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 45
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During the year 1874-75, the town stood still. In 1876, the "chintz bug year," there was a suspension of business amounting practically to stagnation, and the effects were felt until two years later. Since 1880 there has been a steady and substantial growth, impeded only by the unnatural and extraordinary dis- asters mentioned elsewhere. A newspaper has been established, large brick blocks have been erected, a bank is in successful operation, a magnificent public school building and several churches have been erected, and the town proper is now upon a permanent foundation.
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EARLY HISTORY.
The birth of the first boy baby in Schell City was an event long remembered. In the early summer of 1871 a special train came through bearing with it Hon. Richard Schell, "Brick" Pomeroy, and some other notables. The party was a convivial one, and when it reached the town the members were enthusiastic. The train stopped and speeches were made from the platform to a considerable crowd collected at the depot. In the course of a characteristic speech, Dick Schell said: "My brother got the bulge on me by having this town named for him. I understand that he is to give you a thousand dollars for a school house be- cause you have called it after him. Now, I haven't quite as many dollars as he, but I am just as ambitious for distinction. I will give a thousand dollars to the first living male child born here provided he is christened Richard Schell. I have two objects in view-I want distinction for myself, and I want to encourage the . populating of Schell City. Now, go to work, all of you, and may the Lord bless your labors !"
Knowledge of Mr. Schell's peculiar and munificent offer spread and soon several couples, properly qualified to enter the lists, moved into town to compete for the prize. No advent of an heir-apparent to a royal throne was ever looked for with more solicitude and interest. Speculation as to the identity of the winner was indulged in, and even bets were made on certain con- testants "against the field." The wife of a Mr. Curtis had en- couraged the most glowing anticipations in the breast of her husband and friends, but her babies, twins, were lifeless. An- other lady dashed the fond hopes of her husband to the ground by presenting him with a girl.
At last in the early fall of 1871, Master Richard Schell Wood, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wood, made his appearance and to him was awarded the premium. The day of his advent an event was in progress at the house of a bridge carpenter, and for a space it was uncertain which household would be doubly blessed. The carpenter and Mr. Wood were at the depot, in view of their respective residences, ready to send a telegram to Mr. Schell on. the instant that a certain favorable signal should be displayed. A red cloth denoted a boy; a white, the opposite sex. Presently a white handkerchief fluttering from a window plunged the car-
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penter into despondency and he went off and got roaring drunk, while a few minutes later a crimson banner waving triumphantly from his front door exalted Mr. Wood into a state of sublime en- thusiasm. Mr. Schell was as good as his word and gave his name- sake $1,000 in cash and town lots.
The first death in the place was the result of a tragedy. A gang of railroad men engaged in a row, during which the section foreman, an Irishman, was killed. This was in the summer of 1871. The body was buried in the old cemetery. The murderer was never discovered. Soon afterward a German physician, named Gosier, who had lived in the village but a short time, died from an inordinate dose of morphine administered by him- self, perhaps with suicidal intent. His was the second interment in the place.
Dr. Van Orman was the first resident physician, and J. J. Spears the first lawyer. The latter returned to Tennessee.
The railroad was completed through the place in the early summer of 1871. In the summer of 1871 the postoffice was estab- lished, with J. Purington as postmaster. The office was kept in Van Orman's drug store, and Fielding Childs and George Pierce were the deputies.
Van Orman's drug store, and Fielding Childs and George Pierce garden in the northwestern portion of town. The present ceme- tery was established about the year 1881. Early in the history of the town a school was started. In 1871 the first school house was begun, but it was not completed until 1873; in 1881 it was sold to the Presbyterians and converted into a church. The first church building completed was the Methodist Episcopal, although the Baptist edifice was the first begun.
INCORPORATION.
Schell City was incorporated as a village by the county court in November, 1879. The town was named for one of its founders, the Hon. Augustus Schell, of New York City, a prominent demo- cratic politician, at one time the "grand sachem" of the Tam- many Society, and always a gentleman of the highest integrity and character. For the compliment given him Mr. Schell after- wards gave $1,000 towards the erection of the present fine public school building.
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The first board of trustees (appointed by the county court) was composed of Geo. W. Landis, Jas. W. Blakeley, J. H. Maus, B. F. Herrick and T. L. Strong. The first meeting of the board was held at Landis & Woolsey's hall, November 29. B. F. Her- rick was appointed chairman, and Fielding Childs, clerk. W. E. Bowers was appointed the first marshal. In the spring of 1880 the calaboose was erected, at a cost of $136.50.
