USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 39
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Overdrafts.
1,285.21
U. S. bonds to secure circulation 50,000.00
Other stocks, bonds and mortgages
4,348.93
Due from approved reserve agents
33,003.57
Real estate, furniture and fixtures. 2,039.26
Current expenses and taxes paid.
1,201.68
Premiums paid.
4,029.85
Checks and other cash items
3,455.61
Bills of other national banks.
5,554.00
Fractional currency (including nickels)
22.10
Specie (including gold treasury notes).
444.70
Legal tender notes ..
6,000.00
Redemption fund with U. S. treasurer (5 per cent of circulation).
2,250.00
Total
$205.375.41
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in
$ 50,000.00
Surplus fund .. . 37,932.13
Other'undivided profits. 6,677.46
National bank notes outstanding
45,000.00
Individual deposits subject to check 36,697.86
Demand certificates of deposits
17,067.96
Time certificates of deposit.
12,000.00
Total.
$205,375.41
UNION BANK.
The closing up of the First National Bank of Trenton brought into ex- istence the Union Bank, the president of the bank, Mr. Bradley, drawing ing out his interest and returning to Iowa. The Union Bank, on its organ- ization, elected George W. Moberly, vice-president of the First National, to the office of president, and Mr. George Gilmore, the late cashier, to the same position in the new bank. These gentlemen are still, in 1881, respect- ively the president and cashier of the Union Bank. The resources and lia- bilities of the bank on the first of January, 1881, are found in the following sworn statement of its officers:
371
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security .. . . $28,118.70
Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security ... 4,474.80
Overdrafts by solvent customers 526.81
United States bonds on hand . 2,500.00
Due from other banks, good on sight draft 29,167.85
Real estate at present cash market value.
495.00
Furniture and fixtures.
1,915.21
Checks and other cash items 272.00
Bills of national banks and and legal tender U. S. notes
11,700.00
Gold coin.
500.00
Silver and other fractional coin and currency .
1,173.83
Total
$80,844.20
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in .
$30,000.00
Surplus funds on hand.
475.05
Deposits subject to draft-at sight
50,369.15
Total
$80,844.20
SHANKLIN & AUSTIN BANK.
This is the pioneer bank of Trenton, and holds an enviable position in banking circles as well as at home. The bank was started under the State banking laws in the year 1869, Col. J. H. Shanklin, a native of Virginia, as- suming the role of president, and his partner, James Austin, that of cashier. This banking house has been uniformly successful, and is still a sort of a family institution, one son of cach of the proprietors holding responsible po- sitions with credit, with the careful supervision of Mr. James Austin at the helm.
The resources and liabilities were as stated below on the first of January last:
RESOURCES.
Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security. .... $ 46,027.25 Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security. . 22,649.48
Overdrafts by solvent customers. 28,795.90
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price. 5,100.00 Due from other banks, good on sight draft. 31,842.33
Furniture and fixtures . .
1,000.00
Checks and other cash items.
3,328.39
Bills of national banks and legal tender U. S. notes.
12,508.00
Gold coin ..
1,179.00
Silver and other fractional coin and currency
813.37
Total
$153,244.22
372
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in . $ 10,000.00
Surplus funds on hand. 1,090.29
Deposits subject to drafts-at sight. 129,286.72
Deposits subject to drafts at given dates
12,867.21
Total $153,244.22
These banks, like a majority of corporations, believe in a light assessed valuation when the taxes are rather heavy, and it is found of record that on April 10th, 1879, J. H. Crowder, assessor, files notice that the valuation of $14,500 for the Shanklin & Austin Bank, as given in by them, was not correct, and the same was raised to $45,459, upon which they were com- pelled to pay taxes. The same assessor reports the Union Bank, on the 17th of April, as following the example of the first named, and the board of equalization promptly raised their assessment to $43,868. Since that time real valnes and assessments have kept closer company in the history of bank taxation.
TRENTON SILVER CORNET BAND.
