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 27
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April, 1877: A. A. Goff became chairman, John N. Strotz, J. II. Shirts, E. T. Walker, and John McGregor composed the other members. Z. Provolt was re-elected town attorney.
April, 1878, the board elected were J. J. Tipton, chairman ; E. T. Walker, HI. A. Finley, G. C. Howenstein, and Samuel Matthis. Zachary Provolt, town attorney.
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April, 1879: G. C. Howenstein was elected chairman, with N. S. Goodrich, E. T. Walker, George A. Willis, and L. E. Burr. Zachary Provolt again town attorney.
April, 1880: G. C. Howenstein was re-elected chairman, E. T. Walker, J. H. Frame, J. H. Kitteridge, and George A. Willis composed the rest of the board. E. J. Smith was chosen town attorney.
The board elected in April, 1881, were Sol. Musser, chairman ; A. Harriman, Solon Hyde, J. H. Heyser, and J. J. Tipton. A. J. Althouse was chosen town attorney, and Dr. J. H. Snyder town physician.
At the period of the building of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad through Cameron, the town took stock in the same to the amount of fifty thousand dollars. This debt the town afterwards repu- diated, in view of the fact that the same had been carried by illegal votes. The matter remained long in dispute. Finally, in the fall of 1881 a compromise was effected by which the town paid thirty per cent of the entire debt which then amounted, with accrued interest, to one hundred thousand dollars. The amount thus paid was about thirty thousand dollars.
MUSSER'S BLOCK.
In 1875, Musser's Block, which extends from Chestnut westward on Third Street a distance of over ninety feet, was completed. This is the most spacious, as well as one of the most elegant and substantial, brick structures in the city. Stigers & Boettner, of St. Joseph, were the architects. The original block fronted, upwards of ninety feet, on Third Street, extending back the same distance on Chestnut, and includes below four large store rooms of nearly equal dimensions. The structure is two stories, with a basement nine feet high. The ceilings of the upper floors are sixteen feet in the clear. This includes, with other rooms, a public hall 62x5 1 feet in extent, exclusive of the stage, etc. Two spacious stair cases afford access to the upper halls from Third Street. This was the original building completed by Musser and Provolt, in 1875, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. A subsequent addition was made to this building, ninety feet deep, extending fifty feet on the west and fronting Third Street. This affords two more large store rooms, with an additional stair case from Third Street, leading up to the new Masonic Hall, described in report of that order.
SCHOOLS.
Cameron, in common with her sister towns, early manifested an interest in the cause of education. The first school building erected in the town was a small one-story frame structure, built by private sub- scription, in 1851. This stood on Third Street, near the corner of Pine,
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not far from the present site of the Presbyterian Church, and here was taught the first public school of Cameron. The first teacher of the same was Thomas Harris, and the first session of the public school opened in the fall of 1859. Previous to this, however, Mrs. Dundan had taught a private school, the first in the town. She continued to teach several , years, in a frame building on the northwest corner of the present public park. The above mentioned constituted the only public school building of Cameron, till the erection of the present stately structure, which rears its imposing front on the north side of the public park, and towers majestically above the surrounding houses. The building contains eight large rooms. It is arranged with all the appliances of modern conven- ience, and is built in the most solid, substantial and elegant style. The mansard roof is of slate, and is highly ornamental in design. A lofty Norman tower, of faultless proportions, rises above the principal or south entrance, constituting not only a striking feature of the city, but a landmark on the surrounding prairie in a distance of many miles. Other public schools were, at different times, maintained in buildings and rooms temporarily rented for their accommodation.
The directors, at the period of the organization of the first public school in Cameron, were William G. McDaniel and Miles C. Bragg, both since dead, and a third, whose name is not recalled. The records of that day are in a very imperfect condition, and afford but a meagre history of the schools. An entry, however, under date of April 9, 1870, declares the election as trustees of school district No. 2, embracing the town of Cameron, of Samuel Matthis, Doctor P. C. Kishbaugh and A. T. Baubie.