The second board of trustees, being the first one elected, was chosen in April, 1880, and the town officers that year were as follows: Trustees, D. C. Hutchison, chairman; J. H. Maus, Asa Harvey, T. L. Strong and Geo. W. Landes. Fielding Childs was clerk, Wm. Leslie, treasurer, L. D. Talmage, assessor, and Geo. Matlock, marshal and street commissioner.
In 1881 the trustees were the same as the previous year, ex- cept that John Shepherd was in the room of Asa Harvey. In August Hutchison resigned as chairman and was succeeded by Landis. At the same time Childs resigned as clerk and R. Z. Dyer was chosen in his stead; but a month later M. F. Brown was appointed. J. S. Miller served as marshal until November, when he resigned and his place taken by Geo. W. Matlock, who served one month and gave way to S. S. Davis.
THE CONFLAGRATION OF 1885.
During the year of 1885 Schell City was visited by three disas- trous fires, which not only seriously impaired the business inter- ests of the place and its general prosperity, but from their nature and the suspicious circumstances attendant upon them created a feeling of distrust and alarm. The first fire occurred Sunday, March 22. Half a block on the west side of Main street between Second and Third, and two vacant buildings were burned. The principal losers by the conflagration were Dudley & Anderson, livery stable proprietors ; West & Joclyn, dealers in dry goods.
The next conflagration broke out May 20. Its location was on the east side of Main, between Second and Third streets. Start- ing in a vacant house, the property of Mrs. I. S. Goodman, it extended until it consumed two buildings belonging to Dr. A. Harvey, one to F. S. Mckenzie and three to H. L. Fulton. Among these buildings was one called the "Boss" Hotel, kept by Joe Brizendine. The total loss was about $5,000.
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On the 3d of August occurred the next and most disastrous fire. It started, or was first noticed, at about 11 p. m. in the general merchandise establishment of P. F. Westphal, on the north side of the alley, on the west side of Main street, between First and Second. The flames communicating with the postoffice on the north and the hardware store of L. A. Cunningham & Co., on the south, extended thence north and south until the whole of the west side of Main street was burned.
SCHELL CITY IN 1911.
Schell City is situated in the northeast corner of Vernon county, on the M., K. & T. R. R., and is nineteen miles northeast of Nevada, the county seat. It is 100 miles from Kansas City, the greatest stock market in this part of the United States, and 300 miles from St. Louis.
Schell City, time-tried and fire tested, is still the best town in southwest Missouri-not in size, not in fine buildings or in manu- factories, but when it comes to a good place to live, the answer is Schell City.
Unfortunate in past years in suffering several severe fires which nearly wiped the town from the face of the map, yet phoenix like, it has, risen from the ashes and today is a sub- stantial and thriving little city of 600 souls.
The town is situated on a slight elevation overlooking the beautiful Osage valley, with regularly laid-out streets along which are beautiful rows of shade trees.
There is no town in the county with a better school building or better schools.
The religious denominations represented here are the Presby- terian, Christian, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic.
A large flouring mill and almost every kind of business is represented except saloons and gambling houses which are not here, and therefore the town is free from the immoral and de- grading influence such institutions usually bring a smaller town.
All these things considered, Schell City is a good place in which to live and many people are coming here where they can have the advantage of the best schools in the state, outside of the educational centers, and at the same time live in a pleasant place where they carry their families in a social atmosphere that it not pregnant with the works of the wicked one.
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The town is watered by wells which afford an abundance of pure healthful water.
For business, for schools, for church privileges, for morality, for good society, for a good place to live in Schell City leads them all.
In the vicinity of Schell City are many places of noteworthy mention in the way of pleasure and health resorts. One is the famous Fair Haven Springs, which is located five miles south- west of this city, and these springs are noted for their mineral, health restoring waters. Another is the Hally's Bluffs, a beauti- ful bluff along the banks of the Osage river, located six miles west of this city. This is also a beautiful place for camping and recreation and has some peculiar historical features in the way of wells. These wells are seven in number and are in a line along the base of the bluffs overlooking the river; they are about six feet deep and are three feet wide; their origin is unknown, as well as their purpose. There is also a spring of very fine water at these bluffs. This is one of the most beautiful places that can be found in this section of the country. Schell City and vicinity is certainly blessed with an excellent class of people ; they are hospitable, friendly and as a rule religious ; they are not of the class usually found in a town of this size and are free from the tough element. Our farmers are prosperous and happy and are doing well, most of them owning the farms they are on and many of them well stocked. In fact this is the cheapest place to live that could be found in southwest Missouri, and the most pleasant people to live among.