In January, 1878, all other bands having ceased to exist, another was launched upon the rhythmic sea of melody. The new organization was named the "Trenton Silver Cornet Band," and owing to the failure of many others, the editor of the Republican advised the " boys " "to stick like a Democrat to his politics." The advice was good. The " boys " fol- lowed it, and the band has proven a grand success. The following gen- tlemen compose the membership: Walter Shanklin, Chauncey Hall, Lo- renzo Race, Wm. Thomas, Ory Davis, John Conrads, Samnel Ohmart, Henry Comer, U. S. Hall, Wm. Thomas, Frank Hoffman, - Good- lander, L. Crowder, Wm. DeBolt.
The band has paid all its own expenses, purchased its own instruments. and dress suits, besides giving $150 to the railroad bonus and still have money in their treasury. They are good musicians.
It has been thought worthy of record, as the dry weather has caused all vegetables to be very scarce in this year 1881, and the prices high, that in June 28th, 1878, new potatoes in the Trenton market sold for 25 cents per bushel, Angust 1881, one dollar per bushel.
The Catholics purchased, in Oct., 1878, six acres of ground for their cem- etery from Daniel Metcalf, on the sloping banks of Grand River, southeast of the city just outside the limits.
The citizens of Trenton had cause to express their sorrow and sympa- thy this year in the death of an old and esteemed citizen, Mr. Jesse Boyce, who departed this life July 11th, 1878. And some two months later, Sept. 14th, 1878, the body of W. W. Gordon was found on the Chicago,
373
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad track just north of the town with his head severed from his body. Foul play was suspected, but nothing was dis- covered, if a murder had been committed.
There were shipped from the Trenton depot fifty-four cars of loaded stock and grain in the month of December, 1879.
The shipment for the first six months of 1880 reached the number of three hundred and six car loads.
It was soon after the Glendale train robbery, near Kansas City, that a few venturesome spirits started to Kansas City on a business and pleasure tour combined, but the train robbery and the perils of travel caused the editor of the Grundy county Times to offer up the following prayer for their safety: "May a mereiful Providence guard their footsteps, and return them safely to a loving community." It is well to add that the gentlemen not only escaped the perils of railway travel, but the dangers of seeing Kan- sas City by gaslight as well.
The author has read of a couple of incidents which may as well be men- tioned here. The editor of the Trenton Republican is responsible for their truthfulness, as they were found in his valuable paper. One shows that the economy which so long held possession of the County Court was not entirely monopolized by them, and the other the care in which they guarded the morals of their public servants. The economist is thus reported: "A rusty looking agriculturalist entered our office recently, and, after looking around earnestly long enough to excite our curiosity, and to elicit an inquiry as to his business, our rustic friend replied: ' It was nothing much, but I left a large cucumber here in the fall for a notice, and thought as how I was in town I might run in and get it if you was through with it.'" Whether Col. Rogers returned the cucumber or paid him for it was not mentioned.
"Does our town grow?" was the question asked, and the editor goes on to prove it as follows:
" Bob. Collier, county treasurer, went to Jefferson City, and, returning after a few weeks' absence, arrived in Trenton at night, and the town had grown so that it took the second attempt before he could find his home." Without waiting to give the reader time to get over the astonishment of such a rapid growth, the editor publishes the sequel in this shape: "The County Court, which granted licenses a few weeks ago, revoked them all this week."
It would seem the County Court took a queer view of "Bob's" reported growth of the town, and didn't propose to take the consequence of Bob's seeing double. This removing temptation from the path of adults is to be commended, and future County Courts have here a precedent they can fol- low without sin.
On March 30, 1880, Mr. J. B. Crouch, an estimable man and citizen, a brakeman ou the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, fell from the
374
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
train while "braking," from a sudden jar, and, falling under the cars, was killed.
The city council, in March, 1880, concluded to abolish the backwoods signs. so prominently displayed all over the city in shape of what they called awn- ings, but of every imaginable description, and an eye-sore to the good looks of the town. The ordinance was passed, and in twenty-four hours about one thousand dollars' worth of lumber and disfiguration of the city were removed. There was some objection from those who really had a respectable shade .. but they were so few that they were compelled to suffer with the many. The regret was short, as the looks of the town were so changed for the better that pride at once came to the relief of the pocket, and Trenton can now be called a handsome and pleasant little city.
The city government rented one cell in the county jail for one year from the county for $50; it was afraid that the "most accomplished offenders" might attempt to leave the not over strongly built lodging-rooms belonging to the city.
