USA > Missouri > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Missouri : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Clinton County in the late war, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 24
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The first railroad station agent at Lathrop was George A. Patch, a relative of the above. He was for many years a railroad engineer, and has kept the coal yard at Lathrop since 1870. He was appointed station agent in January, 1868, and held the position till 1880, when he was suc- ceeded by J. Delaplane.
Shortly after the erection of Murdock's grocery house, Daniels put up his lumber office and residence, and others speedily followed.
January 1, 1868, the first lots were sold by D. E. Main, agent for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company. These were to J. O. Daniels, lot 14 in block 32, consideration $200 ; to James Murdock, lot 12 in block 25, $100 ; to Lamar Lee, lot 13 in block 25, consideration $125. Lots were also sold, on that day, to Nathan Lee and to C. J. Stevens. Feb. 6, 1868, was sold to J. F. and J. M. Young, lot 10 in block 25, on
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which the former immediately built the Lathrop House. It was the first hotel building erected in the place. Its first landlord was William Middaugh. This is the building, subsequently enlarged by the present (1881) proprietor, J. O. Daniels, who took charge of it, April 1873, and has since continued to keep it as the leading hotel of the place, with the exception of an interval of one year from September, 1875.
The first physician to locate in Lathrop was J. O. K. Gant, who settled there in February, 1868. Notwithstanding the "distressingly healthful" character of the place, a second physician, Dr. B. J. Burk, was induced to settle there in the following August.
In March, 1868, John T. Beard opened, on E Street, the first tin shop and hardware store in the place.
The first man to sell agricultural implements in Lathrop was George Patch, the first appointed railroad station agent in the place. S. B. Miller, about the same period, opened the first drug store there. His place of business was in block 25, on Oak Street, where he remained five or six years.
May 21, 1868, H. M. Freeman, of New York, purchased lot eleven, in block twenty-four, on the same street, where he built and opened the first blacksmith shop in Lathrop. He also carried on a wagon and car- riage factory, now (1881) operated by Logan & Wright. The site of this, his original shop. is now occupied by a more pretentious building, though he still continues to pursue his avocation in another quarter of the town. In the same year, John R. Kirby, of St. Joseph, started a harness shop, in which he worked three years. The present leading business in that line is conducted on Oak Street, by O. B. Sweat, a former employe of the pioneer harness maker. Aaron Charles was the first carpenter to settle in Lathrop. August 3, 1868, P. H. Brace, above referred to as the first post master in the town, purchased a lot and com- menced building. B. W. Skinner, formerly of Wisconsin, started the first cabinet shop opened in the town. This was one of the earliest manufacturing enterprises established in the place. This shop, which was originally built for a residence, was on lot three, in block twenty- five. J. O. Daniels had previously sold imported furniture, but B. W. Skinner was the first to manufacture. The first sermon preached in Lathrop was delivered in this house in 1868, by Rev. W. W. Roberts, a Methodist minister from Illinois. The first shoemaker to settle in the town was George Reiffert, who located on lot nine, in block thirty-three, on E Street, south of Oak. C. M. Smith, a native of Indiana, and, for many years a resident of Clinton County, now (1881) working at his trade in Lathrop, was the first who ever worked at the business in Kan- sas City. His shop there was on the Missouri River landing in 1849. The first tailor who worked at his trade in Lathrop was John Farnam. He only remained two years. The calling, either as a fine art or a
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necessity, has never been encouraged in the town, and up to the present writing, the place continues tailorless. The first lawyer to shed the light of his countenance on Lathrop, with a view to permanent residence in the place, was D. B. Keeler. He only remained a few months, when he returned to the east, and took up his residence in Syracuse, New York. Jackson & Stevens, in the spring of 1869, opened on lot three, of block thirty-three, the first livery stable in the place. The first negro to effect a permanent settlement in the town was Henry Black. He was among the early settlers, locating on lot one, in block four, where he built the house in which he was living in 1881.
