USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 40
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380
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
Judge Snyder had driven all church organizations from the court-house, their former place of worship, and the building of Mr. Wright was rented by the different denominations as the only place to hold services.
In 1855 Joseph Ficklin, now professor of mathematics in the State Uni- versity, Columbia, this State, was chosen to take charge of the school, which he did with general satisfaction.
In the same year, a regular district school-house was built where Rogers's lumber-yard now stands, and in this building Mr. T. Bradley opened school. The increase in interest and number made it necessary to have more room and better facilities; accordingly, the next year, Mr. Bradley erected the building now used by Fitterer & Hoffman for a grocery room. This was known as the Bradley building, in which he opened school, in the fall of 1856. This school was so popular that an assistant and music department were added, with Miss Chamberlin (now the wife of Dr. J. O. Harris) as teacher. In 1860 Mr. Bradley died, and the school was continued by his wife (now Mrs. Leedy, of our city). She, retiring, was followed by Messrs. Colley and L. Collier, till 1863, when Prof. R. C. Norton, late of Ohio, was induced to take charge of the school. He remained in the district building till 1865, when a want of room forced him to go to the Bradley building.
Trenton now had sprung from a few rude huts to a flourishing little town, surrounded by an excellent and fast improving country. The cause of popular education met with one common unanimity, and so many were flocking to the school-room doors, that a larger building was no longer a question, but an absolute necessity. This fact was universally admitted, and steps were taken to supply the demand; and, in 1870, the present large and commodious building was erected, costing $17,000. An efficient corps of teachers was employed, with Prof. Norton as superintendent. Besides the now large home enumeration, many intelligent young ladies and gentlemen from abroad came and sought admission to the most excel- lent advantages offered. An extensive course of study was prepared and adopted, and students had the privilege of entering upon a regular course. Then began the reputation the Trenton schools have always so justly sus- tained at home and abroad as the leading educational institution of Northi Grand River Valley. The efficiency of teachers and schools was so general that many applications came in for teachers from various fields; and, ac- cordingly, in 1875, Prof. Norton was induced to resign the superintendency and accept the position of vice-president and professor of mathematics at the Warrensburg State Normal. The position of superintendent was then tendered to Prof. W. D. Dobson, who had already distinguished himself as an able and efficient educator, teaching the first grammar department. Prof. Dobson held the position of superintendent till 1880, and with the earn- est and faithful work of him and his efficient corps of workers, the popular- ity of the schools was kept up.
381
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
In 1880 a new board of education was elected, who, for some faetionary cause, rejected Prof. Dobson and several former teachers, greatly against the wish of the people and the interest of the school. Prof. J. E. Vertrees became the next superintendent, and served only one year, when the board were ready to call back Prof. Dobson. Prof. Dobson declined to accept, whereupon, Prof. A. B. Smith was elected and has accepted.
If space would permit, we would like to speak more in detail of the Trenton schools. Suffice it to say, she has a flourishing alumni, whose association meets annually. The first class graduated in 1875, and was three in number, and most every year since a class has completed the course. This year (1881) the class numbered eight.
The people are proud of their school, and it is with pride they can say that the schools have honorable representatives in the pulpit, the bar, and other fields of honor, trust and profit in many of our States and Territories. The enumeration for last year (1880) was 990, and it is conceded that for this year it will be over 1,000. Another additional department has been added this year, making now thirteen departments and fourteen teachers.
COAL.
While the State of Missouri has many thousands of acres of coal lands, it has only been of late years, and we might say within the last decade, that the real wealth of the State in her coal area has been discovered. We doubt even now, that anything like a full knowledge of her mineral resources are known, and we are aware that coal has been found in large quantities and in places which, a few years ago, geologists had positively decided that coal could not be found. Stratified coal, in the carboniferous age, it is conceded, extended over great areas of country, and at that time the deposits were about on the same level; the thickness of the deposits was not uniform, but would vary gradually at different places. In subse- quent geologic periods the strata of the earth's surface became greatly changed, so that in some places they were wavy, in other places broken by faults or other depressions, and in other places, particularly in mountainous countries, they were changed by upheaval and the shrinkage of the earth into folds of every conceivable angle, from the horizontal to the perpen- dicular.
