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 81
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 81
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 81
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The first school in Loutre Lick settlement was taught in 1820 or 1821 by John Skinner in a small house that stood south of Robert Graham's. Some of the scholars were John C. Holland and Lucinda Whitesides, John, Marian, Catharine and Alex. W. Graham ; Isaac, Elvira, Erretta, Pantha and Ewing A. Van Bibber ; Angus, John, Daniel, Sally Ann and Margaret Galbreath.
Dr. William Newland was the first regular physician to locate in the township, about 1824.
The first mills resorted to were the mill at St. Charles, Best's horse mill, on Loutre, and Alexander Persinger's horse mill, below Loutre island.
Capt. John Baker settled in Montgomery county in 1820, and soon after built a water mill on Loutre, on the east side, just below the
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mouth of Prairie fork. The mill stood some distance from the stream, and was turned by a race of some huudreds of yards in length. When cutting this race the workmen found many archaeological specimens, arrow-heads, pottery, etc. The mill was owned and operated by Syl- vester and Capt. John Baker. It was the first in all this section, and was kept running night and day at times, being resorted to by settlers from Callaway and Warren, as well as from this county.
The first goods ( what few were used ) were purchased at St. Charles and at the French trading post at Cote Sans Dessein.
There was a saltpeter cave near Robert Graham's and in the year 1817 William and Robert Graham made salpetre and sent it to St. Louis. In 1826-27 saltpetre was obtained here and manufactured into gunpowder. The.cave was well known in early days. It was in the south-eastern part of the township where Marcus Hatton, Chris. Logan, John Anderson, Ira Tatum and John Marlow were killed by the militia, after the Anderson raid.
During the Civil War Danville township was well represented on both sides.
LOUTRE VALLEY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church now has a membership of 68. The church building cost $800 when erected in 1879, and it is a frame house. Robert D. Graham, Robert W. Page, John A. Walker, George L. Walker, Malon A. Bibb, Charles W. Bibb, George W. Taylor, Robert Gib- son, Polly Ann Graham, Sarah M. Bibb, Sallie C. Bibb, Emma V. Bibb and Martha C. Taylor comprised the original members and formed the organization on December 10, 1876. James F. Smith and Rev. M. T. Bibb have served as pastors, the latter being the present incumbent. The location of this church is in section 10, township 47, range 6 (Danville township). A Sabbth-school of 40 pupils has for its superintendent J. A. Walker.
DANVILLE.
Judge Olly Williams settled on the farm east of where Danville now is (known now as the Woodruff farm) about 1820. He after- ward sold out to Conrad Carpenter, who built the large brick house, still standing, on the eastern border of town, and opened a tavern stand. In 1834, when the county seat was located at Danville, Con- rad Carpenter owned the land comprising the eastern part of town, and Henry Davault that including the western portion. Dr. Wm. Newland had built a house on the western border of town (now owned by J. M. Barker ), on Davault's land. Carpenter and Davault donated
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the county seat site to the county. The town was named for Dan- ville, Va.
Charles Drury, a merchant at Loutre Lick, removed to Danville in 1834 and opened the first store in a log house, in the eastern part of town. His daughter, Susan B. (now the wife of Dr. W. B. Adams ), was the first child born in the place.
Perhaps the second house was built by Dr. Mordecai M. Maughs, and after him came Capt. John Baker and Richard Timberlake. The first tavern-keeper after Carpenter was Esq. Diggs. Col. Kibbe was also at Danville at an early day.
The court house was built of brick and made ready for occupation in 1836, but the inside finishing was never completed ; however, it answered to hold court in and for the offices, and stood until torn down in 1864. It was in the public square, nearly on the site of the pres- ent building. The jail was built after the court house and two men named McClintic were the builders. It was of logs, but was fairly safe and comfortable.
The town sprang into life very suddenly after the records were re- moved from Lewiston. In 1837 Wetmore's Gazetteer said of it : -
Lewiston, the former county seat, is defunct. Danville, the pres- ent county seat, was laid out about three years ago. It is pleasantly and advantageously situated on the Boone's Lick road, in Loutre prai- rie, and is a thriving village, having a handsome new brick court house, a jail, several stores, groceries and mechanic establishments. Montgomery and Danville are increasing in wealth and population, and still offer higher inducements for emigrants than many other places that are much more resorted to.