Schell City and vicinity is verily a sportsman's paradise. Fishing and hunting are excellent here. North of town flows the beautiful Osage river, which abounds in the various species of the finny tribe. East and north of town are some fine lakes which are well stocked with fish. These lakes during the duck season are the delight of the nimrods and many hunters come from a distance to enjoy the sport of duck-hunting. Snipe and quail are also plentiful and during the open season many hunters are in the field.
There is no time of the year but what the sportsmen can hunt or fish here, and it is one of the many advantages of this section.
The secret societies represented here are the A. F. & A. M.,
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I. O. O. F., M. W. A., W. O. W., O. E. S., K. L. of S. and the Rebekah, all having a large membership.
OUR BUSINESS MEN.
Schell City has one flouring mill, conducted by W. R. Zener; one repair shop, conducted by E. A. Robison; one automobile and engine shop, conducted by J. F. Watts & Son; one produce house, conducted by W. F. Young; three blacksmith shops, conducted by J. N. Hoagland, J. F. Maus, and M. L. Stewart; one harness shop, conducted by J. A. Thompson; two hardware and imple- ment stores, conducted by John Dade & Co., and John Lewis & Son; two banks, the Farmers' State Bank and the Schell City Bank; one meat market, Cameron Ditty; one opera house, by the Schell City Band; one nicely arranged postoffice, J. G. B. Marquis, postmaster; four general merchandise establishments, Darrow Mercantile Company; A. F. Coble & Co., Cunningham Bros., and Kinkead & White; one department store, by G. Pape & Co .; two drugs store, W. H. Potter and Curl & Millikan; one dentist, Dr. E. T. McKim; one veterinary surgeon, Dr. J. M. Eisenhower ; four physicians, Drs. G. M. Ross, H. C. Jarvis, A. C. Curl and J. R. Colson; one restaurant, by J. R. Keeney & Son ; two barber shops, J. H. Keeney & Son and Jess Biggs; one auto livery and feed stable, by M. P. Kinkead; two hotels, R. T. Shields, John Hirni; one wall paper store, by Murray Ross; four real estate firms, Sam B. Vickers, Schell City Realty Company, Garland S. Johnson, and Harris & Dudley; one bakery and soda fountain, by John Hirni; one power printing office, by Chas. B. Vickers and E. W. Jones; one grain buyer, John Boat- right; two firms of stock buyers, Ditty & Ditty, and Young & Kinkead; one band, and a good one, too; three transfers, Tom Keeney, Gus Peters, and Sam Jinkins; one telephone system of 300 phones, by E. W. Jones; one lumber yard, by Logan-Moore ; one grist mill, by J. F. Watts & Son.
No saloons, gambling houses or pool halls.
Plenty of contractors of all kinds in the way of carpenters, painters, plasterers, stone masons, etc.
We will also list our five churches and school buildings as before described.
One newspaper, "The Schell City News," the oldest paper in Vernon county, edited by Chas. B. Vickers and E. W. Jones.
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THE SCHELL CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
By Dr. H. C. Jarvis.
[Dr. Jarvis has been president of the school board for the past twenty-five years .- Editor.]
