USA > Missouri > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Missouri : past and present, including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county Vol. I > Part 42
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This organization did not long survive, however, being dis- solved April 13, 1876. A. W. Milstir ministered to this church most of the time. On February 20, 1878, an organization of twenty-three members was formed by Rev. J. H. Byers, who served as pastor until 1880 and the church was without a pastor from then up to 1883, but in the meantime, during 1882, their present church building was erected but not finished. In 1883 Rev. George Miller became pastor and served until 1888, and was followed by Rev. James Edmonson, who served until 1892, and was followed by Rev. A. McLaren in 1893, he serving until 1895; Rev. T. M. Cornelison, 1896-8; Rev. J. H. Miller, 1898-1908; Rev. R. C. Williamson, 1908-10. Rev. H. H. Coontz, the present pastor, came to the church in April, 1911. This church, like others, has had its sunshine and shade, and perhaps its most prosperous and happy times were under the ministrations of Rev. George Miller, the church being nicely finished and seated and
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
180 members added-ninety of them on profession of faith- during that time. The church now is in a healthy, growing con- dition
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Nevada, Mo., was organized in 1876. There are two of the charter members who now live in Nevada and are active members of the church. They are Mrs. W. G. Bretton and Mrs. Withrow Morris.
There is one member still holding his membership in the congregation, who joined in 1876, but not as a charter member- Mr. William M. Sears.
The following ministers have served as pastors: R. L. Van- nice, R. B. Ward, J. F. Rodgers, H. L. Walker, B. Wrenn Webb, G. D. Crawford and Hugh S. McCord, the present pastor. The present pastor has served the church for a longer time than any other minister. For some time the old courthouse was used by this congregation as a place of meeting. Many years ago they owned a small building, but now they own one of the best appointed houses of worship in Nevada, built and dedicated in 1903 and is located at the corner of Walnut and Ash streets. The following men are elders in this church: E. T. Steele, G. S. Brown, Arthur Hargrave, W. T. Mann, J. M. Edmiston and L. F. Lawrence.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
By MRS. JOHN T. BIRDSEYE.
All Saints' Protestant Episcopal Church, of Nevada, Mo., was incorporated and founded on November 10, 1870. The following named were the organizers: George S. Adrian, E. R. Morerod, John T. Birdseye, George Upton, R. W. McNeil and A. H. Jagneau.
Prior to this, from 1868, the Rev. P. A. Johnson, a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church, located at Pleasant Hill, Mo., had held occasional services here, upstairs over a saloon, on the south side of the square.
At the instigation of the above named gentlemen Mrs. George Adrian and Mrs. John T. Birdseye started with a subscription
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paper to raise funds to commence a church building. The first day they were encouraged and flattered by raising over $3,000. It being All Saints' Day, at once that name was decided upon for the new church. The Rt. Rev. C. F. Robertson, bishop of Missouri, made his first visitation over the saloon and gave the few earnest workers every encouragement.
As soon as the courthouse was made comfortable, "being under cover," with benches but no plastered walls, services were held in the court room until the erection of the first church.
All of the hardwood framing timber was donated by Col. H. C. Cogswell, who owned and operated a saw mill on the Marmaton river. Most of the teamwork was done from this mill by the Rev. P. A. Johnson, all the finishing lumber having to be hauled from Pleasant Hill, the nearest railroad point, seventy-five miles away. The cornerstone was laid in November, 1870, and named All Saints' Protestant Episcopal Church of Nevada, Diocese of Missouri. The little church was worshiped in for ten years. Thinking to better themselves the property was exchanged for a more desirable location on East Cherry street.
The Rev. P. A. Johnson came first as missionary, then rector of the church until 1872, when he accepted a call to Bunker Hill, Ill. The Rev. Peake, an English churchman, filled the vacancy and presided until his death, about two years later.
After the death of Mr. Peake the Rev. Abiel Leonard, now Bishop Leonard, came from his church in Sedalia once a month, alternating with Rev. Coxe once a month from Fort Scott, Kan., for more than a year. Dr. James was then called from East Missouri, and was followed by Rev. Thomas May Thorp, 1879-83; Rev. M. C. Brown, only a few months; Rev. W. B. Burrows, 1884- 1889; Rev. S. C. Gaynor, 1889-91; Rev. Cabbiness, a few months ; Rev. H. A. Duboe, 1893-94; missionary services until 1896; Rev. J. M. McBride, 1896-1900; Rev. C. H. Powell, June, 1900, to De- cember, 1900; Rev. C. A. Weed, January, 1901, to 1902, when he was appointed arch-deacon by Bishop E. R. Atwill and was succeeded by Rev. E. A. Nevill, September, 1902, to May, 1904; Rev. C. F. Carson, 1905-1906; Rev. Bohn, 1907, was succeeded by the Rev. John Boden, June, 1910, to September, 1911, who resigned and was transferred to St. Paul's Church, Evansville, Ind., October 1, 1911.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
CHURCHES.