The present public school of Cameron was organized under the village act, December 4, 1871, with a board of trustees, of whom ex-Gov- ernor George Smith was president, Judge Thomas E. Turney was treas- urer and Dr. A. O. Risley secretary. The other directors were L. E. Burr, W. W. Perrine and Richard Riggs. W. Angelo Powell, of St. Joseph, was the architect, who supplied the plans and specifications for the building. The contract was let to A. F. Ely, of Gallatin, Missouri, for $22.500. The estimates, however, fell ruinously short of the cost, and a further expenditure of $12,000 was, of necessity, made to meet the deficit. The lot on which the building was erected was purchased for $3,000. This lot fronts 200 feet on Fourth Street, opposite the park, and extends back the depth of the block to Fifth Street, where it presents a boundary of three hundred feet. On each corner of the Fourth Street boundary of this enclosure is a residence lot fifty feet front by one hundred and fifty feet deep, thus reducing the frontage of the, at best, contracted campus to two hundred feet. The building was com- pleted early in the summer of 1873, and in September, of the same year, was opened with a full corps of teachers. These included the Rev. Carter Page, A. M., a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Prin-
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cipal, and Corydon F. Craig, Assistant Principal. The others were Mrs. Siler, Miss M. E. Bullock, Miss Inez Ward, Miss Lillie Page, Miss Roland and Prof. O. F. Allen. Miss Roland resigned in December, and was suc- ceeded by Mrs. Allen. Over 300 pupils were enrolled during the term of the first session of this school. The second principal was Prof. Cory- don F. Craig. He was succeeded by Prof. Chadyeane. His successor, the present (1881| principal, has filled the position several years. The present board of directors, organized April 8, 1881, are Judge E. T. Walker, Dr. T. E. Potter, E. S. Goodrich, Solon Hyde, A. A. Goff and Dr. T. K. Smith. At this meeting Dr. T. K. Smith was elected presi- dent, Solon Hyde secretary and Judge E. T. Walker treasurer. The teachers are Prof. Brutus Riggs, a graduate of Missouri State University, Principal, Mrs. Miriam McKercher, Mrs. Brutus Riggs, Mrs. Birdie Blatchley, Miss Myrtle Hare, Miss Annie M. Kendig, Miss E. G. Rogers and Miss Lydia A. Irvin. The number of pupils enrolled in this school in October, 1881, was 485, of both sexes.
A colored public school was established in Cameron in a compara- tively early day, but in July, 1871, it was discontinued in consequence of there not being pupils sufficient to justify its maintenance. The present (1881) colored school is taught by Professor William Sheldon, a colored man. This school occupies a good frame building.
In March, 1869, a private school was opened in Cameron by Mrs. Tiernan, widow of Colonel F. M. Tiernan, one of the founders of the town of Cameron. This school has proved an unqualified success, and now includes sixty pupils of both sexes, as many as the building can conveniently accommodate. Mrs. Tiernan was for years a popular teacher in St. Joseph, Missouri, where she was known as Miss Sarah Bell. She was then and there regarded as one of the most accomplished and successful teachers in the city, a reputation which she has not failed to sustain in her present field of labor,
CHURCHES.
The City of Cameron is well provided with churches, which, like everything else, have their histories. The first sermon preached in Cameron was in 1857, by the Rev. W. C. Barrett, a minister of the Bap- tist Church. He preached at Keiffer's dwelling. It is probable, how- ever, that Bishop Hogan, of St. Joseph, had, prior to this, preached at the section house to the railroad hands. For several years previous to the erection of a church building in Cameron, different religious denom- inations held services in the town, at times in the old school house, and, at others, in the railroad depot. Up to May, 1865, however, there had been but one resident minister in Cameron. He was a Baptist, by the name of Arterburn. He preached at stated intervals, laboring as a
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section hand on the railroad to provide the means of support for his family.
