USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139
S. M. Ford, President.
Samuel Williams, Secretary.
Directors-S. M. Ford, Samuel Williams, J. B. Strickland.
On the 20th of January, 1879, the interest of S. M. Ford was purchased by John C. Shea and Col. Williams, and a few months later the interest of J. B. Strickland was bought by W. L. Campbell.
The organization of the Mail Publishing Company, as it now exists, is John C. Shea, President; Samuel Williams, Secretary. Directors-Samuel Williams, John C. Shea, W. P. Campbell. The above gentlemen occupy the following posi- tions on the paper :
Samuel Williams, Editor.
John C. Shea, Business Manager.
W. L. Campbell, City Editor.
The growth of the Mail has been remarkable. In the winter of 1878-9 the Mail suffered severely from the effects of fire. The present management found the material of the paper in ashes and cinders. The expense of fitting up a re- spectable place of business on Missouri avenue was considerable, but the increase of business in the spring and summer of 1879 cleared the office of indebtedness and left a margin for future operations. So flattering was the outlook in the be- ginning of the present year that a new three-revolution Hoe press was ordered and a removal to a more commodious building determined upon.
The Mail is now issued from its new office in the "Mail Building," 115 West Sixth street.
THE EVENING STAR.
Recognizing the fact that Kansas City had become a metropolis and should have metropolitan adjuncts, Messrs. M. R. Nelson and S. E. Morss, formerly proprietors of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Sentinel, came to this city in the fall of 1880 and established The Evening Star, a low priced afternoon journal, similar in size and style to those which have proved so popular and profitable in all the other large cities of the country. The first number of The Evening Star appeared on the 18th of September. The paper was a success from the beginning, and at once secured a very large circulation. This has constantly increased, and the
577
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
business of the paper has grown so rapidly that on the first of March it was en- larged and removed to more commodious and convenient quarters at No. 14 West Fifth street, where it is at present located.
The Evening Star has achieved a remarkable success, which its publishers ascribe to the fact that it is enterprising, thoroughly independent in politics, and furnished at a very low price. It is now well established on a firm basis, and is universally recognized as one of the institutions of Kansas City.
" THE PRICE CURRENT AND LIVE STOCK RECORD."
The history of this paper has been the history of the commercial growth of Kansas City and the live stock interest of the New West. The driving of Texas cattle to Kansas having reached such importance by 1871 as to attract capital and general attention that a publication in support of this growing trade was sug- gested, the Drover, a small folio paper, was started under the auspices of the rail- roads, Frank L. Hise, editor. It ran eighteen months, when it changed hands. Henry Dickson took it and changed its name to the Cattle Trail, making a more general advocate of the live stock business tributary to this market. In 1874 it was again sold, E. W. Perry, now of Chicago, becoming its purchaser. Our jobbing commission trade had grown by this time to considerable importance. Messrs. Perry & Co. made their paper more general in character and called it the Price Current and Live Stock Reporter. The paper at once took its stand among the first commercial journals of the west, and soon made for itself a high reputation. In 1875, the publishers, Messrs. Ramsey, Millett & Hudson, pur- chased a half interest, and the year following, bought full control. Charles E. Hasbrook, now business manager of the Kansas City Times, was given its busi- ness management and A. D. Simons became its editor, and the paper was steadily pushed forward. It had by this time won for itself a permanent place among the leading papers of its kind in the west and the recognized exponent of trade matters and the live stock interest of this section. It was enlarged to a six column folio in 1876, and in the fall of 1879 changed into a six column quarto and enlarged its scope, the rapid settling up of the country west of us and its development opening up new fields of labor and necessitating a broader conduct of the paper. All matters pertaining to the material interest of the New West is now touched upon. The blooded stock and agricultural interests receive in- creased attention and commercial matters are more liberally treated.
About the beginning of the year 1878, Messrs. Hasbrook and Simons both withdrew and Cuthbert Powell, Esq., took charge of the editorial management of the paper and has conducted its columns since, with constantly increasing interest.
"THE COMMERCIAL INDICATOR."
