USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 36
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Mr. Wymer's father died in February, 1880, having reached the advanced age of ninety-five years. His mother, in her seventy-fifth year, still pur- sues the journey of life.
Mr. and Mrs. Wymer have four children living and two dead. Merada M., the first, was born March 3d, 1851, and died September 20th, 1854; Electe Ann, born February 12th, 1852; Mary C., born August 17th, 1854, died in 1857; John W., born July 1st, 1855; Rhuama P., born October 3d, 1857: George W., born April 17th, 1859.
Mrs. Wymer was a member of the Baptist Church before her marriage, and Mr. W. was baptized and received into the same church in 1852, two years after that event, and both remain consistent members.
PETER H. YAKEY.
Peter H. Yakey was born on the 5th of March, 1829, in Guernsey county, Ohio, and was the second child of Joseph and Sarah Yakey.
His father, Joseph Yakey, was born in Maryland, August 12th, 1802, and at the age of twenty migrated to Ohio, where he married Miss Sarah Shafer, in Guernsey county, in 1826. Mr. Yakey was a farmer. He died July 16th, 1875. Mrs. Yakey is still living in Indiana.
Peter H. Yakey lived with his parents until he became of age. On the 17th of March, 1853, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Isabella McBurney, daughter of John McBurney, resident of Guernsey county. After his marriage, Mr. Yakey commenced farming for himself, which occupation he continued until October, 1858, when his wife died.
Next we find Mr. Yakey in charge of the post-office and railroad office at Gibson station, Ohio.
January 19th, 1860, he married Miss Martha E. Braden, daughter of John Braden, all of Guernsey county. On the 2d of April, 1860, he mi- grated to Grundy county, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. In August, 1861, he enlisted in company A of the Missouri volunteer militia.
Peter H. Yakey is the father of seven children living, two by his first wife and five by his second. The names of his first wife's children are Albert L., and Mary C., now Mrs. W. R. Saddler; and those of his second wife are Joseph S., John B., Annie M., Willie G., Frank L. Mr. Yakey is a member of the Masonic order and A. O. U. W.
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CHAPTER XIII.
CITY OF TRENTON.
Commanding Situation- New Life-Business-Second Railroad-Manufacturing-Deed of the Town Site-The City Charter-Plat of Trenton-Incidents-Continued Progress- Milk Wagon-"Iron Horse and Joy Unspeakable"-Crossing the Line-Machine-shops -Close of 1871.
Trenton, the county seat of Grundy county, Missouri, has a beautiful and commanding situation upon rising ground on the east bank and in the pleasant rolling valley of the Grand River, just below the junction of the Weldon and Thompson forks-the former also known as the East fork of the Grand River, and the latter as the Middle fork-about three and three- fourths miles southwest of the exact center of the county. Thus situated, Trenton is the metropolis of a rich and prosperous country 'round, which makes it the life and center of the commercial affairs of the county and the fountain-head of the various enterprises which have diffused the life-streams of energetic industry and business intelligence over the fruitful soil of the entire county of Grundy.
Bearing a name made famous by her aged namesake upon the classic banks of the fast flowing Delaware, in the memorable campaigns of 1776, Trenton started out in 1841 with an historical prestige which she has ever endeavored to preserve and hand down to future generations brightened with the record of good deeds and remembered triumphs in the days of peace as well as in the days of strife. Founded in 1841, Trenton was built upon two ridges, whose inner edges almost touched, but whose outer ends extended out at right angles, leaving the town nestling in the triangular spot between, and giving a quaint peculiarity to the streets and a picturesque appearance to the town. And thus she stood during the years that flew by on the fleeting wings of time, slowly plodding her way along, but always with her energies alive with the fires of a substantial ambition for a future greater than she was or had been, until in 1870, with a population of 920 souls, her dormant activity was aroused, and she sprang at once into the maelstrom of the bustling, busy, growing era at the prospect of her first railroad. The citizens went to work with a will, and it was a bright day for Trenton when their efforts were crowned with the laurels of success, and the steam horse, with fire dropping from his nostrils, sped over the iron rails into the city.