It is therefore well known that the coal fields of the whole Northwest, including Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, as also Missouri and Kansas. belong to the true carboniferous age, and that only in the Alle- ghanies, where subterranean action has taken place, can anthracite coal be found. The bituminous coal fields cover many thousand square miles of the country, and there are but few States that exceed Missouri either in the extent of her coal area, or in its quality. The subject is really one of great interest, and the scientific men have given it profound research-which it is hardly necessary to give here.
.
382
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
It was not until 1870 that those persons who were acquainted with coal- mining began to notice the general features of the country, and they became convinced that its geological formation was such that a coal strata was believed to exist, and that it must underlie a large portion of the county. The veins were not thought to be very thick, yet there was evidence enough to convince the most skeptical that a vein could be found that would fur- nish the fuel needed, and of a thickness that would compensate those who invested money and labor in its development. This belief at last took shape in the organization of a coal company in the spring of 1873. The com- pany organized with a capital of $100,000, a board of directors and the fol- lowing officers: president, George W. Moberly; secretary, B. Markert, and treasurer, James Austin.
TRIAL SHAFTS.
But previously to this organization Mr. Markert bored for coal near the woolen-mills, at his own expense, in a search for a paying vein, and proved that coal did exist. He did not make any effort to sink a shaft. However, the company was formed and a shaft sunk on block five of the Harris Ad- dition to the town of Trenton and abont 150 yards north of the present shaft. That was worked some time but not being so convenient for the railroad company, the present location was selected and the shaft sunk. Mr. Joseph McMullen was once president and Geo. Tindall secretary of a firin under the name of the Grundy County Coal company which did some work in January, 1878. The present company is now in full possession of all the coal prop- erty, and the facts here given cover the principal history of coal mining in
this county. The company employed a superintendent by the name of Jones who in July, 1873, commenced boring for the black diamond. At the depth of forty feet a small vein, only four inches in thickness, was struck. The coal was of a good quality, but, of course, the vein was not worth working. At ninety-six feet the bore showed a fourteen inch vein. This also proved a good quality of coal and comparatively free from sulphur. At the depth of 215 feet an eighteen inch vein was struck and that vein is now being worked. Still below that a distance of fifteen feet lies another vein of about the same thickness, but the roof crumbles and it is therefore harder to work. After working the 215 feet vein for some months the work was temporarily suspended.
In the fall of 1875 some changes was made in the company. That is, a few of the stockholders dropped out, the remaining ones buying up their stock. The company still consists of the members of the original organiza- tion. They had sunk the shaft to the depth of 215 feet and in October of that year commenced mining on the eighteen inch vein in earnest. The main drift has, up to this year, 1881, been extended some 700 feet from the shaft, nearly northeast. A drift has also been worked from 200 to 300 feet west and south.
383
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
THE COAL
is of good quality, a compact bituminous variety, fine in texture and not of over bright luster. Its compactness causes less loss by shrinkage when exposed to the air. The thinness of the vein and its depth make mining rather more expensive than in larger veins, or of those lying nearer the surface. The price paid is five and three-fourth cents per bushel. The men and boys employed number from sixty to seventy-five, and the price of the coal varies to consumers. It is now furnished at twelve and one-half cents cents per bushel and has been up to fifteen cents. In large quantities $2.45 is charged per ton. This price is paid by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, who take an average of 1,500 tons per month. delivered, but that is of little expense as the shaft is but a couple of hun- dred feet from the platform alongside of the track. It has now been for seven years under the superintendency of Mr. N. Shanklin, an energetic, driving business man, and one of the foremost gentlemen in the county. He claims that no fortune has yet been drawn out of that shaft, that it will be several years before he or the stockholders ean retire to their several beds of ease and shake hands with the world as money kings, yet it is safe to say that the money has been well invested, and that the stock is not running around asking for buyers to any alarming extent in the present year of our Lord, A. D. 1881.
ITS FUTURE.
Its future is one of promise, and it is expected that an additional force will be put on soon. It is a big boom for Trenton, and if railroads have made her, the coal company has helped to support her and has added largely to her population and wealth.
CITY WOOLEN AND FLOURING-MILLS.
Among the important industries of Grundy county, the manufacture of woolen goods and flour takes a high rank, and the Trenton woolen and flour- ing-mills have aided not a little in making Trenton a market for wool and wheat for a large area of country surrounding the city.
