The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 50

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148

USA > Missouri > Pettis County > Sedalia > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia > Part 50

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).

458

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

and such rates as would make the dealers and purchasers open their eyes, or swear according to his temperament or habits.

CHAPTER IV .- SEDALIA AFTER THE WAR.

The Effect of the War on the Town-A Picture of the Town as it was on New Year's Day, 1865-The New Men and Business Houses which were Added to the Town during the War-How the Wholesale Trade of Sedalia Began-The Grand Awakening in 1865-6 -The Newspaper of that Day-The First Brick Building Erected-The First Churches, Societies and Schools-First Public Hall, Street Grading, etc.

From the time of Gen. Thompson's raid, for a period of about six months, from October 1864, to April 1865, Sedalia was on a stand-still. But with the actual close of the war the town began a new life; the incubus of the war was removed from the shoulders of the young city, and she straitened herself for a fresh struggle. During the war the town had been constantly a military post, filled with soldiers and under their influ- ence. During each year, from the date of the arrival of the railroad, a few business men came to the town and started business in answer to the inexorable laws of supply and demand, and these few additions each year had at the beginning of 1865, increased the population to about 1,000 people, or double what it had been when the railroad first arrived. Among the new business men who came to the city and established themselves in Sedalia during the war, exclusive of those already mentioned as the very first business men of 1861, are the following: Louis Kumm established a small gunsmith, ammunition and jewelry store, on the north side of Main street, on about the present site of P. S. Little's furniture store; Abram Meyer in 1862, established a large saddlery house, on the south side of Main, near the corner of Ohio street; Taylor & Co., wholesale dry goods; Louis Beck, a brother of Maj. William Beck; Jefferson Cor- penning; Goodwin, a wagon maker; Mrs. Rauck, the only milliner in the city, who was noted for having a lovely daughter, young ladies being scarce in those days; John Stillwell, William Bockschmidt, Anderson and Tucker, Bixby and Houx, (had a store here in 1861, but did not come in person to the city until 1862.) In 1862 Geo. L. Faulhaber, late mayor, ran to Sedalia on the Pacific Railroad a messenger for the United States express company. He took charge of the office in 1863 and continued in charge until 1865. He was away for three years, then returned and became agent again, and is in charge of the office to-day. He is one of pioneers of the town and has had a beneficial influence upon it.

As soon as peace was declared and established in 1865, the people in Central Missouri and Sedalia began to turn the energies which had been expended in fighting to business enterprises. Those whose fortunes had been broken by the war wanted to recover them or restore them; those

459

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

LEVITYPE -C2 CHICAGO,

'FAIRVIEW " RESIDENCE OF S. T LUPE, DRESDEN TOWNSHIP, MO.

460

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

in the east who wanted to seek new fields and fortunes, began at once to do it. Many soldiers who had been here during the war had made the possibilties of the town known to their friends elsewhere.

It is impossible to describe the eagerness and enthusiasm with which every one in and around Sedalia began to work. They worked with feverish haste and energy; every one seemed to rejoice at the return of peace, every one who had been in the country had a taste of genuine war which would satisfy them for a life time. Half a dozen men who are alive to-day predicted in 1863 that Sedalia would be what she is to-day. "It is bound to be a live, big town; I am going right there, stick my stake and stay till it sprouts or I wither," was a common expression among men of keen foresight in 1865.

The big southwest trade, which began with the town, started afresh in 1863, and continued to increase until 1865, now began to increase with a tenfold rapidity. This was augmented by the local trade. Men of energy from all the old towns around Sedalia, charmed by her youthful beauty, vivacity and "business go-aheaditiveness" came to the town and went into business. The farmers throughout the county began the work of repair; and as the slaves were no longer such, they began to look with eyes of favor on the sulky plow, the reaper and mower, the steam thresher, the wheat drill, the corn planter and the riding hay rake and the hand- some, substantial steel axle and thimble skein wagon. It was simply astounding the demand there was in the spring and summer of 1865-6 for such articles. The intelligent class of former slave-holding farmers, "knowing a good thing when they saw it," bought and used these articles. The northern and eastern people who came to the town, had all been brought up to hard work; to habits of economy and self support; they were full of the vim, hard practical commercial instinct; they were full of push, and, the influence of the people and the town of Sedalia was soon visible to every one but those who would not see, throughout Central Missouri.

Sedalia was the missionary of a New Business Gospel, the representa- tive of the New Era after the death of slavery, and it is only just now that the State has begun to recognize that fact. During the war Sedalia was like one of those hardy ground vines which had a large stone lying on top of it. It was full of latent vitality and the earth around the roots was full of richness, but the crushing weight upon it prevented it from growing, and though it could creep a little into the few openings around it, it merely lived until some kind power removed the weight from it. Then freedom, sunshine, air and its inherent vitality made it grow with an almost magical swiftness. At the end of the war Sedalia was still a village of "box houses." There were not a dozen buildings in the town that could have justly been called substantial.

461

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

When the first wild fury of war swept over the country the entire busi- ness of the town became stagnant, goods were removed back to Jefferson City and houses abandoned. This stagnation lasted from May, 1861, through the winter of 1861, and on until the middle of the summer of 1862. In the fall of 1862 the Union troops began to get a good foothold in the State, and Sedalia began to be an important military post. Then troops were stationed in the town and in the vicinity, and the country about it was somewhat tranquilized by the presence of the Union military power. Early in 1863 there were a number of large wholesale and retail houses in the town. Among them were the old houses of Cloney, Craw- ford & Co., Taylor & Co., Bixby & Houx, Wm. Beck, Theo. Blæss, and the stage companies.