BANKS.
The first banking house in the town was the private organization of L. L. Stearns and Frederick Edwards, established in a building on the corner of Oak and Centre Streets, March 23, 1869. In 1871, Stearns died, and the business of the bank continued to be conducted by his partner up to the period of his death, which occurred in 1879, when the bank closed. The Lathrop Bank, the second established in the town, commenced business September 22, 1879, James M. and W. H. Bohart, both natives of Buchanan County, Missouri, proprietors. These gentle- men also operate the Caldwell County Bank, in Kingston, Missouri. Their New York correspondents are Donnell, Lawson & Simpson and the Bank of North America. Their character as business men is unex- ceptionable.
In August, 1879, E. Dudley erected in the town, at a cost of $7,000, the first elevator in the place. Its capacity is over twenty thousand bushels. The first grist mill in Lathrop Township was built in the town of Lathrop, by McCumber, Goodman & Co., in 1871. It was turned by steam power, and operated three run of burrs. This was one of the best appointed mills of its size in the country, and was completed at a cost of $16,000. It was destroyed by fire in 1878.
The first marriage in the town of Lathrop occurred in 1869. The parties were James Justice and Miss Margaret Keller. The first birth in the town occurred in 1868. The child was a son of John Hall, and only survived a few months. Benjamin J. Logan first settled in Lathrop in August, 1868. He was a plasterer by trade, and a respectable citizen. He was the first resident of the town, who had the misfortune to lose his mind. He died in the State Lunatic Asylum in 1875. Mr. L. was the father of twenty-one children. He moved to Clinton County from Illinois, where his wife, Mrs. Delia J. Logan, had twice given birth to twins and once to triplets.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATION.
Lathrop was first organized February 2, 1869, under the village act, with James M. Young. John O. Daniels, George A. Patch, David E. Main, and Lamar W. Lee as a board of trustees. The first officers of the board chosen were David E. Main, president ; Lamar W. Lee, clerk; and H. C. Murdock, treasurer. This government continued till April, 1881, when the town was chartered as a city of the fourth class, with A. J Orem, Mayor. James M. Bohart, D. H. Maret, A. H. Logan and Dennis Whitford were nominated trustees. J. M. Bohart was appointed treasurer, Robert Chonstant was first appointed secretary. He was shortly after succeeded by J. R. Pope. J. A. Boring was appointed marshal. Though generally consisting of frame buildings, Lathrop is a well built town. It was not until the summer of 1871, that the first brick building was erected in the place. This was the structure of the public school. The first brick business block was put up in the summer of 1880 by Bohart & Fitzgerald, on the north side of Oak Street, between East and Centre Streets. This block is forty-five feet front by seventy feet deep, and is two stories high. In the following year, a building of uniform appearance, twenty-three and a half by seventy feet was erected by the Lathrop Bank. This adjoins the original block on the east side, and is rented to Hockaday & Son, hardware dealers. In the same year James M. and W. H. Bohart, with D. S. Brillhart, erected on the opposite side of the same street, a substantial two-story brick block similar in appearance to the above described. This build- ing is seventy feet front by seventy feet deep, and includes three busi- ness houses.
EDUCATIONAL.
Some time elapsed between the founding of the town of Lathrop and the period of the establishment of a public school in her midst. In the mean time, the first to open a private school in the place was Miss Thalia Smith. Professor Van Natta, assisted by Miss Louisa Peck and Miss Eva Styles, afterwards taught a private school in the town. They were succeeded by Professor Hill, assisted by his daughter, Miss Eleanor, Professors Hammond and Samuel Bay, and Mrs Kinney.
A public school was afterwards instituted, but the same had no fixed location till the erection of the elegant structure of a graded school completed in the summer of 1871. This, the first brick building put up in the town, was begun and completed by Daniels & Stearns, at a cost to the district, including the cost of lots, fences, etc., of $15,000. This sum was raised by issuing bonds, bearing ten per cent. interest, made payable at the Bank of North America, New York City, and after- wards purchased by V. Winters & Son, Dayton, Ohio.