This mill has been in active operation since the spring of 1870, and from that time many a yard of cloth has been manufactured and many a bushel of wheat ground. The building was erected in the latter part of 1869, but not entirely completed until the date given above. The founders were the Messrs. Markertes & Bolser, but the firm dissolved on the 1st day of Au- gust, 1870, Mr. Bolser selling his interest to the Messrs. Markertes, who in turn disposed of a third interest to Dr. J. H. Kerfoot for the sum of $8,000. These gentlemen continued as members of the firm until September, when Dr. J. HI. Kerfoot retired and Mr. C. Gilham purchased his one-third inter-
384
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
est. Under the firm name of Markertes & Gilham the business flourished for three years, when the whole establishment was purchased by the McGuire Bros. on the 22d of February, 1874, and styled the Trenton Man- ufacturing Company. These gentlemen remained proprietors for several years, when they retired, selling the mills to Messrs. Rockwell & Flannigan, who disposed of it to the present proprietors, Messrs. Smith & Bixty in 1879.
COST.
The original cost of the mill was $24,000. The mill is a combined woolen and grist-mill and does enstom grinding. It is the only establish- ment in the county which cards, weaves, spins and manufactures woolen goods, and, in fact, doing a large and general business in both departments. The machinery is operated by a forty-horse power engine, and is capable of turning ont about 7,000 pounds of flour, 135 bushels of corn, and 2,000 pounds of wool in twelve hours.
Wool is earded and spun at the rate of twenty-one cents per pound, and carded alone at eight and one-third cents per ponnd. The mill mannfae- tures four excellent grades of flour. The well known brands, "Best." " Family," "Standard," "XX," are known over this and surrounding counties as brands of superior merit and fine quality. The Trenton woolen and flonring-mills have largely helped to make Trenton the bustling city that she is.
WEATHER AND CROPS.
The winter of 1873 will long be remembered as the coldest in the history of Trenton. The cold was intense, and the whole northern portion of the State felt the extreme severity of the weather. Among the older residents of the State it was conceeded to be the coldest winter visiting this section in the past fifty years. The thermometer ranged all the way from ten to twenty degrees below zero, and on the 26th and 27th of January it reached its lowest ebb in the city, the mercury marking twenty-eight degrees below zero, each day. At the farm of P. H. Yakey, two miles east of Trenton, on the same days, it was reported that the merenry reached thirty-two degrees below zero. This extreme cold caused great surprise, when contrasted with the nsnally mild, invigorating winters of northern Missouri.
The first heated term of note or of which any record was kept, occurred in the summer of 1878, when on the 13th, 14th and 15th of July the mer- cury rose from ninety up to one hundred and four degrees in the shade. Sev- eral sunstrokes were reported, but no deaths occurred. This was the warm- est weather experienced by the citizens of Trenton until July, 1881, when two weeks of very warm weather were recorded, the mercury rising from ninety- six to one hundred and four degrees daily. A few days of pleasant weather
385
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
intervened when a second heated term began on the 4th of August. The atmosphere was sultry, scarcely any breezes stirring. The sun's rays came down with burning intensity, parching vegetation to a erisp, amber hue. With the exception of a slight shower or two, there was no rain-fall of any consequence during the months of July and August. The heat fell with dead- ening blight upon the erop prospects. The large yields anticipated in the early part of the summer, especially in corn, began to fade away to a small average, and throughout the country the farmers became disheartened and discouraged. Wheat for 1881 had fallen off on account of the severe win- ter, full twenty-five per cent below the yield of 1880. Corn by this drought, shows a loss of full forty per cent over the previous year's average yield. Hay, oats and flax did a great deal better, but did not reach better than a fair average except in hay; dry weather had a bad effect on the water supply, many cisterns and not a few wells giving out, necessitating the use of river and creek water. Running streams were very low. The following shows the record for August:
Deg.
Deg.
Deg.
August 4th, at 10 A. M. 102
5th, “ 10
104.
108. 6
97
7th, " 9
98 12 " 108. 3 104
8th, " 10
104. 12 " 108 2 110
9th, " 9 92. 12 " 106 2
66 108
10th, 9
92
12 " 104.
11th, “ 10
94
12 " 100.
2
102
66 18th,
2
106
66 19th,
2
108
25th,
2
102
26th,
2
106
27th,
2
100
·
. ..
REVIEW.
These were the exceptional hot days but there were very few days in the month of August, 1881, that did not reach over ninety degrees at two p. M, and many not of record that stood from ninety-two to ninety-six.