The city of Schell City was laid out and organized as a village in the year 1871, nearly two years after the completion of the M., K. & T. railroad; the school district was organized consisting of practically the same territory as at present. After the organ- izing of the district in 1871 there was not sufficient time for the building of a school house and the first school was held in a one- room frame building on the north side of Fourth street, between Main and Maple, the building having been erected by a Mr. Fox as a dwelling house. The school was on the plan of the rural schools at that time, the teacher being a Mrs. Fannie Brown. The methods and place of the school continued the same for three years, the second school being taught by T. L. Strong, who was followed by Mrs. Brown again, by which time the school had grown to a degree that demanded more room, and on January 3, 1874, work was begun upon a new building on the lot set apart for school purposes in the western part of the city, the site of the present building. In 1878 it became necessary to employ an assistant ; in 1879 Prof. R. B. McIlhaney and wife took charge of. the school and at the end of the term the number of pupils had increased to the extent that a third teacher was employed; in 1880 A. J. King, with an able corps of assistants, brought the school up to a position in quality and numbers that required a more extensive and commodious building. At the time of the organization of the city, Mr. Augustus Schell, a New York capi- talist interested in the railroad, came to the city and in an address to the citizens offered $1,000 for school purposes if they would name the town for him; they did so and he placed this money in the hands of trustees selected by the citizens, T. J. Smith, F. Childs, and T. L. Strong. These gentlemen were level-headed business men who had sufficient business sense to calculate a reasonable outcome of the situation, and invested the amount, refusing to allow it to be applied on the first building. This amount had at the beginning of 1881 accumulated $470 interest,
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and an election was held voting $10,000 bonds, with which and the $1,470 from Augustus Schell fund, and $1,200 (received from the Presbyterian church for the frame building which they purchased from the board and moved it to its present site, con- verting it into a church building,) a large, commodious brick building of seven rooms, capable of seating 600 pupils, was erected and ready for occupation September 1, 1882, except the upper three rooms. The four rooms on the ground floor being finished and occupied and a fourth teacher added. In 1883 a fifth teacher was added to the corps, the large auditorium on the upper floor being finished and capable of seating 200. This was now used for the high school, a two-year course being adopted and the school thoroughly graded. The bonds were met and regularly paid as they came due by a 2 per cent sinking-fund levy until 1892, when $2,000 was refunded at a lower rate of interest and the last paid in 1895. In 1890 the corps of teachers was raised to six, the organization being changed to correspond and the two-year high school remaining unchanged until 1900, when a three-year course in high school was installed and an assistant high school teacher employed and the school was recog- nized as a high school of the third class among the educational institutions of the state. This year (1911) another month has been added to the term, making a nine months' term, which will entitle it after inspection from the proper authorities to enter the second class of high schools of the state.
The first graduating class from the institution was turned out in the spring of 1887, under the supervision of Prof. W. H. Martin, numbering ten pupils-six young ladies and four young men ; 1888 and 1889 had no graduating class, but from 1890, when three young ladies and two young men were graduated, until the pres- ent time, each year has seen a well-drilled graduating class go out of this institution, until at the present time the Alumni Asso- ciation numbers on its roll 160. The different individuals con- stituting the school board at different times during the forty years of the existence of this institution have at all time been level-headed, energetic, progressive business men, demanding the very best of modern implements and appliances for the advance- ment and comfort of the children who have to spend from ten to twelve of the best years of their life in the schoolroom, and the patrons have always exhibited an unusual interest in the
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work, having full confidence in the board, they have always re- sponded willingly and freely to every call for advancement, and to these two factors are largely if not entirely due the high stand- ing and very favorable reputation of the Schell City public school."
The following is a list of the names of principals of Schell City public school. The dates correspond to the year beginning their term :
1871-Mrs. Fannie Brown
1892-J. A. Burk
1872-T. L. Strong
1893-J. A. Burk
1873-A. S. Baker
1894-G. M. Summers
1874-W. B. Cook 1895-R. L. Walker
1875-L. D. Talmadge
1896-R. L. Walker
1876-J. L. Brown
1897-Chas. T. Vanbenthusen
1877-L. D. Talmadge
1898-Chas. T. Vanbenthusen
1878-L. D. Talmadge
1899-M. A. Cleveland
1879 -* R. B. McIlhaney
1900-M. A. Cleveland
1880 -- Joel Meyers
1901-Chas. D. George
1881-A. J. King
1902-Chas. D. George
1882-J. M. Thompson
1883 ---* R. B. McIlhaney
1904-Chas. D. George
1885-W. H. Martin
1906-W. Y. Foster
1886-W. H. Martin
1907-J. C. Godbey
1887-R. K. Shumaker
1908-J. C. Godbey
1888 -* +W. H. Martin
1909-V. A. Dobyns
1889 -* +W. H. Martin
1910-V. A. Dobyns
1890-M. F. Butler
1911-J. A. Graves
1891-J. A. Burk
*Deceased.
+Late judge of Boonville Circuit Court.
CHURCHES OF SCHELL CITY.
Methodist Episcopal. January 2, 1872. Rev. Moffitt organized a class of this denomination in the depot of Schell City, with Ira R. Kirker as leader. The members were I. R. and Hattie Kirker. John Lattie and wife, R. F. Curtis and wife. About one year after organization the place of meeting was changed to
1903-Chas. D. George
1884 -* R. B. McIlhaney
1905-W. Y. Foster
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
the Robinson school house, three miles south of Schell City. Afterward a reorganization was effected at Schell City, and in 1878 a church building was commenced, which was completed at a cost of $2,500. The following were the members under the re- organization : Leslie Talmadge, Len Talmadge, R. F., C. R. and Jennie Curtis, Sarah J. Duck, Jason and Jennie Lockwood, John Emerson, Granville, Mary and Samantha Peoples, Ira and Hattie Kirker, Wilber Maring, Anton and Mollie Eppenauer, Lena Wolf, Jennie Cloughley, Annie Mumert and Vella Graves.