In time, as the capital of the county, Danville grew to be a place of much notoriety and of considerable importance. Around the square there were blocks of brick business houses of respectable size and character, while many an elegant residence was situated on the back streets. The county officials, for the most part, resided here during their terms of office.
In about 1847 Prof. James H. Robinson came to Danville and es- tablished a female college. Large and commodious buildings adapted for the purpose were erected in the southern portion of the town, and soon the reputation of this college was established.
Prof. Robinson was not only efficient and popular as a teacher, but was worthy and honored as a citizen and a man. He was a native of Virginia, and educated at St. Charles College. His school was con-
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tinued with but slight intermissions until after the Anderson raid, but in a short time it was closed.
In about 1860 Wm. C. Lovelace removed the Montgomery City Journal office to Danville, and began the publication of a paper called the Chronicle. In the winter of 1861 this paper was called the Her- ald, and Dan M. Draper was editor.
In 1867, after the war, Dan M. Draper established the Danville Star, a Radical Republican paper, and continued its publication about two and a half years, when the material was sold to J. B. Ellis, of the Montgomery Standard. The Ray was established December 7, 1871, by Col. L. A. Thompson, published here nearly five years and then moved to Montgomery City. (See History of Montgomery City - " Newspapers.")
When the war came on a majority of the people of Danville were for the Union, but there were a number of strong secessionists. The sad fate of Robt. P. Terrill and Granville Nunnelly, killed July 22, 1861, detailed elsewhere, shocked the people of both sympathies. Then afterward came the murder of Gilbert and Moore and Diggs and Simons and the lad Ira Chinn and the burning of the town by the bushwhackers.
The first Federal troops in Danville were Hammer's company ; then McNulta's red-shirted company of the Second Illinois cavalry, then Kirby's company, of the Eighth Missouri. All these came in the sum- mer of 1861, but remained only a short time.
In December, 1861, Alvin Cobb, with his Confederate raiders or partisans, held the town a few hours, but evacuated upon the appear- ance of the Tenth Missouri and Eighty-first Ohio. These two regi- ments came in on Christmas day, and were welcome visitors to many of the citizens who distrusted " rebel " occupation.
It was at Danville where the famous Co. C, Ninth M. S. M., was recruited, and also where Co. D, Forty-ninth Missouri infan- try, was organized by Capt. Geo. J. Smith. The town was not only the scene of some exciting events during the war, but its citizens took a liberal hand in the great contest itself.
The building of the North Missouri Railroad, leaving Danville five miles to the westward, was the beginning of the impairment of the prosperity of the town, and this was followed by the war, during which the place was visited literally by fire and sword, and its best institutions destroyed and some of its best citizens butchered.
In 1867, when the court house was built, it seemed fair to presume that the location of the county seat at Danville was permanently se-
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cured ; but it was not long until efforts were made to take the county capital to Montgomery City and to New Florence. The uneasiness among property holders in Danville has not yet been removed, for every year seems to be a nearer approach to the period when the county seat must go.
Some of the best men and women in Missouri have lived in Dan- ville. Its citizens have graced the council halls of the State, have been renowned in the various walks and pursuits of life, and have been honorable and worthy members of society, but the dry rot of unimprove- ment has nearly finished what the torches of the Confederate guer- rillas spared. Large and commodious residences sell with the ground on which they stand for one-fourth of the cost of the buildings.
INCORPORATIONS.
Danville has been twice incorporated, first as a town by the Legis- lature, March 2, 1855, after which its affairs were governed by a mayor and four councilmen until its incorporation as a city of the fourth class, in April, 1878. The first officers under the new incor- poration were W. D. Bush, mayor ; D. B. Huddleston, S. M. Barker, E. M. Hugh and John Barker, councilmen ; H. Potts, clerk ; Thos. M. Johnson, marshal ; John M. Barker, street commissioner.
At the present the town contains but two general stores, one black- smith shop, two hotels, a saloon, besides the county court house and some 35 or 40 residences. There are two church organizations - the Disciples and Methodist South - but for failure of those who prom- ised information concerning the former to give it, no history of it can be stated. The present population of this town is about 225.