NEW LIFE.
From the time the engine of the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad pulled her first train into the depot, the city of Trenton began to feel the inspiration of a second growth. She snuffed the smoke of coming conquests .
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from afar. With the railroad and her coal mines, and the immense possi- bilities of the future, Trenton began to spread herself, and it must be admit- ted that she has succeeded admirably. It is enough to cause a genuine glow of pride to beam from the honest countenance of every citizen when he contemplates the material progress of the last ten years, and notes the increase of population from 920 in 1870 to 3,340 in 1880. With the increasing population the corporate limits have kept apace, and with the rapid growth and steady demand for more room, additions have been made until they have numbered twenty-two, and Trenton still grows. These new additions have been laid off at right angles from the old town, the new streets running north and south, east and west, from Water Street, the main thoroughfare of the city, thus leaving old Trenton with her angles and tri- angles, her "five corners " and her "seven corners," while the new city starts out fair and straight with the world, her streets lined on either side with neat, handsome residences, and tasty front yards with flowers and shade trees plentifully bestrewn, showing cultivation, refinement and a love of the beautiful in nature. Adding to this the social characteristics of her people, Trenton makes a pleasant and attractive location for homes and home enjoyment.
BUSINESS.
In point of business enterprise and solid improvement, Trenton is still the peer of any town in northern Missouri, in truth she has in the last few years distanced all competitors. With her modern outlets for traffic, Tren- ton has left behind the slow growth of her early years, and has now fairly entered the arena of busy life, to battle with the world for a foothold among the flourishing cities of the country, and with every muscle strained and every nerve at a tension she goes steadily forward on her conquering way, the leading commercial city of the Grand River Valley, with no equal between Kansas City and Rock Island.
As before mentioned, twenty-two additions have been made to the city, most, if not all, since the advent of the railroad in 1871. The main portion of the city lies west of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and south of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific. The two roads run nearly at right angles. The Quincy, Missouri & Pacific depot is situated just outside the city limits, about three-quarters of a mile from the business center. It could have been placed nearer but a difficulty appeared in crossing the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific tracks. However, the town will grow, and the cheap property out there will serve to draw in that direction. There was money in that location to the railroad, but it is not just what was dne to Trenton. Business has grown with the demands of the people, until there is scarcely a branch of trade that is not represented here. The peo- ple have become able to indulge in the luxuries as well as the necessaries of life, and this, as a matter of course, has increased trade and caused a demand
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for a class of goods which a few years since would have found no buyers, but to-day commands a liberal sale. Churches and schools are numerous. and will receive, as they deserve, notice under a separate head elsewhere.
HER SECOND RAILROAD.
The completion of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad marks an- other period of progress for the magic city of the Grand River Valley. It gives Trenton a direct eastern outlet, placing her upon a footing with her heretofore more favored sisters. The benefit of this road can be already seen by the increase of arrivals looking for business openings. The trade of Trenton, after an exhaustive review of the merchants and business men by the Trenton Republican, in January, 1876, showed the sales of that year, by a fair computation, to exceed $1.200,000.
MANUFACTURING.
Trenton is fortunately located on a site offering all the facilities of a large manufacturing town. Coal is mined at her door, timber is within easy reach and there is not an article manufactured of wood which could not be produced here as cheaply as at any point in the State, or in the West. Water power, also. is abundant. Furniture, wagon, farm implement, hub and spoke factories should find locations here where there is ample room for untold development. Cattle and sheep find homes upon the prairies of Grundy county and the increased attention given to this branch of farm industry adds other valuable features, in woolen factories and tanneries, and these would make a market for the oak bark, while egg, beef and pork-pack- ing houses would undoubtedly pay. All these industries could and should have a location within or near the limits of Trenton. The population would double. The completion of the new road would make her freighting facili- ties equal to the best, leading to all competing markets and numerous enough to prevent extortion. Taking these advantages altogether, it is plain to be seen that the future of Trenton lies in her proper appreciation and employment of these benefits, and in consequence, becoming a great manufacturing city, with the ceaseless buzz and whirr of machinery making music from early dawn 'til dewy eve. The stave factory, the woolen and flouring-mills, the machine and repair shops, have already shown to the people of Trenton the value of manufacturing development, and urge them onward to increased exertion and a determination to reach the goal beyond. There is no reason why success, grand, buoyant success, cannot be achieved if the people put their shoulders to the wheel and move with a united effort toward the one object in view of making Trenton the one leading city in population and wealth in this section of Missouri. With the completion of the railroads, the opportunity to grasp the scepter of supremacy is at hand and the hour is here. Let not the spirit of supineness or illiberality prevail, but put forth the friendly hand of encouragement to capitalists to make
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their homes within the borders of this fair city. Keep the good work going on and ever let the burnished armor of industry stand well to the front, and a future of flourishing prosperity is an assured faet-a practical and accomplished reality.