The year 1880 closed a very prosperous one for the city as well as the county. Quite a number of new buildings had been erected, the town was- spreading and rapidly filling her waste places, and the near advent of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad to Trenton inspired all with bright hopes of a prosperous year.
What has transpired during the past eight months worthy of historical record will be found in the following pages, and they have proven eight months of very important history to this country, of which Grundy county as a part has felt a deep interest. From January 1, 1881, to September 1, 1881, will close this volume, replete with many important facts, but none that will remain longer in the records of the past or future than that which has transpired, so far, in the eventful year of 1881.
PREHISTORIC.
There had been a wish for some time expressed by the savants of Trenton to look at the interior of several mounds which lay some two miles from the city, and see if they could not find some relic of a prehistoric age. There were quite a number of periods which had marked of the world's pro- gress, and with the tertiary age, the triassic period and the carboniferous period, etc., they proposed to get some knowledge which would, perhaps, enlighten the world, or its living population. Just what they succeeded in finding out may be gathered froin the Trenton Times, with the further remark that no more manual labor was performed in search of ancient relics, or of sandstone or rock formation, which might refer to a period beyond the present information of man.
375
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
THE RESURRECTION DAY.
" The day of resurrection has come-to the bones in the mounds on the bluff across the river. A party of men. with spades and other implements used in digging, made an excavation in one of the mounds one day last week and succeeded in unearthing several basketfuls of bones in different states of preservation. Then, on last Sunday, another party labored to unearth some, and succeeded in finding some ornaments and pretty pieces of pottery. The mounds in which these bones were found are about two miles northwest of town, on a bluff overlooking the river. The indications are that the bodies have lain there, in layers on each other, and all at one time, as though there had been a massacre or a battle, in which many met death together. The mound which was digged into is about thirty by sixty feet, and there are smaller ones near by. On each of these mounds are growing large trees, and the relics found indicate that they were made by a race of people who were more skilled in the arts than the American Indians."
.
WIND.
On Monday morning. June 27, about daylight, a fierce wind-storm arose, accompanied by some rain, which caused quite a commotion in the city, from the fact that numerous cyclones had been reported in the State and various sections of the country. The gale tore off the tin roof of Stein's store, quite a number of awnings took wing, and the old Presbyterian church was struck by lightning; but. with the exception of demolishing a chimney, no great damage was done. The agricultural warehouse of G. D. Smith had one end blown ont, and an unoccupied house was lifted from its foundation and partly turned around. While other sections of the State, and Kansas, had severely suffered, Trenton escaped with the above slight casualties.
A GALA DAY.
The long looked for Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railway, due at Trenton July 1, 1881, by twelve o'clock, midnight. arrived about sundown. The force of tracklayers had worked incessantly for some days, a double force being necessary to accomplish the work on time, and so they had pushed it night and day. They were greeted on their arrival by full 2,000 people, and with their shouts and the incessant scream of five steam whistles, which awoke the echoes far and wide, attested to the ears of the people for miles around the fact that the completion of the above railroad within the limits of the city of Trenton was an accomplished fact. While the citizens rejoiced, there was no less rejoicing on the part of the railroad company, for the time specified to arrive here having been accomplished. they were entitled to a private subscription of $40,000, which was given them as a
376
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
bonus. The last spike was driven at 7:15 o'clock in the evening, and five engines were on the track, ready to close up to the elegant depot, already completed. A coach, conveying the officers of the road from Quincy, was in the rear .and was switched off on a side-track. When the almost unearthly scream of the whistles ceased, and the immense crowd had become quiet, Dr. Horton stepped to the front and made a short speech of welcome, which was responded to by Hon. W. G. Ewing, a lawyer of Quincy, in behalf of the company. Mr. Ewing praised the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific company, the Wabash company, and the people of Trenton, referring among other things, to the band, which had given $150 of its funds to aid in securing the road. After the speaking was over the company rolled out twenty kegs of beer to the hands who had worked so hard to get through.
Trenton now is a town with two of the best managed railroads in the West crossing here. She has direct connection with all principal points east and west by competing lines of transportation. Trenton and the people of the county paid over $40,000 for this competition, but they never made a better investment. It will be paid, and that willingly. And thus ended the reception of the second railroad by the city of Trenton.