St. John A. M. E. Church, 701 South Washington.
All Saints Episcopal Church, 411 East Cherry.
Adventist Church, 326 West Allison.
Baptist Church, 1231 East Austin.
Brethren Church, 824 North Lynn.
Christian Church, 204 South Washington.
Christian Science Reading Rooms, 121 East Washington.
Church of Christ, 632 North Main.
Church Latter Day Saints, 500 East Allison.
Colored Baptist Church, corner South Lynn and East Wright.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 305 West Walnut.
First Methodist Episcopal Church, 124 West Hunter.
M. E. South, 206 South Main.
Presbyterian Church, 129 East Hunter.
St. Mary's Catholic Church, 328 North Main.
Southern Methodist Church, 926 West Arch.
United Brethren Church, 301 South Pine.
ST. FRANCIS ORPHANS' HOME.
St. Francis Orphans' Home, where about one hundred chil- dren are given comforts of a home and receive every care and attention that an ideal mother could give, is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration. On December 12, 1892, a band of five sisters, namely Sister M. John Hau as superior, Sister M. Bernandine Fah, Sister M. Bonaventure Ros- enberg, Sister M. Xavier Blatter and Sister M. Basilia King, ar- rived at Conception, Mo., where they entered the Benedictine Convent to study the English language. They had been sent from Grimmerstein Convent, Walzenhauser, Appenzell county, Switzerland, with a mission to care for homeless children.
During the following year the building which they now oc- cupy, together with twenty acres of land, was purchased by the sisters from Rt. Rev. Ignatius Conrad. The sisters arrived in Nevada September 3, 1893, and on September 15 opened a day school. In November, of the same year, Sisters M. Creszentia Gruniger, M. Angela Baumgartner and M. Ignatius Buhman ar- rived from Switzerland to take up their duties at the orphan -.
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CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
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age. The sisters experienced many hardships during the first few years of their residence here, but through the splendid busi- ness qualifications of Sister M. John, and the hearty co-operation and untiring energy of the sisters of her community, the in- stitution made progress. The only source of revenue came from the tuition of their pupils, and the soil which they tilled.
The first orphans were received January 26, 1896, and then it was that the noble work to which they had dedicated their lives had its real commencement. St. Francis Orphans' Home was incorporated under the laws of Missouri, at Jefferson City, October 16, 1900. After the incorporation papers were received the institution became what is termed a mother house with the privilege of admitting novices into their ranks. The elec- tion for the purpose of choosing one to guide the destinies of the institution and its inmates was held July 10, 1901, and Sister M. John was unanimously voted the Mother Superior, and each succeeding year she has been accorded the same honor. Mother John was born in Lentkirch, Wutternburg, Germany, April 6, 1863, and entered the convent in April, 1881, becom- ing a sister during the month of October, 1882. Her life has been one devoted to the welfare of humanity and the honor and glory of her Master. During her administration of St. Francis Orphans' Home, fourteen novices have become brides of the cloister that they might assist in caring for the children of the poor. Since their residence here two sisters have been called to their eternal reward-Sister M: Basilia and Sister M. Elizabeth. Among the many children that have been received at the home not one death has occurred.
The sisters have purchased land from time to time, until now St. Francis. Heights comprises about 200 acres. A few years ago it was seen that the original building was fast be- coming inadequate to meet the demands made upon it owing to the number of children it was called upon to shelter and on March 17, 1910, a twenty-five room addition was started which is now nearing completion. Within the walls of St. Francis Home, sweet charity pure and unalloyed is practiced by the noble daughters of St. Francis and through their zeal one of Nevada's most laudable institutions is conducted.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
NEVADA BANKS.