DEED OF THE TOWN SITE.
As one of the interesting events in the history of Trenton, below is given a verbatim copy, except as to punctuation, of the original deed of eighty aeres for, and in consideration of, one dollar, and the location of the county seat thereon. The deed will be found of record on page 181 of "Book A," in the circuit clerk's office, and reads as follows:
"J. S. LOMAX 'To Deed.
" COUNTY OF GRUNDY. )
" This indenture made and entered into this Sixth day of August in the year of our Lord, one Thousand eight hundred and forty-one, by and be- tween James S. Lomax, of the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, of the first part, and the County of Grundy of the second part, witnesseth : That for and in consideration of one dollar in Hand Paid and the Location of the County Seat of Grundy County on the Lands hereinafter named. adjoining other lands of the said party of the first part, he, the said party of the first part, his heirs and assigns. has granted, bargained and sold. and by these presents does grant, bargain and sell unto the said party of the second part all the right, title, claim and interest which he the party of the first part has in law and equity to the following described Land Lying and being in Grundy county; to-wit, beginning at the half mile corner stake, being the Northwest corner of the North East quarter of section No. Twenty, Township No. Sixty-one of Range Twenty-four, Running South One hundred and Twenty-five Poles to a steak; Thence East ninety Poles to a steak; thence North Seventy-Eight Poles to a stake; Thence East sev- enteen Poles and four links to a stake; Thence North ninety-seven Poles to a stake; Thence West one hundred and five Poles to the beginning. Con- taining Eighty acres. To have and to hold the aforesaid Tract of Land with all and singular the Rights, privileges and appertenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to the said County of Grundy for ever, and the said party of the first part, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns will warrant and forever defend the aforesaid Land to the party of the second part for ever free from the elaim or claims of any and every per- son or persons whatever. In testimony whereof the party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and seal, the day and year aforesaid.
" (Signed) JAMES S. LOMAX [SEAL].
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
"STATE OF MISSOURI, SS.
" COUNTY OF GRUNDY.
" Be it remembered that on this sixth day of August Eighteen hundred and forty-one, personally appeared before me the undersigned clerk of the Circuit Court for Grundy county, James S. Lomax and acknowledges the fore- going to be his voluntary act and Deed for the purpose therein contained and he, the said James S. Lomax, is personally known to me to be the same person who signed said deed as having executed the same. Taken and cer- tified the day and year above said. In witness whereof, I, Thomas W. Jacobs, clerk of the Circuit Court of said County have hereunto Set my hand and private Seal affixed, there being no official Seal for said Court yet provided. At office the day and year above written.
" (Signed)
THOMAS W. JACOBS, Clerk. "[SKAL.]
" The foregoing deed was filed in my office for record on the 6 day of August, 1841.
" (Signed)
TH. W. JACOBS, Clerk."
CITY CHARTER.
Such is the position, and such the prospect, of the city of Trenton. Her earliest record is already written in the pages of the general history of Grundy county, and there is little more to be added until the time comes. when a charter was demanded by the wants of the people and the growth of the town. This question had been talked over, and a bill was brought. before the legislature in the month of February, 1857, for a city charter. The bill was passed and became a law, and remained so, with amendatory acts, until March 9, 1872, when the charter and its amendment were consoli- dated into one act, of which the following is an official copy :
AN ACT to amend an act entitled " An act to incorporate the town of Trenton, Grundy county, " approved February 27, 1857, and all acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and reduce the same into one act.