In May, 1865, Rev. Marvin Leffingwell, a Congregational minister, came to Cameron, under commission from the American Home Mission- ary Society, the organ of the Congregational Church, institued for the purpose of establishing the same in destitute regions. At that time, the old school house was so nearly destroyed as to afford poor shelter, and services were held in the passenger room of the old depot, at the foot of Walnut Street. The only church which had an organization in the place was the Methodist Episcopal, and the Baptists were the only other which held religious services. There were, however, not only in the village, but in surrounding country, a number of religiouly disposed persons of different denominations without any organization. These Mr. Leffingwell conceived the idea of persuading to unite in a union organization. He was so far successful as to induce several families to accept his suggestion, and, by a vote taken August 18, 1865, the name "Union Congregationalist Church of Cameron, was adopted. The fol- lowing named persons associated themselves in the organization : Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Howard, Charles E. Packard, Mrs. Nancy Shirts, Mr. and Mrs. Leffingwell, Miss Helena Leffingwell, Miss Sarah J. Saddler, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Saddler, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Evans, Mrs. Jane Hockenberry and Mrs. Mahala Kester. The several denominations represented in this organization were: Congregationalist 2, Presby- terians I, Methodists 3, Campbellite Christians, 8. September 5, 1876, occurred the death of Rev. Mr. Leffingwell. From this period till July 18, 1867, the church was without a pastor, and no regular services were held. Rev. W. A. Waterman then filled the pulpit till November 27, 1875, when he preached his farewell sermon, in which he reviewed the history of the organization. Through the efforts of the pastor and mem- bers, with the liberal aid of outsiders, the means for building a church edifice were raised in the fall of 1867, and, by the 25th of December following, the yet unfinished building was so far completed as to permit the holding, within its walls, of a church festival, the first ever held in the town of Cameron. The February following the building was com- pleted. The minister who succeeded Mr. Waterman was Rev. R. R. Davis. After him came Rev. M. Smith, who in turn was succeeded by the present |1881) minister, Rev. I. T. Hull. In 1881, expenditures, in the way of improving the church edifice, were made, involving an expense of $830, rendering it one of the best appearing stuctures in the town.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Cameron in 1865. The original members were Isaac Kirkpatrick and wife, D. B. Adams, M. D. and wife, Hugh Torbit and wife. W. D. Corn, Esq. and wife, S. S. Hare and wife, and Rev. M. T. Klepper, M. D. and wife. The first min-
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ister was Rev. B. C. Allen ; the others in succession were Reverends T. B. Bratton, George Stocking, James Parker, O. Williams, Robert Devlin, Isaac Hill, T. P. Hales, John H. Cox and W. H. Welton, the present (1881) pastor. In 1872, the present (1881) brick building on the corner of Fourth and Cherry Streets, opposite the northwest corner of the park, was erected at a cost of about five thousand dollars. On the third Sun- day of September, 1877, the building was dedicated by Right Reverend Bishop Andrews. The present (1881) membership is about one hundred and thirty. The Sunday School, which is in a prosperous condition, has a membership of about three hundred. A neat residence for a parsonage is being completed.
The First Baptist Church of Cameron was organized August 1866, by Samuel Matthis. Of the original seven members who constituted this church, but two now (1881) survive. These are the venerable Samuel Matthis and his wife. The books of the church were destroyed in the fire of 1871, and the names of the other early members were thus lost. At the period of the organization of this church, they held services in the dilapidated school house above referred to, and which, during the war had been used as a shelter by cattle. The building was repaired by this and other denominations, who from time to time, used it as a place of worship. The present structure of the Baptist Church, a frame build- ing which stands on Fourth Street, in the eastern part of the town, was built in the year 1868, at a cost of about three thousand dollars, and was shared jointly by the Presbyterians and Baptists. Two or three years after this, the Baptists purchased the interest of the Presbyterians, and have since held entire ownership of the building. It was not till the fourth Sunday in February, 1879, that this church was dedicated by Dr. Pope Yeaman, of St. Louis. The ministers who have served this church from its organization to the present time are the Reverends Joseph Yates, James E. Hughes, Robert Livingston, T. M. S. Kenny, Lycurgus Kirtley, H. C. Yates, J. W. Luke, J. H. Garnett and R. H. Jones, the present (1881) minister. The present membership is one hundred and twenty. Mr. Samuel Matthis has been the main support of this church. He at one time advanced one thousand dollars to aid in building the edifice, and has besides, from time to time, contributed munificently towards its maintenance.
The Christian Church was one of those incorporated in the original Union Church organized in 1865. Its separate and distinct organiza- tion was effected in 1867 with fifteen members, and J. G. Encell as pas- tor. These original members were Caleb Schreve and wife, W. Shutt, C. Saddler and wife, C. E. Packard, Mrs. Corbin, Joseph Kester, Miss Maggie Pepper, James W. Hockenberry, J. G. Encell and wife. The first permanent elders were R. W. Orvis, C. E. Packard and R. N. Wil- liams. The present (1881) membership is one hundred. The ministers
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in succession of this church have been elders R. C. Barrow, Allen, T. J. Williamson, B. W. Watkins and J. M. Henry in 1881. The church edifice is a gothic frame on the south side of the railroad on Prospect Street. It was built in 1867.