This publication was established on the 4th day of April, 1878, by Messrs. Etue, Holmes & Simons, as a six-column commercial journal, giving special at- tention to the grain, live stock and produce markets of Kansas City, and the live stock and agricultural interests of the country commercially tributary thereto. Messrs. Etne and Simons, who had special charge of the editorial conduct of the paper, were both well known in the city as superior commercial reporters, both having, at different times, filled that department of the Kansas City Times, and Mr. Simons more lately having been identified with the Price Current. With such a start, and with such editors, the new journal was successful from the first beyond the expectations of its publishers. They owned and conducted a job printing office, in connection with the publication of the Indicator until the first of December, 1878, when the copartnership was dissolved, Mr. Holmes retiring and taking the job office, leaving the Indicator to Messrs. Etue and Simons. About three weeks afterward the office was destroyed by fire, but such was the energy and enterprise of the publishers that they procured new material, and 37
FANK
RAMSEY.MILLETT-HUDSON.KC.MO
BANK BUILDING, CORNER FIFTH AND DELAWARE STREETS.
579
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
continued their paper and the market circular issued in connection with it, without the loss of an issue. In April, 1879, the paper was enlarged to seven columns to the page, and since that time the pressure of has been accommodated by the use of smaller type, the publishers preferring this course to making their paper too large and unwieldly for the reader.
In January, 1880, the Indicator published a very complete statistical re- view of the live stock and grain trades, and of the general commerce and trade of Kansas City. Its reports of the Kansas City markets are used daily by the Western Associated Press, and as authority on markets and commercial intelli- gence generally, it occupies a leading position among western commercial journals. It has now become a large and valuable interest, and like most of the great papers of the country, has been built up with its own earnings. Such is its standing that its opinions are freely quoted by the great dailies of St. Louis, Chicago, New York, and other cities.
In addition to the Indicator, Messrs. Etue and Simons publish the Merchant's Exchange Daily Indicator and Daily Live Stock Report, both of which were estab- lished by Mr. P. D. Etue, in January, 1877. The Daily Live Stock Report was the first publication of the kind in Kansas City, and is now the only one, though several others have been brought into existence and died, since it was established.
"THE KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY."
This publication was first issued in February 1877 by Col. Theodore S. Case, and has been successfully maintained as a monthly scientific magazine. It is now in its fifth year in an enlarged and improved form. The idea of the publication was thus stated by the editor in the first issue.
" The increasing taste for scientific study which now-a-days manifests itself among all classes of readers, and the evident impossibility of any considerable number of them being able to spare the time necessary to examine the score of journals and magazines devoted to its special branches and subjects, have given rise to the belief that a periodical consisting of a careful resume of the most im- portant inventions, discoveries and treaties of eminent, practical workers in the various departments of science and industry would be a convenience and of ser- vice to such persons, and might meet with sufficient encouragement to make it a success." * * * " As announced in our prospectus, this periodical will have for its object the popularizing of Science, and will be devoted to the interests of the artisan, the mechanic, the farmer and the household as well as of the more scientific reader."
The Review has been carefully conducted with close reference to this idea, and has met with the approbation and support of many of the best and most prominent scientists of this country and of Europe, many of whom have con- tributed original articles to its columns. It has also been the recipient of a great many compliments from the most noted scientific magazines and journals of the world.
Owing to the liberality of the Kansas City people, who feel it their duty, and make it a matter of pride to support every worthy enterprise originating here, it has succeeded beyond the publishers expectations, and is almost self-sustaining, the editor taking such pleasure in the work as to induce him to make up its deficiences rather than discontinue its publication. Being a western publication, devoted to western interests, research and discovery, and the exponent of wes- tern thought and western theories, it merits the cordial support of western people and ought to, and it is believed will, soon become a source of profit to its able and enterprising publisher. It is a sixty-four paged octavo monthly and is furnished to subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents a year, or twenty-five cents by the single number.
Among its contributors during the past year were Profs. G. C. Broadhead, G.
580
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
C. Swallow, F. H. Snow, E. A. Popenoe, E. L. Berthoud, H. S. Pritchett, A. J. Coutant, T. B. Smith, F. W. Clarke, F. E. Nipher, J. T. Lovewell, E. T. Nuson, S. H. Trowbridge, Drs. Ivon D. Heath, A. S. Child, Chas. H. Sternberg, Geo. Halley, Col. R. T. Van Horn, and a large number of other western writers of more or less note, beside such eastern scientists as Prof. H. C. Bolton, Prof. C. V. Riley, Dr. S. W. Williston, Capt. H. W. Howgate, Isaac P. Noyes, Prof. O. T. Mason and Prof. John Rae, F. G. S., of London, and M. F. Connor, of Paris.