ARTICLE I- OF BOUNDARIES AND INCORPORATIONS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri as fol- lows:
SECTION 1. ' That an act entitled "An aet to incorporate the town of Tren- ton, in Grundy county," approved February 27, 1857, and all the acts. amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto are hereby revised, amended and reduced into one act, so as to read as follows:
SEC. 2. All that portion of country included in the following boundary; to-wit, Commeneing at the point in the center of Grand River where the south line of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section number twenty (20), township number sixty-one (61), of range number
-
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
twenty-four (24). crosses said river: thence east to the southeast corner of said seetion number twenty-(20); thenee north to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of said section number twenty (20); thence east to the sontheast corner of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of sec- tion number twenty-one (21) of said township and range: thence north to the northeast corner of the sonth half of the southwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section number sixteen (16) of said township and range; thence west to the northwest corner of the south half of the southeast quar- ter of the northwest quarter of section number seventeen (17) of said town- ship and range; thence south to the southwest corner of the northeast quar- ter of the southwest quarter of said section number twenty (20); thence east to Grand River: thence down said stream, in the center of the main . channel thereof, to the place of beginning, and the inhabitants thereof shall be. and are hereby constituted. a body politie and corporate, by the name and style of " The Town of Trenton." and by that name shall be known in law; have perpetual succession. sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, defend and be defended against, in all courts of law and equity having com- petent jurisdiction, and in all actions and matters whatsoever ; may grant, lease, purchase, hold and receive property, real and personal. within the limits of said corporation, and no other (burial-grounds excepted). that shall be necessary for said town in the exercise of its corporate powers, and may lease. sell and in any manner dispose of the same for the benefit of said town, and may have and use a common seal, and alter or change the same at pleasure.
SEC. 3. If at any time an addition to said town shall be laid off, as soon as a plat thereof shall be filed in the office of the recorder of Grundy county such addition, and the inhabitants thereof shall be. to all intents and pur- poses, included in and become a part of the corporaton hereby established.
ARTICLE II-OF OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES.
SECTION 1. The corporate powers and duties of said corporation shall be vested in a mayor. four conneilmen. and a marshal and such other officers as are hereafter mentioned.
SEC. 2 The mayor. councilmen and marshal shall be chosen by the quali- fied voters within the limits of said corporation. and shall hold their offices, respectively. for the term of two years, and until their succesors are elected and qualified.
SEC. 3. The mayor shall be a citizen of the United States, and at the time of his election shall be at least twenty-five years of age, shall be a legal voter in Grundy county, and shall have resided in said town for the space of three months previous to his election : and no person shall be mayor of said town who is in arrears in the payment of any tax or other liability due said town.
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
SEX. 4. The councilinen and marshal shall be citizens of the United States, and at the time of their election shall be at least twenty-one years of age, and reside within the limits of said town, and be legal voters under this act; nor shall any person hold the office of councilinan or marshal who is subject to any of the disqualifications which, according to this act, prevent any person from holding the office of mayor.
SEC. 5. The mayor and councilmen shall constitute a town council, of which the mayor shall be ex officio president, but he shall have no vote. except 'n case of a tie.
SEC. 6. The councilinen, at their first meeting after each general elec- tion, or as soon thereafter as practicable, shall choose one of their number as president pro tempore. who shall hold his office until the next general election, and who shall. in the absence of the mayor, preside in the meetings of the council, and exercise all the powers and prerogatives conferred upon the mayor by this act.
SEC. 7. The town council shall be the judges of the election returns and qualifications of the mayor, members of the council, and marshal. and shall determine contested elections.
SEC. S. A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum to do bns- iness, but a smaller number may adjourn fromn day to day. and may compel the attendance of absent members, and impose such penalties for such ab- sence as the council may prescribe.