The First Presbyterian Church of Cameron was organized October 24, 1867, by Rev. N. H. Smith, stated supply. The first elders were Peter Fisher, Samuel Hall, Rebecca Fisher, Maria A. Hall, Mary Frame, Nancy Shutts, and Mary E. Harwood. The church edifice is a substan- tial brick structure, gothic in design, and was built in 1873, at a cost of five thousand dollars. It stands on the southwest corner of Third and Pine Streets opposite the Combs House. The pastors who have had charge of the congregation of this church since its organization in 1867, are Rev's W. H. Smith, J. R. Green, Joseph France, J. C. Gurley, J. H. Hunter, J. C. Young, and Rev. A. W. Lawrence, present (1881) minister.
The German Methodist Church of Cameron is a small brick build- ing south of the railroad, on Cherry Street between First and Second. It was built in 1875. The pastor of this church in 1881 was Rev. H. Minger, who preached every other Sunday at three o'clock. Their Sun- day school was held every Sunday at 2 p. m.
The Roman Catholic Church of St. Munchen in Cameron was built in the fall of 1867. It is a frame building, on Third Street east of Cedar. The original cost of the structure was about $2,000. It was subse- quently enlarged and otherwise improved, which improvements together with a neat parsonage, cost about $1,500 additional. The first priest of the church who preached in Cameron was Rev. J. J. Hogan, afterwards Bishop of St. Joseph. Under his supervision the church was contracted for and built in Chillicothe, and afterwards shipped to Cameron, where it was erected on its present site. The priests in succession of this church to the present (1881) time have been Rev. J. J. Hogan, present bishop ; Rev. Father Ledwith, Rev. Father Ward, Rev. Father Foley, Rev. Father Welsh, Rev. Father Murphey, Rev. Father Kiley, and Rev. Thomas Denny.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in Cameron in 1869. The original members were : B. F. Bassett, and Mrs. S. B. Tiernan, Miss M. Bell, Mrs. George R. Willis, Mrs. Willis, Mrs. H. B. Stokes, Mrs. S. Barker, and S. Barker. The church edifice, a neat Gothic frame, on the corner of Eighth and Pine Streets, was erected in 1876, at a cost of $1,850. November 11, 1880, it was dedicated by Right Rev. C. F. Robertson, Bishop of Missouri. The first Episcopal service ever held in Cameron was conducted November 28, 1868, by Bishop Robertson, who preached to a large congregation a sermon of great power from the twenty-first verse of the first chapter of Deuteronomy. The style of the church edifice is chaste and the gen- eral effect is excellent. The internal finish is oiled black walnut, and
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the windows are of stained glass. While there are several larger, there are no better appearing church structures in the town.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, erected in 1881. is located on. Walnut Street, north of Fourth. Till the completion of this build- ing, they held their services in the school house. Rev. M. S. Bryant is pastor.
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS OF CAMERON.
The first newspaper established in Cameron was the Chronotype. It was started in the fall of 1867, by Prof. James A. Carothers. In 1868, this paper became the property of Jesse Hake and J. F. Harwood, Esqrs., who changed the name of the paper, styling it the Observer, a designa- tion under which it has ever since continued to be published. It after- wards (April, 1870, became the property of E. J. Smith, Esq., now engaged in the practice of law in Cameron. October 20, 1872, Mr. Smith sold the paper to J. E. Goldsworthy, who, after publishing it for a time, leased the Observer to C. W. Hills, for the period of one year, from July, 1873, to July, 1874. The paper was then sold to the present (1881) pub- lisher, C. N. Burnham, who took possession in September following, and immediately enlarged it from an eight column folio to a four column quarto. In 1877, he further improved and enlarged it to its present dimensions, a six column quarto. The paper is and has always been Republican in politics.
The second newspaper enterprise established in the town was the Cameron Democrat. This, as its name implies, was Democratic in pol- itics. It was the first Democratic paper published in the town. John A. Peltier, who afterwards moved from the state, was the founder and publisher of this sheet. It survived less than a year.
The third paper established in the town was the Cameron News. It was started by Frank E. Adams, and only survived seven weeks.
The fourth newspaper enterprise to appear in the place was the Vindicator, a Republican sheet. This was established in June, 1876, by J. H. Frame and George T. Howser. They continued to publish the paper jointly till September, 1878, when Mr. Frame purchased the inter- est of his partner, and has since continued to publish it alone. The paper is an eight column folio. In June, 1881, the enterprising publisher of this journal uttered the first number of his daily, a neat five column sheet, and the first of that class published in the county. Both editions of the Vindicator are printed entirely at home.