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For the payment of these bonds as they should mature, together with the accruing interest, the directors were legally restrained from levying a yearly tax on the property of the district of more than one per cent. This brought in a revenue of less than $1,500 ; consequently, the debt rapidly increased in amount, reaching, in the spring of 1879, the sum of $20,500. At this time, the debt was reduced by mutual consent, and refunded at $15,000, the new bonds bearing five per cent interest. The interest has been promptly paid, and by the summer of 1881, the principal was reduced to $14,500. At that time the building underwent complete repair, at an expense of $150. The first school was opened in the same January 8, 1872, D. S. Brillhart, principal, Mrs. Thomas Bates and John Burk, assistants. Mr. Brillhart continued in charge of the school till the close of the spring term, June, 1876, and again from Jan- uary to June, 1878. During the period of the school year, 1876 to 1877, John T. Buchanan was principal, and was succeeded during the fall of 1877, by William McCarroll. W. E. Tipton had charge of the school from September, 1878, to June, 1879, when he was succeeded by A. B. Warner, who held the principalship during the two following years.
Till September, 1880, but two assistant teachers had been employed. Subsequently the services of a third were secured. Besides the assist- ants already mentioned, Miss Jennie Murdock, Miss Luella Batchelder, Miss Mollie Carey, Miss Julia B. Gray, Miss Mollie F. Kelsay, J. R. Pope, Miss I. M. Beall, Mrs. Griffin, Miss Addie Lee, Miss Shoot, Miss Schrock and John L. Clipper were numbered among the subordinate teachers.
The school was open from the first to the patronage of those living beyond the borders of the district, and this patronage has proved an important source of income, as well as the means of effecting a bond of union between the citizens of Lathrop and the neighboring population. Diplomas are awarded those who complete the course of instruction embracing English literature, the Latin language, mathematics and other sciences. It was long a subject of complaint that teachers were inade- quately compensated in this institution, an unavoidable evil which neces- sitated the frequent change of instructors. Prof. A. B. Carroll, assisted by Miss Shoot, Miss Schrock and Mrs. I. M. (Beall) Stoufer has present (1881) charge of the school. The Lathrop Monitor, referring to this school, says :
" This institution is only the work of a praiseworthy public senti- ment, without which very little work could have been accomplished. We have been tempted to specify some of the leaders of this movement, but this might do undesigned injustice to others. Every one, however, will accord to Fred. Edwards, now deceased, a prominent place among the best friends of the enterprise ; and of the absent living, Thatcher B. Dunn may be named as one of those who were, especially, influential in giving tone and shape to the movement. Of the present officers, D. S. Brill-
CEEE
CHEE
LATHROP PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING,
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hart is distinguished as the efficient principal of the institution during the several years of its especially formative state. He will, doubtless, be honored among his great grandchildren as the 'Father of the Lathrop Schools.'"
The first educational lecture before a teachers' institute in Clinton County, was delivered in April, 1870, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Lathrop, by the Rev. Rufus Patch, the scholarly editor of the Monitor.
The colored public school, of Lathrop, was organized in 1878. It has an average attendance of twenty-five pupils, and is (1881) taught by Mrs. Scott, in a frame building.
CHURCHES.
The first church established in Lathrop was the Methodist Episcopal. It was organized in 1868, with eight members : A. W. Willard and wife, Dr. B. J. Burk and wife, James Stiles and wife, and B. J. Logan and wife. The first pastor was the Rev. W. W. Roberts, who preached his first ser- mon as above stated, in Skinner's cabinet shop, in 1868. The building, a neat frame structure with a modest steeple, was commenced in Decem- ber, 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. B. L. Beardsly. The first services were held in it, January 23, 1869. Its cost was $1,500. It was first located on Centre Street, whence it was afterward moved three blocks south to the opposite side of the same street, between Oak and Plattsburg Streets. The second pastor of the church was the Rev. B. L. Beardsly. He was succeeded by Rev. B. H. Powell. Then followed, in succession, Rev's William H. Turner, William Hanley, Cox, Turner, T. J. Ferril, C. S. Cooper, and, in 1881, Rev. W. F. Cayton. The Sunday School of this church was first organized in 1869.