While the summer heat on the average has been very great, the heated terms have been longer and more debilitating and depressing in their effect than any season in the memory of the traditional "Oldest inhabitant." The winter previous, 1880-81, had been one of severity, with a greater amount of snow than had fallen in many winters, falling as late as the 12th of April in Missouri, with heavy spring rains, and the greatest freshet since the year 1844 on the Missouri, and greater than that year on the river north or above the mouth of the Kaw. The memorable freshet of 1844 at Kansas City was aided by an immense flow of water from that river.
August 29th quite a heavy rain fell in the afternoon wetting the earth some two or the inches, but the backbone of the drought was completely
24
12 м. 108 12 "
6 P. M. 100
386
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
broken on the night of the 31st of August, and on the following day, Sep- tember 1st, when a very heavy rain-fall was experienced-too late for corn, but in excellent time to put the ground in good condition for the plow for winter wheat. The rain seemed to be general all over the State. The win- ter of 1880-81 and the summer of the latter year will long be remembered for their variable and extreme weather of both heat and cold and the heavy snow and spring rains and dry summer. The peculiarity of the atmosphere seemed, also, to have a peculiar effect on human nature, especially those whose minds were not evenly balanced. The murders, suicides and crime generally even to this date, September 1st, have exceeded any full previous year. Why it has proven so let the philosopher explain: certainly men have been strangely afflicted, and murder seemed to be the only remedy that would appease their maddening brain. The cities seem to be more afflicted than the country. The dense mass of brick and stone reflected the heat which affected the body and the brain, alike debilitating the one and mad- dening the other. Thirty-one murders recorded in Chicago in seven months; and in St. Louis, August seemed to almost breed them, for several men were shot down by these persons upon the most trivial pretense. The East seemed to be afflicted the same way. The Southern cities escaped the intense heat and its murderous effect. The heat was more regular and the hot days were fewer.
TRENTON'S CITY OFFICIALS.
The following is the list of the city officials of Trenton from its first in- corporation up to the present time:
1857-Nathaniel McBride, mayor; John W. Bagley, John B. McDonald, William Collier, Sr., and George W. Moberly, councilmen; Stephen Peery, clerk and corporation attorney; H. Cooper, marshal.
1858 --- R. P. Zantis appointed councilman, vice McDonald, resigned; John C. Griffin appointed corporation attorney, and W. L. McGuire, clerk, vice Peery, resigned.
1859-No officers elected and the town corporation ceased to exist. This state of affairs continued for seven years, when new officers were elected.
1866-J. H. Kerfoot, mayor; James S. Estes, William L. Knight, Sam- nel D. Luke and R. M. Peck, councilmen; R. C. Norton, clerk; W. C. Benson, treasurer; J. M. Voris, corporation attorney; A. J. Spitler, asses- sor; F. W. Lowen, marshal.
1867-William H. Smith appointed, vice Peck, resigned; C. A. Hoffman, vice Estes, resigned.
1869-H. J. Herriek, mayor; William S. Knight, Samuel D. Luke, William H. Smith and Isaac Coles, councilmen; R. C. Norton, clerk; George Hall, corporation attorney; F. W. Lowen, marshal.
1869-Resignations and changes left the organization thus: H. J. Her-
387
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
rick, mayor; Isaac Coles, R. C. Norton, W. H. Roberts and W. H. Smith, councilmen; Luther Collier, clerk; George Hall, corporation attor- ney; James Wamsley, marshal.
1871-Daniel Metcalf, mayor; W. C. Benson, Isaac Coles, J. E. Harris and R. C. Norton, councilmen; H. J. Herrick, treasurer; Luther Collier, elerk; James Wamsley, marshal.
1873-J. L. Lowen, mayor; R. O. Carscadin, A. D. Mullens, J. L. Shipley and J. H. Kerfoot, councilmen; L. Collier, clerk; L. B. Walker, marshal.
1875-H. J. Herrick, mayor; J. M. Bailey, M. L. Boyles, R. O. Carscadin and J. H. Kerfoot, councilmen; L. Collier, clerk; R. V. Young, marshal.
1877 -- H. J. Herrick, mayor; J. M. Bailey, C. A. Hoffman, John Kirk and Thomas Kimlin, councilmen; L. Collier, clerk; R. V. Young, marshal; Nathaniel Shanklin appointed, vice Bailey, resigned.