"MIRROR OF PROGRESS."
This is a weekly journal devoted to the dissemination of philosophic free thought and scientific knowledge. It was established by David Eccles and E. P. West, of Kansas City, the first number being issued the 28th of June, 1879. The object was declared to be " To afford a channel for the unrestricted flow of honest opinion." "It will be devoted to science, art, literature, physics, metaphysics, philosophy, in a general sense, and whatever tends to an intelligent, honest indi- viduality, and independence of thought." "We are aware," they say, "of the grave responsibility we assume; but, with the honest support of the lovers of truth, we hope to do something toward developing the good which is innate in our race, and to add in some degree to the happiness of mankind."
Mr. Eccles retired from the paper with the twenty-second number on the 13th of December, 1879. In his valedictory he assigns as a reason for so doing, "the relentless strain of a prolonged financial depression compels me most reluctantly to sever my connection with this paper and at the same time bury a most flatter- ing ambition."
The Mirror of Progress was continued under the management of Mr. West until Nov. 20, 1880, when Dr. A. J. Clark, of Indianapolis, Ind., became asso- ciated with it under the name of Progress. Dr. Clark's association with the paper was very brief owing to the culmination of circumstances not anticipated when entering upon the work. His retirement left Mr. West again the sole heir to the venture.
On the 17th of March, 1881, the transfer of the paper, under the old name of the Mirror of Progress, to Mrs. Mattie Parry Krekel and Mr. David Eccles, who was formerly associated with it, was consummated, and Mr. West's con- nection with it was severed after an association of more than twenty months from the beginning of the enterprise. Mr. West, on leaving the paper, said :
" On the 28th day of June, 1879, more than twenty months ago, the Mirror of Progress began its battle for existence amid opposing forces, sometimes envi- roned by trying difficulties, and has become firmly rooted in the vast field of journalism, and, I hope, in the affections of a generous people ; or those, at least, who seek, through mental freedom, the elevation and happiness of man. I have devoted my entire time as faithfully as I could, and without pecuniary compen- sation, besides the expenditure of large sums of money to establish the paper. In this I have succeeded; the Mirror of Progress is firmly fixed among the jour- nals of the day, and although I may not enjoy its fruits, it is no small satisfaction to know that I have planted and nourished to a vigorous growth in the west a journal devoted to the highest human aspiration, mental freedom and the amelio- ration of the human race.
Mr. Eccles, on the 7th of May following, "retired," leaving Mrs. Krekel the sole owner and manager of the paper. Under her able management, the Mirror of Progress may be considered permanently fixed. She has the means as. well as the inclination to continue its publication; and, although new in the edi- torial field, she has won an enviable distinction and greatly improved the paper in the limited time she has controlled it. By the inspiration of genius Mrs. Krekel has the happy faculty of saying just the right thing at the right time, and
581
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
with the assurance that she will keep pace with the progressive tendencies of the age there is every assurance of success.
THE WESTERN NEWSPAPER UNION.
The Western Newspaper Union, 529 Delaware street, is one of the branches of a strong corporation, the principal office of which is located at Des Moines, Iowa. The company have a paid-up capital of $100,000, and have large and thoroughly equipped houses at Des Moines, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Paul. They are now furnishing sheets to more than 400 newspapers in the great "New West," with an aggregate circulation of more than 200,000 copies weekly. In addition to this they have a large and rapidly increasing wholesale paper trade and an extensive and growing stereotyping business. The Kansas City house was established in 1877 by W. A. Bunker and others. When the present corpo- ration was formed, those associated with him retired from the concern and he was appointed manager. The business of this branch has increased to such an ex- tent as to render their present quarters inadequate, and a building is now being erected on the corner of Ninth and Ann streets for their use. This structure will be 30x120 feet and four stories high, with basement and sub-cellar. When com- pleted it will be one of the largest and most convenient printing establishments in the country. This enterprise will not absorb any part of the working capital of the Western Newspaper Union, the necessary funds being supplied from the pri- vate resources of two members of the corporation.