An episode in the newspaper history of Cameron was the brief career in that town of the Register, a Democratic weekly, published by Captain E. C. Thomas, in Plattsburg. Captain Thomas moved his paper to Cameron in 1877, and after a career of less than a year in that city, he moved it back to Plattsburg. This was in October, 1877.
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BANKS.
The first enterprise of this character organized in Cameron was the Cameron Deposit Bank, instituted in 1867, by R. J. House, William Orr, and Ira Brown. The ownership and management of this concern underwent, from time to time, various changes, till R. J. House finally became sole proprietor. His failure, in February, 1878, closed the bank.
The Park Bank, on the northeast corner of Third and Chestnut Streets, which latter forms the east boundary of the public park, was established March 1, 1871, by Captain J. S. Rogers, the present (1881) proprietor. January 1, 1875. E. T. Walker, Esq., became a partner in the business. The bank building is the corner of a brick two story block, forty by seventy-five feet, owned by Captain Rogers. It is rather ornate in design and presents an attractive appearance. The Park Bank has long been recognized as one of the solid institutions of this country. At no time has it ever experienced a suspension ; and the paper of the bank has always been paid on presentation. Its correspon- dents are : The Continental National Bank, of New York ; the Union National Bank, of Chicago ; the Laclede Bank, of St. Louis ; the State Savings, and Schuster, Hax & Co.'s Bank, St. Joseph. The internal appointments of the bank are in correspondence with its external appearance, and include, with other conveniences, a Vale time lock, on one of the best fire and burglar proof safes in the country.
The Farmers' Bank was established in Cameron and incorporated under the laws of the state, in September 1878. It operates with a paid up capital of ten thousand dollars. The officers, in 1881, are : N. S. Goodrich, president ; S. H. Corn, secretary ; and C. J. Stevens, cashier : The reputation of the bank is first class. It occupies the building on the southwest corner of Third and Main Streets, formerly the location of the Cameron Deposit Bank, defunct.
CHAPTER XIV.
CAMERON CONTINUED.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES-PARK-AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION-THE LAST FAIR- PREMIUMS-TO WHOM AWARDED-RESIDENCES- REVIEW OF 1880-THE OCCURRENCE OF OCTOBER 24, 1874.
The secret and benevolent societies of Cameron are both numerous and important. Of these the earliest established is Vincil Lodge, No. 62, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. It was organized under dis- pensation from the Grand Lodge issued October 20, 1866, and received its charter October 19, 1867. The officers under that charter were Elias Parrot, (since dead) W. M .; L. Forrest, S. W .; M. M. McPhetridge, J. WV .; John Stokes, Treasurer; A. T. Baubie, Secretary ; S. B. Lathrop, S. D .; Delany Flanders, J. D., and W. S. Reed, Tyler. These included the original membership of the lodge.
In the summer of 1868, they erected on the northeast corner of Third and Walnut Streets, a two-story frame building twenty-five by seventy feet. The second story of this building constituted the hall in which they continued to hold their communications till the great fire of 1871, in which the structure was entirely destroyed. They had the good fortune, however, to save their records. From the period of the fire they continued to occupy a hall over Hamer's drug store on Third Street until 1875, when they moved into a hall in Musser's block, in which latter they continued to meet till December 31, 1880, when they moved into their present spacious and elegant hall in the same block. This hall, which is now (1881), occupied by two blue lodges, chapter, council, and commandery, is sixty feet by forty, exclusive of banqueting hall, twelve by thirty feet ; reception room eighteen feet square, and tyler's room twelve feet square. The lodge room is elegantly fitted up with handsome carpets and furniture, including, with other articles, an organ valued at one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and three elaborately upholstered Oriental chairs. in the stations. These latter, with the organ, were provided by the Sisters of the Eastern Star, who also held their sessions in this hall. Five elegant chandeliers depend from the ceiling, and every reasonable appliance of elegance and comfort proper to such apartments appear in the lodge and ante-rooms. The original lodge room which was destroyed in the great fire of 1871, was built by Vincil Hall Association. It was so named in honor of John D. Vincil,
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present Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State. The elegant hall now occupied by all the several Masonic bodies is rented property.
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