M. E. CHURCH SOUTH.
The M. E. Church South at Danville was organized in 1836, pro- bably by Rev. Andrew Monroe. Of the first members there were Charles Drury and wife, Capt. John Baker and wife, Ira H. Ellis and wife, Joseph P. Wiseman and wife, and James Robinson and wife. Revs. Andrew Monroe, Dr. Richard Bond, who died in Danville ; W. W. Redman, who also died in Danville ; W. A. McNeily, Wesley Miller, L. T. McNeily, George Penn, George Smith, J. O. Edmon- son and W. F. Bell have all served this church. The present mem- bership is 50. The first church building, a brick structure, was commenced in 1848, and dedicated in 1850 by Bishop E. M. Marvin. During the war it was used for soldiers' quarters. It is now owned by the negroes as a church building. The present house of worship
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
is a frame building, and was constructed in 1859 for Prof. Robinson's school chapel at a cost of $2,000. There are 80 scholars in the Sabbath-school, which is superintended by J. M. Barker.
MASONIC LODGE.
In about 1842, under a charter issued from the Masonic Grand Lodge of Missouri, this lodge was organized under the name of Dan- ville Lodge No. 72. The dispensation was issued from Troy Lodge, Lincoln county. The lodge held its first meetings in a room in the court house, and then in Stewart & Robinson's brick building. Until October 14, 1864, the lodge prospered and worked harmoniously. Then the Bill Anderson raid was made, and the lodge room and all the records, books and papers were destroyed. The charter members of this first organization were - Overly, David Rice, Jas. H. Rob- inson, John Scott, D. W. Baker, S. M. Baker and A. O. Forshey. Of these there are none now living except S. M. Baker. Of the first officers John Scott was probably master, and S. M. Baker, tyler. There were, perhaps, 50 or 60 members when the lodge was strongest. May 26, 1865, charter No. 72 was reissued and the lodge authorized to proceed as if no interruption had occurred. In reissuing the new charter the Grand Lodge appointed Jas. H. Robinson, master, and Ira H. Ellis and Wm. D. Bush, wardens. The first meeting under the new charter was held July 11, 1865, and the following officers elected : A. C. Stewart, master ; W. D. Bush and R. B. McIlhany, wardens ; J. W. McDaniel, treasurer ; L. A. Thompson, secretary. The present officers are E. M. Hughes, master ; Geo. W. McCarty and John M. Barker, wardens; B. T. Adams, treasurer ; John B. Harris, secretary ; W. B. McCall, tyler. At this writing there are 29 members. The hall in which the lodge meets is owned in partnership with the Christian Church. Danville Lodge is the oldest Masonic lodge in the county. It is in good financial condition.
NEW FLORENCE.
The town of New Florence stands on section 23, township 48, range 5, and is situated in the eastern part of Danville township. The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad runs through the place.
New Florence was laid out in 1857 by Hon. E. A. Lewis. The land was formerly owned by Mortimer McIlhaney, but was sold by him to . Judge Lewis. At first it was called Florence, after the only daughter of Judge Lewis,1 and was so platted and recorded, but after a time it
Now the wife of Robert Atkinson, Esq., a merchant of St. Louis.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
was discovered that there was a town of the same name in Morgan county, this State, and so by act of the Legislature in March, 1859, the name was changed to New Florence.
The first house in town was a dwelling built by James Wood, and stood in the western part of town. It was a small one-story frame. Mr. Wood's was the first family in town. The first storehouse was built opposite the depot in 1856.
The depot building was erected soon after Wood's house, and Nathaniel Patton was the first station agent, and a Mr. Van Orden the second. The post-office was established in 1857, and kept in a little confectionary store run by Duncan Hughes.
Nathaniel Patton built the first hotel, opposite the depot, in about 1858. The first school house was built in 1859, and stood on the site of the present academy building. It is now used as a storehouse on the south side of the railroad.
In 1861 the town numbered about a dozen houses, nearly all of which stood on the south side of the track. In the fall of this year a fire broke out and consumed all of the important buildings of the place but four.
In December, 1861, or about January 1, 1862, a company of the Third Iowa infantry, commanded by Capt. Herron, was sent into New Florence. This was after the road had been torn up by the Confeder- ates, and while the Tenth Missouri and Eighty-first were at High Hill and Danville. For a time the soldiers were quartered zin the school- house. Other detachments of Federal troops and militia were here from time to time during the war.
The most notable incident in the history of New Florencelduring the troubles of the civil war was the raid of Bill Anderson and his band upon the place, in October, 1864, and the burning of the depot. The particulars of this affair are narrated elsewhere.
In the year 1862 Messrs. Hunter, Ellis & Powell built a store, but with this exception there was but little other improvement in the place during the war. Soon after, however, the place took a fresh start and improved very fairly for a year or so.