The success of this concern furnishes another example of what may be ac- complished in the rapidly developing west when business ability and ample capi- tal are employed. Every member of this corporation is a practical newspaper man, and devotes his entire time and attention to the furthering of its interests. It is therefore not surprising that they have achieved a degree of success of which they may well be proud.
The following history of the societies and churches in Kansas City has been compiled for this history by Mrs. J. D. Parker :
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The early records of this church date back as far as 1834, when Father Ben- edict Roux had charge of the congregation, which had been previously organized by some Jesuit Fathers from St. Louis, probably in 1825. The church records of this earlier date were swept away in the great flood of 1844, and the earliest record now extant is of a baptism which was performed by Father Verrey in February, 1834. During the stay of Father Roux the first log church was built and served the needs of the scattering congregation embraced within an area of fully twenty square miles, for upward of twenty years. Father Bernard Don- nelly, the first stationary pastor of western Missouri, was sent, in the summer of 1845, to take charge of the mission at Independence and Kansas City, then known as Westport Landing. From this time the church developed slowly but steadily until, in 1857, the brick church at the corner of Broadway and Eleventh street was erected. After the close of the war the church rapidly increased in numbers and has developed in this direction up to the present time. The finan- cial condition of the church is good, the present valuation of the property, in- cluding the ten acres originally purchased by Father Roux, being $105,000. Within the past year a bishop has been appointed to reside in Kansas City, on account of the growing importance of this denomination.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SOUTH).
This is one of the pioneer churches of Kansas City, being organized as early as 1845. Col. Chick, father of J. S. Chick, Mrs. Chick and James Hickman, were three of the five original members, none of whom are now living. The
582
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
first services were conducted at the residence of Col. Chick, and afterward in an old log school-house on the corner of Missouri avenue and Locust street. Not long after its organization the society purchased lots on the west side of Delaware. street, near Fifth, for ninety dollars, and made preparations for the erection of a house of worship. The building was completed in 1852, and dedicated by Bishop Paine. This was the first house of worship built in Kansas City, and for several years was used by the various religious denominations for organization and wor- ship. The handsome brick edifice on Walnut street, now occupied by this society, was completed in 1879, at a cost of $35,000, and was dedicated the same year by Bishop Wightman. It is one of the finest church edifices in the city, handsomely furnished, and convenient of access. It will accommodate an audience of over 800, comfortably. This church is rapidly extending its influ- ence, during the past year having organized two churches, expending over $10,- ooo for this purpose, and also secured property and commenced the erection of another building which will cost about $4, coo. The membership is large, num- bering 400 at present, and steadily increasing. About $8,000 are annually con- tributed by this society for benevolent objects and incidental expenses, two mem- bers of the church giving $1,ooo each for educational purposes. Among the pastors who have labored in the church are W. M. Leftwich, D. D., J. W. Lewis, D. D., C. D. N. Campbell, D. D., and S. S. Bryant, D. D. Rev. C. C. Woods, D. D., is the present pastor of the church, and his labors among his peo- ple have been abundantly successful.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
The First Baptist Church was organized April 21st, 1855, with twelve charter members, whose names appear upon the church records in the following order : Robert Holmes, Mary A. Holmes, T. M. James, Sarah J. James, A. L. Martin, Elizabeth M. Martin, D. L. Mimms, Martha Lykins, Dr. J. Lykins, Julia Lykins, Rev. R. S. Thomas, Elvira Thomas. Before the erection of the first church edifice the regular services of the church were conducted alternately in the old court-house, and the school-house, or in some one of the different churches. In 1858 the brick building at the corner of Eighth and May streets was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars, and was occupied until the completion of the new building in 1880. During the twenty years which have elapsed since the organization of the church, ten pastors have been connected with it: Rev. Robert Thomas, being the first, followed by R. S. Doolan, J. B. Fuller, J. W. Warder, Joseph Maple, F. M. Ellis, J. E. Chambliss, J. C. Bonham, C. Monjeau and J. E. Roberts, the present pastor. The new house of worship, on the south- west corner of Baltimore avenue and Twelfth street, was built by Col. W. H. Harris, of Cleveland Ohio, as a memorial of Stillman Witt, of Cleveland. It was dedicated February 15, 1881, by Rev. Dr. Bowker, and donated to the society free of all encumbrance. The church is built in the Elizabethan style, is richly finished and handsomely furnished, and has a seating capacity of over four hundred. The church has steadily increased in numbers, the present member- ship being two hundred and fifty. The Sabbath school is in a prosperous condi- tion, having an average attendance of nearly two hundred. The annual contribu- tion of the church amounts to four thousand dollars.