The Thornton National Bank. Early in 1869, Salmon & Stone, a Clinton banking firm, decided to establish a bank in Nevada. At that time Paul Thornton was a young lawyer in the practice at Clinton. Those gentlemen induced him to assume charge of the new venture as managing partner, and in March, accompanied by Harv Salmon, he came to Nevada, and they purchased the lot now occupied by the Thornton National Bank. Mr. Upton was given the contract for the brick-work, and had first to make the brick before he could build. It was almost a year before the building was ready for use.
In June the bank business was commenced in the general store of Dodson & Roberts on the south side of the square. It was necessary to haul the safe from Warrensburg by wagon. High water delayed its arrival, : and each evening, at the close of business, the books and cash were carried to the safe of Kahn & McNeil on the west side of the square.
Mr. Thornton was manager, cashier, and bookkeeper for several months, and then Henry Marvin, a brother-in-law of Dr. Salmon, came to assist in the clerical work, and remained for three years. Then Mr. Thornton and his father bought the bank.
In 1873 the bank saw one of the country's greatest crises. The city banks, alarmed by the paralyzing scarcity of money, closed for thirty days, and would do no more than certify .drafts good through the clearing-house, payable at the end of that time.
City creditors called upon their country debtors for cash by express, and many of the smaller towns were drained of their money. Then the Thornton displayed its good generalship. Its depositors had implicit faith in it. The bank advised the merchants to make no remittances by express, but pay with ex- change. They did so, and at the end of the month the bank had checked most of its money from the city and had as much cash
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in its safe as usual. There was no interruption of its business at that time, nor in the hard years of 1884 and 1893, all of which shook the financial world to its foundation.
It was Judge Thornton's idea at the beginning of his bank- ing life that success in that line depended upon strong backing. Later he reached the conclusion that the business was attribut- able not so much to the large credit then enjoyed by Salmon & Stone, but to the faith of the people in the local management, and upon that belief was based the purchase of all the stock in 1872. The material increase of deposits which quickly fol- lowed that action proved that he had not erred. The people said to him: "You are doing a prudent business, free from all speculative features, and we have confidence in you." Through the long years which followed the Thornton Bank has held religiously to that policy, and in all that time there has not been a day when that confidence was shaken.
It was in 1874 that the grasshoppers devastated this section of the state ; there was no feed, and it was the year following the panic. The farmers sold their hogs at fifty cents a head, which was better than to let them starve for want of feed. In the suc- ceeding spring, Cleland & Co. were shipping corn from Iowa and selling it to the farmers for one dollar a bushel cash, which at that time was considered an exorbitant price. The insect pests were busy again and it was necessary to plant a second and in many cases a third time. In April of that year the Thorn- ton had on deposit $90,000.00 with its loans extended as far as prudent. In sixty days the deposits dropped to $27,000.00, yet to make a crop it was absolutely necessary to make loans to almost every farmer in the county. Without borrowing, the great majority of them could not buy seed corn.
Again the local merchants rallied around the bank, and de- layed payment of their foreign obligations in order to deposit at home.
Then was one of the very few times the Thornton has ever borrowed to meet an emergency. It carried the farmers through the distressing season. The crop proved bountiful, and in winter the deposits grew greater than the old-time figures.
Among the first country banks of Missouri to reduce the rate of interest was the Thornton. With the increase of business and the changes of the times, it has striven to observe all its ob-
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ligations to the public, and its steady growth has shown that the people are appreciative.
Judge Thoronton's health required his removal to another climate, and he went to Austin, Texas. In 1893 S. A. Wright was made president of the bank; Judge C. G. Burton has been its vice-president since 1880; J. E. Harding was the cashier from 1872 to 1909; Chas. Thom, who was promoted in 1909 to the cashiership, has been with the bank for twenty-four years and for half that time was the assistant cashier. Theo. Lacaff is now the assistant cashier; and the directors are S. A. Wight, C. G. Burton, J. E. Harding, Theo. Lacaff, J. B. Robinson, J. F. Robinson, and W. P. Rion.
First National Bank. This banking institution was estab- lished in 1889. It occupies the handsome structure at the north- west corner of Walnut and Cedar streets. This bank has gone through all flurries and tightening of the money market or so- called panies with no losses or ill effects of any kind and retain- ing the full confidence of its customers. The bank has a capital of $100,000 and a surplus of $100,000. The officers of this bank are F. H. Glenn, president; Wellington Barnes, vice-president ; Woddy Swearingen, cashier, and W. F. Sterett, assistant cashier. The directors are M. T. January, W. T. Goss, N. Pohnnes, Well- ington Barnes, W. F. Sterett, F. H. Glenn, Woddy Swearingen, W. D. Bailey and J. D. Ingram.