The First Presbyterian Church, of Lathrop, was organized by Rev. E. Sherwood, of Saint Joseph, April, 1868, with sixteen members : A. Monroe and wife, L. W. Lee, James Templeton and wife, Stewart Gil- christ and wife, Barber and wife, Mrs. Sarah Byers, T. H. McKee, Mrs. Jenny James, Mrs. Welch, Alexander Service and wife. The first min- ister of the congregation was Rev. J. E. Fisher, by whom the church was dedicated. At the end of six months he was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Allen, who at the end of six months, was succeed by Rev. Joseph France, the first regularly installed minister of the congregation. He served four and a half years, to 1876, when he was succeeded, after a vacancy in the pulpit of nine months, by Rev. John C. Gourley, who, in turn, was succeeded by the present ( 1881) pastor, Rev. L. W. Lawrence. Membership of the church, forty.
December 7, 1869, the first steps towards the organization of the Plymouth Congregational Church, at Lathrop, were taken, the following persons meeting at the residence of H. C. Paige : Thatcher B. Dunn,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Harlow M. Freeman and wife, Mrs. S. H. Macomber, Mrs. H. A. Jackson, Mrs. H. C. Paige, Mrs. Louisa Fish, Miss Dora Baker, W. W. Middaugh and wife, Charles C. Gustin. Rev. E. B. Turner, Superintendent of the A. H. and M. Society for the State of Missouri, being present, was chosen temporary chairman, and Thatcher B. Dunn, clerk. The meet- ing then proceeded to the organization of a church, adopting the "Manual of the Principles, Doctrines and Usages of the Congregational Church in Missouri."
At a meeting held at the school house, the gift from the land com- missioners of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad of a lot upon which to erect a church edifice, was announced. Messrs. Macomber, Middaugh and Gustin were chosen trustees, and H. M. Freeman was elected dea- con. April 23, 1870, Rev. F. W. Adams began his labors as pastor of the church ; May 21, 1871, he was formally installed as such by council. He offered his resignation October 27, 1872, and was dismissed by council, November 8, 1872. Rev's Waterman, Huson, and others, were in the service of the church, portions of the time, between January 1, 1873, and January 1, 1876. During the period from January 1, 1876, to July 1, 1878, Rev. S. D. Cochran, D. D., president of Thayer College, Kidder, Missouri, preached for the church one Sabbath in each month, nearly. Rev. Rufus Patch held services every Sunday, from February 5, 1880, to February 8, 1881. Between July 1, 1878, and February, 1880, and since. February 8, to the present (September, 1881), no regular service have been held. The church edifice, a neat, gothic, frame structure, was erected during the summer of 1870. It has a fine audience room with a seating capacity of about 400. As the Congregational Church is but little known in this section of the state, we offer our readers the follow- ing brief sketch of the structure of its belief: The church claims to be formed after the new testament model, the equality of the membership being a fundamental principle. The local church is a christian democ- racy. The fellowship of the church is maintained by united action through associations and councils. Moderate Calvinism characterizes their theology. In fulfilling the command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," and in founding institutions of christian learning, they hold a conspicuous position. In faith and polity' they represent the Pilgrim Fathers.
