larger and more comfortable building, with larger rooms and more of them. This soon became filled to overflowing and to accommodate the scholars residing in distant parts of the city, another building was erected and occupied. Both are constantly filled.
We can confidently point to the number and character of these churches and schools as an index of the character of the citizens, pres- ent and prospective.
FRANCIS DUQUETTE.
There lived many years ago, in St. Charles, a Canadian French- man, named Francis Duquette, who occupied a prominent and influ- ential position in that town during the close of the last and the beginning of the present century. It was he who transformed the old round fort into a wind-mill, and thereby converted an establishment of war into one of the most useful implements of peace. He was also the father of the Catholic Church in St. Charles, for although he was not a priest, and did not organize the church, yet he built it up from a small beginning and sustained and cultivated it for many years ; and his memory is held in affectionate regard by the Catholics of St. Charles.
Francis Duquette was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1774. When quite a young man he came West, and landed first at Ste. Genevieve, then the principal town west of the Mississippi river.
While there he had the funeral rites of the Catholic Church per- formed over the remains of a deceased friend, and the mystery con- nected therewith caused universal comment and has never yet been solved. Twelve years before a young Canadian made his appearance in Ste. Genevieve and engaged in the then common occupation of
319
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
hunting. No one knew him, and he took no pains to enlighten the citizens in regard to himself. In fact his presence created very little comment in the community, for it was no unusual thing for strange hunters to make their appearance there, remain a short time, and disappear as mysteriously as they came. He gave his name as Pierre Gladu, and stated that he was from Canada. One day he went out to hunt and was killed by some Indians in a little prairie near the town. His remains were subsequently found and buried where he had fallen, and the incident soon ceased to be a subject of comment among the citizens of the town.
Twelve years afterward another young Canadian made his appear- ance in Ste. Genevieve, gave his name as Francis Duquette, and im- mediately sought out the lone grave on the little prairie. He then caused the remains to be disinterred, and buried in the graveyard of the town with all the solemnities and ceremonies of the Catholic Church. Curiosity attracted numerous visitors, and a large proces- sion marched from the grave to the cemetery, Duquette walking near the coffin, bareheaded, with a lighted taper in his hand. After the reinterment he caused to be placed at the head of the grave a large cross bearing the name of the deceased. He then disappeared from the country, leaving his conduct an unexplained mystery, which the inhabitants never could solve.
Duquette proceeded to St. Charles, where he purchased property and located. For a number of years he carried on business as a trader, dealing in furs, peltries, goods, etc. He also invested largely in lands, and thereby became involved in his mercantile business. His goods had been purchased in Canada, and his creditors there sent an agent to Missouri who levied on most of his property and sold it un- der execution. He saved enough, however, to leave him in comfort- able circumstances.
He was married in 1736 to Miss Mary Louisa Bauvis, of Ste. Gene- vieve, but they had no children.
Mr. Duquette's house stood on the same square where the stone church was afterward erected, and the members of his church used to gather there during the Lenten season for devotional services. He planted some fruit trees near his house soon after his arrival in St. Charles, and two of these were bearing not more than three years since, and they may be still for aught we know.
Duquette died February 2, 1816, and was buried in the old ceme- tery on Jackson and Second streets. His remains were afterward taken up and removed to the Catholic graveyard, where the church of St. Charles Borromeo now stands, and there they rested for many
320
HISTORY OF ST. CHARLES COUNTY.
years. But eventually the growth of the city required the removal of the cemetery, and about 25 years ago a new one was established beyond the limits of the corporation. Duquette's remains were again disinterred and deposited in the new cemetery, where a massive, old- fashioned monument marks his grave. It was erected over 60 years ago, and the sculptured work upon it is partially obliterated by the ravages of time and its frequent removals.
Mrs. Duquette died April 2, 1841. Previous to, and at the time of her decease, she lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Walton, on Clay street. She was highly respected by the citizens of the town and vicinity, and the funeral procession that followed her remains to the grave was the largest that had ever been seen in St. Charles at that time. The bells of the various churches, irrespective of creed, were tolled in honor of the beloved dead as the hearse bore her remains to their last resting place.
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.