DEPOT BURNT.
On the night of August 24th the people were aroused by the cry of fire, which proved to be the depot of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road, at Trenton, a frame structure which was consumed with its contents. Some five hundred dollars' worth of freight in the building, their books, a supply of new tickets just received, and the railroad supplies in the supply building were destroyed. There was also one box and one platform car partly loaded with lumber partially destroyed. The loss aggregated $3,000. The fire caught in the lamp-room at about 1 o'clock A. M. on the morning of the 25th of August, 1881.
The new depot to be constructed in its place will probably be a handsome and substantial brick building, larger and better arranged for the increased business now doing. The old building was much too small. The Ohmart House was saved from the flames with difficulty.
The business of 1881, to July 1st, over the last six months of 1880, was fully 15 per cent. The books being destroyed, the exact amount of business done could not be ascertained, but the books when balanced July 1st, showed the above increase in a comparison of the aggregate amounts. W. M. Max- well, from whom we have the above, has been the acceptable agent of the company and very satisfactory to the people for the past four years.
TELEGRAPH.
The telegraph business now reaches the sum of $200 per month, an in- crease of about $60 per month average over that of 1880, and the business
377
IHISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
steadily increasing. The chief operator is T. B. Cook; train dispatcher. J. Fleming, and night operators, M. L. Parker and J. C. Kibbey.
TRENTON'S BUSINESS.
From the first settlement of Trenton up to the year 1868 the business of the town concentrated on Water Street, west, or rather southwest of and opposite the court-house. The probable location of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific depot on the east side of the town gave a tendency to build that way, and business houses gradually pushed their way eastward. In 1871 the four corners east of the court-house were then about the center of the business of the town, but from that day the "West End " has been entirely deserted by the leading business houses, and the business center of the town will probably remain in and around what is called the "Five Corners." It will branch out on Elm Street more extensively, and should the town secure the machine-shops of the Quiney, Missouri & Pacific Rail- road Company, Elm to Prospect streets will, with the Five Corners, do the business of the town. One block more on Water Street toward the depot, and perhaps on Prospect Street in the same direction, might also be used for business purposes. The location of the depot of the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad settles the question as to the resident population, and it will be north and northeast of the State line road.
KINDS OF BUSINESS.
The following list comprises the number and kinds of business being transacted in Trenton on the first day of September, 1881: Eight dry goods two clothing, seven drug and four millinery stores, one book and news store, one music, one jewelry, one boot and shoe, and three hardware and stove stores, one agricultural and seed store, one bazaar, "St. Elmo," seventeen grocery stores, two furniture, two musical instrument, and two saddle and harness stores, four sewing machine agencies, two merchant tailor establish- ments, two wagon manufactories, two marble yards, two grain dealers, two photographers, two lumber yards, one second-hand store, two undertakers, one coal yard (mine), one wood yard, one woolen-mill, three flouring-mills, three watch and clock repairers, one gun shop, one novelty shop, three boot and shoe shops, four blacksmith, tive barber and two paint shops, three meat markets, two bakeries, five restaurants, five saloons, two billiard halls, three ice cream and oyster saloons, twenty-four lawyers, thirteen physicians, three dentists, seven insurance agents-two life, one lightning rod agent, seven real estate agents, one high school, one primary, seven churches, eight hotels, two banks, three newspapers (weekly), three job offices, one amuse- ment hall, three livery stables, one transfer line, two express offices, one tele- graph office, five contractors and builders, two railroads, one machine and repair works, four laundries, one boarding-house, three ice dealers, two milk dealers.
378
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XV.
THE EARLY BAR, ETC.
Early History-Bar of 1841-Juries-Important Case-The Present Bar-Trenton High School History-Its Rise and Progress-Its Present Condition-Coal-Trial Shaft-The First Company-The New Organization-Depth of Shaft-The Coal Vein-Woolen and Flouring-mill-Cost-Weather and Crops-Below and Abore Zero-Crops Injured- A Review of its Effects-Trenton's Officials, 1847-1881-Places und Distances.
THE EARLY BAR.