SEC. 9. The council may determine the rules of their proceedings, punish their members for disorderly conduct, and, with the concurrence of three-fourths of all the members, may expel a member for disorderly con- duct or breach of ordinance.
SEC. 10. All vacancies that shall occur in the offices hereinbefore created shall be filled in such a manner as may be provided by ordi- nance.
SEC. 11. Whenever a tie shall occur for councilinen or marshal. the mayor shall. by proclamation, order a new election; and if a tie shall oc- cnr upon election for mayor. the same shall be determined by a vote of the councilmen.
SEC. 12. The stated meetings of the council shall be held as often, and at such times and places, as the council, by ordinance, shall designate; and other and further meetings may be convened by the mayor, or, in his ab- sence. by the president pro tempore, at any time. in his discretion: and the council may adjourn any meeting from day to day, or to any time within the period fixed for their stated meetings.
SEC. 13. The mayor or councilinen and marshal shall each, before en- tering upon the discharge of their duties, take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Missouri. and faith- fully to demean themselves in office; and the marshal and treasurer shall
ยท
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HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
each enter into bond, in such amount as fixed by ordinance, which bond shall be filed with the clerk and approved by the mayor.
ARTICLE III-POWERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SECTION 1. The town council shall have power within said town, by or- dinance, not repugnant to the laws of the land.
First-To levy and collect taxes for general or special purposes, on real or personal property, and license: Provided, however, That no tax shall be levied on wearing apparel, nor shall the same be seized or sold for taxes.
Second-To borrow money on the faith and credit of the town, in such form of bonds, notes, bills, tax certificates or warrants, and for such specified object and time, as they may think proper.
Third-To appropriate the money of the town, and provide for the pay- ment of its debts and expenses.
Fourth-To prevent the introduction and spreading of contagious dis- eases in the town, and enforce the same to the distance of one mile from the limits thereof; to secure the general health of the inhabitants; to estab- lish and regulate hospitals; to prevent or abate all nuisances on public or private property; to regulate the slaughtering of animals.
Fifth-To establish, open, abolish, alter, widen, extend, graduate, pave, or otherwise improve all streets, avennes, alleys, sidewalks, public grounds and squares, and to provide for the lighting, cleaning and repairing of the same.
Sixth -- To construct and keep in repair all bridges, culverts, sewers and drains, and to regulate the use thereof.
Seventh-To erect, purchase, or rent a town hall, work-house, houses of correction, and all other necessary buildings for the use of said town, in- side the corporate limits thereof, and to control, manage, sell or otherwise dispose of the same; to establish, license and regulate markets, market places and meat shops.
Eighth-To license, to tax and regulate auctioneers, grocers, merchants, hotels, public halls, concerts, public lectures, porters, runners, drummers, patent-right dealers, brokers, banking or other institutions, hackney car- riages, omnibuses, carts, drays and other vehicles, and to fix the rates of carriage of persons, and of wagonage, drayage and cartage of property.
Ninth-To license, tax, regulate or suppress ordinaries, peddlers, street exhibitions, dance-houses, fortune-tellers, pistol galleries, lottery ticket dealers, billiard tables, or any other table or instruments used for gaming, shows, theatrical or other amusements, tippling liquors in any manner, and to suppress and prevent gambling or gambling houses, bawdy honses or houses of ill-fame or assignation.
Tenth-To prevent and extinguish fires, regulate, restrain or prohibit the erection of wooden buildings within prescribed limits; may regulate the
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storage of gunpowder, coal oil and other combustible materials; the build- ing of flues and chimneys, and the establishment of any mannfactory or business that is calculated to cause fires or conflagrations.
Eleventh-To restrain and prevent any riot, rout, noise, disturbance, dis- orderly assemblage in any street, house or place in the town, and prohibit the running at large of cattle, hogs, or other animals in the limits of the town; to prevent and remove all obstructions and encroachments on side- walks, streets, avenues, alleys, and all other public property; to prevent the firing of fire-arms; to prevent unnecessary and furious driving and riding of any horse or other animal in said town; to establish night-watches and patrols.
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