In 1869 there were but three or four houses north of the track, and the population of the village did not exceed 200. Some time in 1866 a joint stock company built a frame building, which was used as an academy. The first school in this building had for principal Mr. Abram Davault, who had nearly 200 scholars under his [charge for some time. The school was a very good one, but in time other schools were established, the attendance fell off, and in31868 he
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
closed. In 1869-70 Prof. Carl Vincent (now of Texas ) had charge, but in the latter year he, too, closed the school, and thereafter the building was not occupied except by the Good Templars and for lec- tures, etc.
In 1870-71 the public school building was put up. The citizens voted to withdraw the funds which had been previously given to the academy and build the new school-house, which is a two-story frame, and yet stands north of the track. The Masonic lodge room was built in the second story. This building was used until in 1882-83, when the academy building was rented for school purposes.
In April, 1884, the academy building was purchased by the school district, of T. J. Powell, for $1,500. The building is now the second best school-house in the county. The first principal was (and now is) W. H. Fields, with an assistant, Miss Effie Davis. The number of scholars in average attendance is 90; total enumeration in the district, 112. A colored school has been taught in the colored church for some time. With the exception of one year Elijah Cooper has taught this school for the past ten years. There are 18 colored chil- dren in the district and an average attendance at the school of 15.
It was during the years 1872 and 1873 that New Florence had its " boom." The principal houses in the place were built then. A good hotel had been built and opened in the fall of 1869 by Albert Pulling- ton. The Montgomery County Fair Association was formed here in 1866, and gave several exhibitions. It died about 1869, and the grounds and other property were purchased by Mr. Jacob See, its leading member and president.
THE CYCLONE OF 1867.
August 19, 1867, a cyclone struck the village of New Florence and destroyed the partially erected amphitheater of the fair grounds belonging to the County Fair Association, besides killing two men and wounding others. The particulars of this incident were thus narrated by a correspondent of the Montgomery Standard and pub- lished in that paper August 23, 1867 : -
On the morning of the 19th inst. our village was visited by one of those " simoon winds " or hurricanes so usual after extensive drouth. The dark clouds " passed in fury," gathering strength in each " whirl," burst in violence about one mile west of our village, and directing its course east and north, came in contact with the par- tially erected amphitheater of the County Fair grounds, where the entire corps of hands had taken refuge, and, in one sudden moment, a crush, a wreck, a wail. The entire amphitheater was swept to the
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earth, and nearly every man more or less injured and two killed in the moment : Mr. James G. West and a colored man named Wiley Graham. Among the severely wounded were Mr. D. H. Nunnelly, in head and hip ; Mr. Miles Johnson, in spine ; Mr. John E. Loyd, arm broken and otherwise bruised ; Mr. J. Fisher, in head and hip ; Master Tommie See (son of Mr. Jacob See), in face and head ; Master Jimmie Powell (son of Mr. T. J. Powell), bruised in several places ; L. H. Fleet, in head ; Toleson Hunter, in face ; Mr. Fred. Davault, in back ; Mr. George Ramsey, in leg ; Thomas Graham ( colored ) ; Isaac Jenkins (colored) ; one man name unknown was severely injured in back ; Mr. George H. Sparks, the foreman, was bruised very much from the fall.
ITEMS.
In 1876 New Florence made a creditable effort to obtain the county seat of Montgomery county, but failed.
In 1878, according to McCleary, the town had four dry goods stores, one drug store, two furniture stores, one hardware and agricultural store, three millinery establishments, two blacksmith and wagon shops, one grist and saw mill, three churches, two hotels, one seminary build- ing, one good public school house and one newspaper. Population about 350.
In 1884 it had a population of about 425 ; contained three churches, Christian, M. E. South and Cumberland Presbyterian ; three lodges of secret orders, Masonic, Odd Fellows and Good Templars ; one newspa- per, the Optic; a good creamery, two hotels, a first-class school house and school, five general stores, two drug stores ; one furniture, one hardware, one boot and shoe and one millinery store; a livery stable, blacksmith and wagon shop, marble yard, two lumber yards, two grain dealers and two saloons.