Very few members of the Grundy county bar of to-day remember the early practioners, or know anything of riding the circuit. There was a great deal of hard work and hard riding connected with the practice of the first courts of the county. Long and dreary rides through an unsettled country often became monotonous, and it was then that the legal lights of early times cracked their jokes and laughed long and heartily over amusing incidents of their career. Unfortunately, at the present day it is impossible to obtain any personal reminiscences, which would, in themselves, form an interesting chapter.
The first bar was a strong one, composed of big-brained, large-hearted, good-natured gentlemen, whose rugged health and lively spirits added a wholesome zest to their rattling intellectual encounters and hard fought bat- tles in the legal arena.
The first court was held in a log house in Trenton, then known as Lomax store, in April, 1841. The judicial eircuit was at that time composed of the counties of Chariton, Ray, Daviess, Livingston, Macon, Linn and Grundy, Judge James A. Clarke, of Monticello, Chariton county, presiding. Mr. B. F. Stringfellow, of Brunswick, Chariton county, was circuit attorney, and the following gentlemen were members of the bar: Messrs. Philip L. Ed- wards and Amos Reese, of Richmond, Ray county; Messrs. Benjamin F. Tarr and William Y. Slack, of Chillicothe, Livingston county; Mr. Ander- son S. Harris, of Brunswick, Chariton county; Wesley Halliburton, of Bloomington, Macon county; and Ebenezer H. Wood, of Trenton. This composed the bar in 1841. Most of these gentlemen rode the circuit regu- larly. In 1852 Major John C. Griffin became a member of the bar, the second member from Grundy county. Later, Messrs. John H. Shanklin and Jacob T. Tindall were admitted. At that time Messrs. Stephen Peery and Daniel Metcalf were law students in the office of Messrs. Shanklin and Tindall.
379
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
JURIES.
Grand juries were things of the future when the first court was held in Grundy county. Petit juries were picked up anywhere in the woods when a jury trial was demanded. There were no jury rooms, and after the jury had absorbed the necessary amount of law and evidence in a case they re- tired to the shade of a neighboring tree to deliberate on a verdict. At other times when the court wasn't very busy the judge and lawyers would take to the woods and give the jury full swing in the court-house.
An important case was brought from Platte county to Grundy in 1844. It was a charge of seduction brought by a Miss Ellis against one John Stockton, a man of considerable property. The case was vigorously con- tested and finally won by the plaintiff, the jury bringing in a verdict for $10,000 damages. B. F. Stringfellow was the plaintiff's attorney. The verdict was a surprise to Stoekton, but he managed to turn over his prop- erty to relatives and returned to his old home in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, where, while on the streets of Lafayette, he died from the effects of sun- stroke.
PRESENT BAR.
The present Grundy county bar is a body of courteous gentlemen, whose legal qualifications will compare most favorably with the best lawyers of the State. The following is the list of names registered as members of the bar: John H. Shanklin, Marcus A. Low, A. H. Burkeholder, R. A. DeBolt, W. E. Clark, John C. Griffin, A. D. Mullins, Luther Collier, Stephen Peery, Melvin Bingham, P. C. Stepp, A. K. Sykes, T. A. Witten, George Hall, G. L. Winters, Nathan Hearty, M. G. Kennedy, E. M. Harbe", W. W. Witten, George Tindall, Orville Shanklin, N. A. Winters, O. G. Bain, Walter Peery, Nash Peery. Several of these gentlemen are not in active practice, but their names are enrolled and for that reason are given.
TRENTON SCHOOL HISTORY.
The first school ever tanght in Trenton, or in Grundy county, was in 1838, by an Englishman by the name of Moore. The house was a rough log cabin on the present site of the old cemetery. The school was tanght by Jarvis Boyce, 1839-41, and by Geo. H. Hubbell, in the fall and winter of 1842-3. In 1844 a system of public school was inaugurated; a school board chosen, whose duty it was to elect the teacher. The first election of this kind ever held in the county was in the fall of 1844, and was quite in- teresting. Col. Jacob Tindall was the lucky candidate, and took charge of the school. In 1853 D. T. Wright, of his own means, erected the first frame building in the county for school purposes, on the lot where A. K. Sykes's residence is now situated. The school was now brought from the graveyard to town, and Mr. Wright became teacher. In the meantime,
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