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Central Presbyterian Church, in its original elements and organization, dates with the year 1857. A preliminary meeting was held in the old Barclay residence then standing on the bluff, near the southeast corner of Delaware and Third streets, and at that time a petition was agreed upon to be presented to the Presbytery of Lafayette, asking for the appointment of a commission to organize a Presbyterian church at Kansas City-the pioneer of its denomination. In re-
583
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
sponse to this request, and by appointment of Presbytery, Revs. Symington and Bracken met with the original members first constituting the church and com- pleted its organization in May, 1857, at the old Seminary home of Prof. Thomas, now remaining between Delaware and Wyandotte, on Fifteenth street. About two-thirds of this first membership are yet living, and remain members of the present Central Church. Rev. Robert S. Symington, now residing in California, was the first minister who served the congregation, continuing about three years, and was followed by Rev. John Hancock, Rev. George Miller and Rev. Robert Scott, with others, filling up the period to 1865, when Rev. J. L. Yantis, D. D. (now a resident of Lafayette county, Mo. ), was invited to preach and finally took charge of the church in October, 1865. with encouraging prospects. The mem- bership had increased from the original ten or twelve to almost fifty at the begin- ning of the year 1866. The first house of worship regularly occupied was located on Third street, between Main and Walnut, which, after several years, be- came unsuitable, services being for a time held in other places; and the congre- gation were worshiping in Long's Hall, on Main street, when a lot was procured, and, during the ministry of Dr. Yantis, a comfortable frame church was erected on Grand avenue near Ninth street. About this time a number of members sep- arated from this church, forming a new organization, now known as the First Presbyterian church, and which consequently participates in a common history up to that time. In 1868, Dr. Yantis, having resigned his charge, was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Cheney, who, with others, supplied the pulpit until August, 1869, when Rev. A. D. Madeira was called and finally duly installed as pastor, con- tinuing in that relation nearly twelve years. In July, 1869, initiatory steps were taken to secure a location and build thereon a permanent and more commodious house of worship, adapted to the requirements of an increasing congregation. Selection was finally made and subscriptions obtained to build the substantial and tasteful brick edifice now located on the southwest corner of Grand avenue and Eighth street, completed about ten years ago, which is now known as the Central Presbyterian church.
The first duly elected officers of this church, in 1857, were W. P. Allen and C. M. Root, as elders, and J. C. McCoy and S. J. Platt, as deacons, all of whom, with one exception, are still living, and remain members therein.
Its present officers are : Elders-Geo. R. Peake, G. Bird, T. K. Hanna, T. B. Lester, T. P. Boteler, J. W. Byers and J. M. Love.
Deacons-C. D. Lucas, Wm. Peake, Wm. C. Duvall, W. H. McGillivray, T. F. Willis and W. S. Bird.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Perhaps none of the religious denominations of Kansas City have had more financial disabilities to contend with than the First Presbyterian Church. Their building has been destroyed by fire and storms at different times, necessitating an unusual outlay for building purposes, and in a measure retarding the growth of their church. No less than four church edifices have been erected since the first organization in 1857, at an expenditure of over eighteen thousand dollars. The original site for the church was on Wyandotte street near Seventh, but after the destruction by fire of the third building, the location was abandoned, the lots were sold and property purchased on Grand avenue, where the present building was erected in the winter of 1869-70, under the pastorate of Rev. Robert Irwin. The society expended about three thousand dollars in the erection of this church, ex- clusive of the amount invested in the purchase of lots. Since then the building has been enlarged and improved, the membership increased, and the society is now in a prosperous condition. The fund annually contributed by the church is over four thousand dollars, and the present valuation of church property is about ten thousand dollars. The present building will not long suffice for the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.