The Christian Church of Lathrop was organized on the second Sun- day in June, 1870, by Elder Joseph Waller, with the following members : James T. Gordon, Miss Mittie Gordon, Miss Anna Winn, Miss Jennie Winn, A. W. Harsel, Elizabath Harsel, Phebe Porter, H. H. Williamson, James P. Brock, J. P. Norris, William A. Miller, Evaline Miller, Lucy Williamson, Maggie Blankenship, Royana Smith, Thalia Smith, J. W. Tapp, H. P. Tapp, Taylor Hulm, James A. Chennoweth and Miss A. C. Chennoweth. H. H Williamson and A. Harsel were selected as tem-
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porary deacons, and J. H. Chennoweth, clerk. The permanent organiza- tion was effected in the spring of 1374, with Alexander Newby, William Miller and J. H. Chennoweth, elders. WV. P. Brown, A. G. Rogers and D. W. Osborn were appointed deacons. The church edifice, a plain but neat and spacious frame structure, was built in 1873 and '74, at a cost of $2,000. The membership in 1881, was over one hundred.
The Methodist Episcopal Church South was organized in the fall of 1875, with Rev. Jesse Bird, pastor in charge ; Dr. O. D. Fitzgerald, class- leader ; John L. Brooks, steward ; Mrs. Julia Brooks, Mrs. Sarah B. Fitz- gerald, Miss Elizabeth M. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Mary Wilson, Miss Lizzie Wilson, Miss Lou Wilson, Mrs. Jane Kelsey, Miss Sallie Maupin, Miss Mary V. Maupin, John Currell, Mrs. Elizabeth Currell, Mrs. Mary Smith, and Mrs. Emmaline Waful. The church since its organization has now (1881) grown to forty-six members. The following are the minis- ters who have served the church since its organization, with the dates of their respective appointments : Rev. Jesse Bird, 1875 ; Rev. James A. Hyder, 1876; Rev. Joseph Devlin, 1877 ; Rev. W. A. Hanna, 1878, 1879 and 1880 ; Rev. D. C. O. Howell, 1881. The church, an elegant gothic frame, is located on the southeast corner of Oak and Maple Streets. It was commenced in 1880 and completed in the following summer at a cost of over $2,500, including furniture and other appointments. The windows are of stained glass, and the general internal as well as exter- nal appearance of the building is unique and attractive. It was dedi- cated June, 1881, by Rev. E. R. Hendrix, D. D., for many years the well known pastor of the Francis Street M. E. Church South, in St. Joseph, Missouri, and now (1881) president of the Central College, Fayette, Mis- souri. The Sunday school of this church was organized on the fourth Sunday in August, 1881, with Professor A. B. Carroll as superintendent, and H. E. Paige, secretary. It includes ten classes and 125 pupils. On the occasion of the dedication of the church an elegant and costly Bible was presented to the same by the young men's Bible class of St. John's Church, St. Louis.
Lathrop Missionary Baptist Church externally the most ornate ecclesiastical structure in the town, is a frame building of no very great size, but faultless in its proportions, and with its graceful spire, striking in general appearance. It was erected in 1876, at a cost of $2,700. Shortly after its completion the dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder W. Pope Yeaman, of St. Louis. The first minister of this church was Elder William T. Flenor. He was succeeded in April, 1876, by Elder J. A. Petty. In July of the same year Elder Robert H. Jones, the present (1881) minister, was installed pastor of the congregation. The first and present deacons of the church are L. V. Smith, James Leach, James Burke, Charles Downey, Thomas Downey, Daniel Leabo, and R. B. Barrett, the first clerk of the congregation. A Sunday school was
1;
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organized on the establishment of the church, and has since been main- tained with uniform success. The membership of the church in 1881 was one hundred and forty-six. It was organized several years prior to the erection of the edifice.
The Second (Colored) Baptist Church was organized in Lathrop the 15th of August, 1881, with nine members. Rev. R. H. Steorther, pastor. They hold their services in the colored school house.
SOCIETIES.
Lathrop Lodge No. 234, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1873. John T. Beard was its first Noble Grand, and Thomas Fagin, Secretary. The lodge prospered for a period of four or five years, when it surrendered its charter. At that time G. Clark was Noble Grand; D. E. Main, Treas- urer; James Burk, Past Grand, and Thomas Fagin, Secretary. At the period of the surrender of its charter, the lodge was in a sound financial condition, and owned a magnificent regalia.