Bank of Nevada. This bank was established in 1890 with a capital stock of $50,000, which has since been increased to $100,- 000. The bank purchased the building at the northeast corner of Cedar and Cherry streets, which was remodeled and made into a modern banking house, equipped with all modern appli- ances. The officers of this bank are W. E. Clark, president; G. G. Ewing, vice-president; C. A. Emerson, cashier, while J. H. Rinehart, W. J. Wainscott, W. M. Bowker, Q. T. Moore, O. H. Hoss and Dr. D. W. Howard are the directors.
The Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association of Mis- souri is the largest financial institution in the southwest section of the state, and since its organization in 1893 it has been an important factor in the material growth and development of the city of Nevada and the region round about. Through its plan of operation a large number of its members have been enabled to build and own their own homes, while for others it has provided
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NEVADA BANKS
and is providing safe and attractive means for investing their savings in a way to yield the largest profits. Its purposes are to provide a convenient, safe and profitable means for invest- ing the savings and surplus of all classes and also enable bor- rowers on real estate security to obtain money on terms suited to their condition. Its profits are derived from keeping its en- tire resources working continuously, having the effect of com- pounding its interest earnings monthly and earning for certificate holders from 5 per cent on withdrawals to 10 per cent on maturities.
The workings of the association's plan is well illustrated in the recent report of an expert public accountant to its advisory board, in which he says :
"For example, a loan for $1,000 is made. Always accompany- ing it the borrower takes out, say, "Class A" certificate, under which he pays the association monthly $20 for seventy-two con- secutive months (six years), which at the elapsed time amounts to $1,440. This is all the borrower ever does pay in; therefore, the amount in excess of principal, $440, is interest at the rate of 7 1-3 per cent per annum. As is already seen, the associa- tion has averaged the use of half of this sum or $720 for six years, which, reloaned for the same time and rate, would earn $316.79. To this add profits above shown of $440, making a total of $756, in which the membership participates share and share alike, in accordance with the terms of the class of stock held. In turn the borrower being a member and stockholder, participates equally with holders of stock not borrowed on, there- by reducing the original interest as at first paid by him. It is plain that out of the $440 interest first received that $360, or 6 per cent per annum for six years, can be paid for the original capital received by the association from the investor and leaving $80 more to add to the $316.79, as shown above, or an earning of $396.79 to be compounded and out of which the expenses of the association come and its surplus grows."
Some of the members of the association prefer to take short time investments, earning dividends of "4 to 6 per cent" per annum, according to time run; others, the long time stocks, which participate in the earnings of the association during the periods uf six to ten years, earning as large a dividend as 10 per cent per annum.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
The association has an authorized capital of $4,000,000, with a surplus and undivided profits of more than $140,000, which serves as a safeguard against losses to stockholders, the possi- bility of which, under its conservative and wise management, is very remote. The association's financial status and soundness is well illustrated in the growth of its assets from year to year, which have increased from $9,037.65 on February 28, 1894, to over $1,250,000 on August 31, 1911.
This association was organized in 1893 by Messrs. F. H. Glenn, O. H. Hoss, Oliver Duck, H. M. Duck, R. L. Turnbull, T. W. Vandiver, J. M. Norris and others. Mr. Norris was the first president and was succeeded in that office by Mr. F. H. Glenn in 1896, who was succeeded by Mr. O. H. Hoss in 1908. The first secretary was R. L. Turnbull, who in 1896 was succeeded by Mr. L. H. Levens, and he in turn was followed in 1897 by Mr. E. E. Levens, the present secretary. The present officers and directors are: O. H. Hoss, president; T. W. Vandiver, vice- president; E. E. Levens, secretary; F. H. Glenn, treasurer; W. T. Ballagh, W. T. Goss and C. J. Schmelzer. Mr. E. E. Price is manager of agencies.
Based on real estate securities which panics cannot impair, this association offers to all classes opportunities for investment and for saving that are absolutely safe and sane and cannot be surpassed, and it is further fortified and strengthened by the fact that its operations are watched and controlled by men whose long experience, business sagacity and unblemished characters eminently fit them for the responsible trusts that are severally imposed upon them.
CHAPTER XXXV.
HISTORY OF THE NEVADA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. .
By MRS. J. SAM BROWN.