New Florence was incorporated as a town August 2, 1869, " on the petition of Riley H. Mansfield and others." The first board of trus- tees was composed of Nathaniel Patton, James A. Simpson, Melvin Guthridge, Thos. J. Wiley and John T. Hunter.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper in New Florence was started in October, 1869, by Melville Guthridge, who employed as editors T. H. Musick and C. E. Dwyer, of Wellsville. The editorial " copy " was sent down by mail, although Dwyer was bere in person frequently. The paper was called the New Florence Plaindealer. It was a seven-column folio and Republican in politics. Really it was started to assist in the
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county seat movement in favor of New Florence. The office was at first in Wilson Garrett's building.
During the political campaign of 1870 the Plaindealer espoused the Liberal Republican cause and worked against the election of McClurg. Musick and Dwyer resigned as editors, but Guthridge was still the publisher, and the real editor was unknown. In a year or so the Plaindealer passed into the hands of M. J. Jones, and then in a few months Nat. Patton took charge, to be succeeded in a short time by C. H. See, who ran the paper about three months, when it suspended. The material of the office was stored for a year and then purchased by Mr. Harris, who removed it to Jonesburg and established the Jonesburg Leader.
October 17, 1877, Riley H. Mansfield issued the first number of the New Florence Optic, a six-column folio, independent in politics. This paper is still in existence, and is yet presided over by its original pro- prietor. It is fairly supported and deserving of its general popularity in the town and community where it is published.
THE NEW FLORENCE CREAMERY.
This institution was put into operation June 4, 1884. It is owned by the New Florence Creamery Company, an incorporated association with a capital of $6,500. The officers are T. J. Powell, president ; Dr. Kallmeyer, secretary; C. E. Stewart, treasurer. The superintend- ent of the institution is a Mr. Stewart. The creamery makes 300. pounds of butter daily, but has a capacity of 2,500 pounds.
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CHURCHES AND SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The first church in New Florence was a union church built after the war by the Methodists, Baptists and Christians, and purchased by the Christians some ten years ago. Probably the first sermon in the place was preached by Rev. W. S. McNeiley, the well known Methodist divine.
An Episcopal Church was built, perhaps in 1871, and services held therein a few times; but it was never dedicated, and in 1877 was purchased by the M. E. Church ("Northern Methodists ") and used by that denomination until in the spring of 1883, when it was sold to its present owners, the Cumberland Presbyterians.
Some years since the Sunday-school at New Florence had a wide- spread and an enviable reputation. It was organized on the second Sunday in April, 1865. The first meetings were held in Marshal
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
McElhany's residence ; afterwards in the railroad depot, in the acad- emy, and elsewhere. The first superintendent was Joseph Stewart, who served for three months, and was succeeded by P. P. Ellis, who served very efficiently until in December, 1871. The school never missed a Sabbath except on an occasion of two or three unusually heavy storms.
After Mr. Ellis left he organized a Sunday-school in connection with the M. E. Church South, and into this most of the scholars after- wards went. The former school was called for a time the New Flor- ence Union Sunday-school, but it gradually passed out of existence.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. - A church of this denomina- tion was formed at New Florence in 1872, the original members being Mrs. I. H. Bernard, Taylor Bernard, S. P. Shaw, D. Janssen, Miss Mollie Webb, M. Guthridge, Mrs. Guthridge, Francis Bryant and James Nelson. From 1872 to 1884 J. R. Patton was the pastor in charge. Rev. Ingram is the present pastor of the congregation of 24 members. In 1871 the house of worship which they now occupy was erected by the Episcopals. It is a frame structure, and is val- ued at $600.
M. E. Church South. - Information and data concerning the his- tory of this church has not been furnished up to the time of going to press with this volume, although faithfully and repeatedly prom- ised. All that can here be stated is that the church building was ded- icated in July, 1871, by Bishop E. M. Marvin.
Christian Church .- J. C. Ford is clerk of this church, which now numbers 45 members. Its organization occurred in 1871, Bro. Thomas Marlow taking an active part in its formation. The mem- bers then were E. W. Howell, W. Y. Howell, S. Broadwater, Elihu Milliken, Orlena Milliken, A. J. Ward, Margaret Goodrich, J. A. Smith and wife, Elizabeth McClure, Ellen M. Ford, J. A. Burton, A. French and wife, Mary C. Cullurn, Eliza McMahan, J. A. Simpson and wife and Miss Lizzie Goodrich. The first pastor of the church, Thomas Marlow, was followed by W. B. Gallaher, and he in turn by the present incumbent, W. T. Sallee. This house of worship is val- ued at $1,000.
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