Baptist. August 4, 1872, the First Baptist Church was organ- ized. Charles and Dorothy Maus, David and Phebe Darrow, Sarah J. White, Susannah Gray and Jennie Lockwood were among the original members. In 1882 a stone church building was erected.
Presbyterian. The first Presbyterian Church in Schell City was organized in 1875. The original members were John Brown, I. C. and Mary Sickles, Sarah E. Herrick, Peter Adams and wife, Mrs. A. Harvey, Dr. H. P. and Mary E. Wherritt. The organiza- tion prospered for a time and then began to decline and remained in a state of suspended animation until 1880, when it was reorganized.
Cumberland Presbyterian. The organization of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church was effected November 23, 1876. The original members were R. C. Rachel, J. R. and Margaret Brannin, S. C. Babbitt, J. W. Blakely, James and Ruth Lewis, Misses Mattie Thomas and Frances Shephard, William R. and James McKee and Mrs. Sarah Strong.
Christian. This church was organized in April, 1883, with the following members: James and Emeline Dudley, Mary B. Strader, J. K., Mary S. and Nellie S. Lusk, William C. J. Davis, Phoebe and Lizzie Stuart, W. E. and Abbie Bower, James T. and Katie Flinn, Eunice Whittlesy, Mary Anderson, William J. Ven- able, C. A. and Kate Dawson, L. R. and Mary Parker, Miss L. Forbes, W. L. and Miss Theo. Landon, Ellen D. Westphal, George E. A. and Amelia Troutman, Sarah and Susie Shaw and W. M. E. Jenkins. The church building was erected in 1884, at a cost of $1,500, and was dedicated June 6, 1886, by Elder E. A. Mays.
M. E. South. In the fall of 1875, a class of this denomination was organized, composed of the following persons: Mrs. Nellie Maus, Mrs. George Culp, B. Robinson, Elizabeth Robinson, E. A.
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Robinson, F. W. Robinson, Myra Robinson, Boyd Sullivan, Mrs. Sullivan and others.
SECRET ORDERS.
Masonic. The dispensation for Schell City Lodge, No. 448, A. F. and A. M., was issued in 1872, and the charter in October, 1873. Among the charter members were W. H. Gillam, F. Childs, B. Robinson, Charles Van Orman, J. A. Purington, G. W. Wil- son and T. L. Strong.
Odd Fellows. Schell City Lodge, No. 355, I. O. O. F., was chartered May 19, 1879. The charter members were W. F. Case- bolt, J. B. Casebolt, J. C. Arbuckle, T. S. Long and W. B. Hill.
United Workmen. June 29, 1879, Vernon Lodge, No. 99, A. O. U. W., was organized with thirteen members, who were as follows: J. W. Adams, W. W. Brannin, R. L. Booth, D. Darrow, R. D. Haire, B. F. Herrick, H. M. Johnson, G. W. Landes, L. E. Prouty, Charles T. Shepherd, L. G. Talmadge, W. P. Wherritt and Myron Wooley. An organization of Select Knights (Schell City Legion, No. 65) was effected August 13, 1883, with about twenty members, some of whom were G. W. Landes, B. F. Her- rick, T. L. Strong, B. Robinson, A. J. Staley, J. W. Ensley and S. W. Norton.
G. A. R. Schell City Post, No. 228, Grand Army of the Re- public, was organized in 1885, with about twenty members. Ira Kirker was the first post commander, David Jennings the sec- ond and George W. Landis the third.
FAIR HAVEN SPRINGS.
Connely's Springs, now called Fair Haven Springs, stands on the western line of Bacon township (sw. 1/4 sw. 1/4 sec. 18-37- 29). It was regularly laid out by the owner of the site, J. W. Connely, and the necessary deed made by that gentleman (and Emily, his wife,) July 28, 1885. The surveying was done by C. N. Logan, county surveyor.
The town was started at the site of the mineral springs, so- called, and like most places of the sort, grew into favor rapidly. The site is on a gently rolling prairie of sufficient elevation to be breezy and healthful. West of the springs, seventy-five yards away, is a beautiful grove of native trees, and altogether the natural situation is all that can be desired.
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