About the year 1898 or perhaps a little earlier several ladies whose names stand for progress and interest in humanity, even at the cost of personal labor and sacrifice of ease and time to themselves, met at the home of Mrs. C. G. Ritchie and laid plans looking to the intellectual and moral uplift as well as to the higher plane of pastime for the young people of Nevada. After discussing one after another of several excellent things, a public library was thought to come as near filling the need of the community as any one thing and an effort was made to organize the women in this federated interest.
There is strength in numbers and in unity of plan and har- mony in execution, and these three in one were the foundation of what afterwards became known as the Nevada public library.
Time passed and the result of this gathering culminated in a meeting at Hotel Mitchell of a coterie of ladies on the second Monday of May, 1898, and an organization was perfected, whose officers were: President, Mrs. Rose Kimball ; first vice-president, Mrs. Alma S. Bennett; second vice-president, Miss Anna Hard- ing; recording secretary, Mrs. J. T. Harding; corresponding sec- retary, Mrs. S. T. Roberts ; treasurer, Miss Byrde Fisher ; auditor, Mrs. D. Nixon ; trustees, Mesdames W. W. Prewitt, O. T. Vedder and L. M. Schroeder; executive committee, Mesdames H. M. Duck, E. H. Stettmund, T. W. Vandiver, H. M. Metcalf, C. M. Shartel, E. J. Biglow, J. C. Pike and J. Sam Brown.
Articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state, and now fully organized under the state laws, the associa- tion began to work earnestly for the library. There was a sum left over from a previous library fund in the hands of a com- mittee, the result of a lecture course, which sum was given to
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the ladies, and this, together with a house-to-house canvass for books, formed the nucleus of this library.
As time passed the interest grew and other names were added to the association, and in 1899 at a meeting in the parlors of Hotel Rockwood Mrs. Cockerill and Miss Harding were elected to fill the vacancies caused by the removal from town of Mes- dames Ritchie and Bennett.
During the illness of Mrs. Kimball Mrs. Cockerill acted as president, which office she filled in a most satisfactory manner, and much praise is due her for the foundation of the library.
In May, 1901, the following ladies were elected to office : President, Mrs. W. W. Prewitt; first vice-president, Mrs. W. L. Callaway; second vice-president, Mrs. E. H. Stettmund; secre- tary, Mrs. McIlhaney; treasurer, Mrs. O. T. Vedder; chairman executive committee, Mrs. Cockerill; auditor, Mrs. J. Sam Brown.
The library has been the care and abiding interest of the federated clubs of Nevada, the members serving as librarians in turn, giving time and means to it. Teas, socials, bazaars and entertainments of various kinds have been held to raise funds for reading matter from time to time, the ladies sparing no ef- forts to attain their worthy object and to keep alive the interest in the library.
Two years ago it was thought advisable to catalog the books and place the library on a systematic footing. Mrs. Roy Lemen was chosen for this work and the library is now cataloged ac- cording to the standard of the A. L. A.
At this time another innovation, looking to the greater in- terest of the reading public, was introduced and Mrs. Hulda B. Logan was elected as regular librarian, who filled the position most satisfactorily during the year 1909-10, when on her re- moval to St. Louis Mrs. Anne Harding Wight was elected to that position.
There is a standing book committee, originally composed of Mrs. Vedder, Mrs. L. Calloway, Mrs. McIlhaney and Mrs. J. Sam Brown. Mrs. Calloway and Mrs. McIlhaney having removed from Nevada, the names of Mesdames J. Harding Bean, McKiddy, R. L. Wardin, Frank Barr and Anne Harding Wight have been added. Hon. J. B. Johnson and ex-Senator Wight have rendered valuable assistance to this committee when called upon for sug- gestions. It is the aim of this committee to add new books as
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HISTORY OF NEVADA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
means justify and the demands of the public require. There are about 1,500 books on the shelves at present, consisting of fic- tion, standard works, history, juvenile, travel, reference books, poetry, miscellaneous, et al.
For the first several years of the life of the library the Com- mercial Club of Nevada gave the ladies ample space in their hand- some rooms in the Duck block. Since the completion of the court- house the county court has courteously granted them space in the building, which rooms they now occupy in recognition of this favor.
The women of the association, co-operating with the county court, furnished a rest room on the lower floor of the courthouse, which gives rest and refreshing to the good women of Vernon county, who show their appreciation by making daily use of the commodious quarters.
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