A Masonic lodge was also a cotemporary of the above mentioned organization. It surrendered its charter about the same period.
A lodge of the Knights of Honor was established and organized in Lathrop, September 22, 1880, by William A. Halstead, of St. Louis. Deputy Grand Dictator, with nineteen members, including the following officers: William McK. Lowe, Dictator; Albert J. Orem, Vice Dicta- tor; James A. Burk, Assistant Dictator; A. B. Warner, Reporter ; William Soufer, Financial Reporter; Leander V. Smith, Treasurer ; Elder Robert H. Jones, Chaplain ; H. A. Logan, Guide ; S. R. Helms, Guardian ; John R. Gearheart, Sentinel ; Edward Dudley, S. P. D. The three trustees were Benjamin Whittaker, Jr., Fred Loeb and William B. Logan. The remaining members were Bernard Woodburn, Charles S. Downing and Michael Gidley. The growth of the organization during the first year of its existence has increased the membership to thirty- one. They occupy a commodious and well equipped hall.
The Independent Order of Good Templars were chartered April 28, 1881, with fourteen members. The first officers were H. E. Paige, W. C. T .; Miss M. Freeman, W. V. T., and J. L. Klepper, P. W. C. T.
THE PRESS.
Within two years of the first settlement of the village of Lathrop, August 20, 1869, appeared volume one, number one, of the Lathrop Herald, the first newspaper published in the place. It was issued by Charles C. Gustin. Its lease of life was one year and about eight months, its last number bearing date April, 1871. Early in the sum- mer of the same year, the Monitor made its appearance, and has since
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been published almost continuously. It was evidently regarded as the continuation of the Herald. The files of the paper, previous to July 1, 1872, are not complete, but there is evidence that J. E. Peck, H. A. Skinner and J. E. Baily were connected with it as publishers previous to September, 1871. From this date till October 28, 1872, Thatcher B. Dunn had charge of it. Shortly after, John O. Daniels purchased the office, and published the paper during a period of five years. November 2, 1877, he sold to William and Lawrence Bever, who continued its pub- lication twelve months, when the paper was sold to Rev. Rufus Patch, the present (1881) editor and proprietor, and a gentleman of ripe schol- arship. The Monitor is a five column, eight page weekly, with a patent inside. It is Republican in politics.
The Lathrop Herald, a four column quarto, Democratic in politics, was started April 30, 1880, by Lee & Chonstant. In July following, Mr. R. E. Chonstant purchased the interest of his partner, Mr. Lee, and at the end of Volume 1, enlarged the paper to a five column quarto. Mr. Chonstant was formerly editor of the Caldwell Citizen, published in Kingston, Missouri. He has a well-appointed job office, and is meeting with excellent success in both departments of business.
As a shipping point, Lathrop has been a success from its earliest start. The report of September 30, 1881, shows as follows: From the Hannibal Depot : In July-hogs, 17 car loads ; cattle, 11 car loads ; mules, I car load. In August-hogs, 8 car loads ; cattle, 8 car loads ; horses and mules, 2 car loads. From the Wabash Depot: Between August 27 and September 30, cattle, 9 car loads : hogs, 1 car load and horses i car load. Estimated shipments between July 1 and September 30, 23 car loads of cattle, 2 of hogs and 2 of horses. From both depots : Cattle, 42 car loads ; hogs, 35 car loads ; horses and mules, 7 car loads. Estimating the cattle at $1,200 per load, and hogs at $2,500, the ship- ments of live stock alone within the ninety-one days above referred to, brought to Lathrop $99,400, an average of $1,092 per day. The ship- ments of live stock from these two depots for the twenty-one months next preceding October 1, 1881, aggregated in value not less than seven hundred thousand dollars.
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