1879 -- George Tindall, mayor; Christopher A. Hoffman, Edward P. Herron, Chauncey Hall and Thomas Torpey, councilmen; E. M. Harber, corporation attorney; James Anstin, treasurer; W. H. McGrath, assessor; L. Collier, clerk; R. V. Young, marshal.
1881 -- Herbert L. Low, mayor; Gilbert D. Smith, James M. Bailey, Orson J. Rockwell, W. H. Yerian, councilmen; E. M. Harber, corporation attorney; James Austin, treasurer; J. W. Conduit, assessor; L. Collier, clerk; John A. Shanklin, marshal.
1881 -- Luther Collier, mayor, vice Low, resigned; R. A. Collier, elerk, vice L. Collier, resigned.
DISTANCES
From Trenton to Chicago
429
" St. Louis
250
" Kansas City
101
" Quincy
130
" Chillicothe
24
66
" Gallatin
26
" Cameron
47
66 66
" Bethany
35
" Princeton
26
" Milan .
31
" Linneus. 35
The above distances cover the usual route traveled either by cars or wagons, and not air-line distances.
TOWNS IN THE COUNTY.
From Trenton to Spickardville by railroad.
MILES.
Lindley,
" wagon road 15
Edinburg,
41
.66
15
66
Gault,
" railroad
15
66
Dillon,
66
9
. .
66
12
. .. Alpha,
MILES.
388
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PRESS OF TRENTON.
Trenton Pioneer-Herald-Christian Pioneer-Trenton Republican-Its Changes of Name and Proprietors-Its Political Course-Incidents in its Career-Grandy County Times -Organ of the Democracy-More Wood-Daily Bazaar-Trenton Weekly Star-First Appearance-Monthly Star-Daily Star-Its Principles-" What Becomes of Editors?" -Daily Evening Republican-A Forward Movement.
THE TRENTON PIONEER.
Following fast upon the heels of the early settler came the newspapers, with their civilizing and brightening influence, to cast a ray of mutual interest over the events and occurrences of the community, and to save, as it were, the golden grains from the sands of oblivion. The pioneer news- papers were not a general source of wealth to their proprietors, and while they were building up the community, it was often that their best efforts were unappreciated, and it was oft-times a hard struggle to keep the paper going, even in a fitful and uncertain way. In 1851 the first newspaper published in Grundy county was placed before the public in the city of Trenton, with the name Trenton Pioneer flying from its mast-head. Mr. David T. Wright was the editor and publisher, and continued its publica- tion for two years, giving general satisfaction, when in 1853 he disposed of the good will and material to Mr. R. C. White, who took charge, and the Pioneer moved along under his management until 1854, when the office again became the property of Mr. Wright, who removed it to Lindley, in Marion township, and began the publication of the Christian Pioneer, in conjunction with the Rev. H. O. Howard. The Pioneer was a five- column sheet, but upon its removal to Lindley it was changed to a quarto form in the shape of a two-column, sixteen page pamphlet. The Christian Pioneer continued the only paper published in Grundy county until 1857, in which year Mr. E. C. Jones started
THE TRENTON HERALD,
and under his management it was conducted one year, when Mr. Jones retired, selling the paper to Mr. S. P. Mountain, who continued the publi- cation until 1859, when, for want of proper support, the Herald threw np the sponge and expired. The press and fixtures remained idle until the latter part of the same year, when Mr. D. T. Wright moved his office from Lindley and purchased the material of the Herald office, uniting the two establishments, and continuing the publication of the Christian Pioneer at Trenton in an improved form. Mr. Wright continued the publication with
389
HISTORY OF GRUNDY COUNTY.
varying fortunes until 1862, when the entire office was destroyed in the dis- astrous fire of that year. This ended the Christian Pioneer, so far as Grundy county is concerned, as Mr. Wright removed to Chillicothe, where he re-commenced its publication. For the two years following the destruc- tion of the Pioneer office, Grundy county had no paper published within its limits. In 1864 the Grand River News was placed before the public, a candidate for popular favor, and a history of its carcer follows, under the head of
THE TRENTON REPUBLICAN.
The Trenton Republican is now nearing the close of its seventeenthi vol- ume, and is one of the established and reliable institutions of the Grand River Valley. Under the management of its present proprietor, Col. W. B. Rogers, it has taken a firm stand under the banners of Republicanism, and wields a large influence in the politics of the Tenth congressional district. The paper has steadily grown, and is now one of the largest county papers in northern Missouri, constantly improving, wide-awake, and up with the spirit of the times.
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