All the supplies which were needed by the people in the wide area of country-then without railroads, south and southwest of Sedalia, were purchased in Sedalia. Wagon trains drawn by oxen, mules and horses, came not only from all south and southwest Missouri, but from south eastern Kansas, from Arkansas, from the Indian Territory and even from Texas. It was even then that the wholesale trade of Sedalia, which now amounts to nearly $3,000,000 and is represented by thirty commercial travelers, began.

The people of the Indian Territory used to bring great droves of Indian · ponies and cattle here. Enormous quantities of hides, pelts and furs were also brought here, even in 1863, and exchanged for goods or shipped to the east. All the prairie around Sedalia was dotted with the camp fires and wagons of the frieghters. Down on Flat Creek, near the fords and large pools of water, there were camps all the time except in mid winter. The main street of the town was from day to day filled with cov- ered wagons loading with goods. All this business was done by a very few houses, who took "big chances " against the dangers of the war, and doubtless reaped large profits. To show what business was done by the few houses it is necessary to state that in the year 1863 the house of Cloney, Crawford & Co., the largest and the pioneer business firm of the city, sold $270,000 worth of goods. The local trade of the town was light in proportion because so much of the population were under arms. At the end of the year 1864 the place was still temporary, and one big fire might have swept it away. There were no mills, no manufactories, no schools, no churches and but one railroad. On January 1, 1865, two and a half squares in length on the north and the south sides of Main streets had the business houses scattered on them. There were a lot of frame cottages, the principal residences of the town, up on each side of Jefferson and St. Louis streets, east of Ohio. The hotels and stables were over north of the present site of the Garrison House Park. There were

462

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

buildings scattered around the central business squares of the town, but not many. There are not twenty houses in Sedalia to-day, July 1, 1882, that were standing on January 1, 1865. Everything above the ground to-day has been put there in the past seventeen years. The entire town, outside of a few scattered railroad shanties and negro cabins in Lincolnville, lay inside of the square bound by Moniteau street on the west, Massachusetts street on the east, Jefferson street on the north, and Second street on the south. Let the reader who is familiar enough with the present city pause, and for a moment cast his eyes over these bound- aries; let him follow the few squares east, west, north and south and see what a small area it is, compared with the area of over 3,000 acres now covered by Sedalia. Then let the eye run up and down each side of Ohio, Main, Second and Third streets and see the solid rows of one, two and three story brick business houses, and then let him remember that in 1865 it was open prairie. Then look at East Sedalia, South Sedalia, Sicher's Park and Lincolnville. Pearl River, between Second and Third, was a little branch with the grass growing on its banks. Where stands the stately Offield block was a low, swampy spot. The big cattle corral mentioned in an earlier part of this history, still covered a part of the area south of the buildings on Main, between Ohio and Osage. There was not a brick house in the town, not a foot of stone sidewalk or street, not a foot of plate glass. This is the picture of Sedalia in the opening of the year 1865. Those who have seen the town from its christening, know that its growth has been natural and healthy. Like a vigorous child, which has reached a noble manhood, Sedalia crept before it walked and walked before it was able to run.

The first newspaper started in Sedalia was the Sedalia Advertiser. This paper was started by Geo. R. & Ben Lingle about July, 1864, and was edited by Dr. Logan Clark and O. A. Crandall during the campaign. It was Democratic in politics and supported Gen. McClellan for president during the campaign of 1864. It continued under the control of the Lingles until the spring of 1865, when they sold out to Stafford & Magann, who continued it under the name of the Sedalia Times, and it now com- prises part of the Eagle-Times. Dr. Logan Clark died July 23, 1882.

The first Democratic convention held in the county after the breaking out of the civil war, was held at the court house in Georgetown, in June, 1864. The only persons present were Hon. A. M. Forbes, Capt. John M. Sneed, Dr. J. P. Thatcher, J. C. Higgins, E. C. Bouldin, O. A. Crandall, and E. O. Cheatham. The small attendance was caused by threats of the Militia officers that, if the Democrats attempted to hold a meeting, it would be broken up, and only the above named had the courage to attend. There was no disturbance, however, and delegates were chosen to a State conven- tion, soon after to be held in St. Louis.

463

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

In the spring of 1865, Messrs. P. G. Stafford and James G. Magann took charge of " The Sedalia Advertiser," and changed its name to the Sedalia Weekly Times, which name it retained until the middle of March, 1882, when the Times and the Sedalia Eagle were consolidated. The office was then located on the south side of West Main street, between Ken- tucky and Osage.

The second newspaper, Democratic in politics, was established in the spring of 1866. It was founded by the same parties who had started the Times, the Lingle Brothers. The paper was called the Independent Press. Dr Logan Clark, still a resident of the city, was the editor-in-chief. It was published about nine months, when the office was destroyed by fire November 7, 1866, and from that time the publication of the paper ceased, and no further effort was ever made to revive it.

Mr. F. A. Sampson of this city who has gathered together a mass of old newspapers, statistics and data, which are of inestimable value, and prove him to be a true student, a man of profound foresight and the keenest lit- erary judgment, has a few numbers of the first issues of the Sedalia Weekly Times of June, 1865. These are the only printed records of Sedalia of so early a date now known to be in existence.

From these papers it is learned that, in addition to those already men- tioned as business men of 1861-64 there were the following persons in business in June, 1865, in Sedalia: Lawyers-Col. Jno. F. Philips, Judge Foster P. Wright, Geo. Heard, M. Hilton, O. A. Crandall, Chan. P. Townsley; Dr. J. S. Brackett, dentist; T. W. Moses, collector of soldiers' claims; Hart & Bob. Barnhart, carpenters; Parker House, kept by Hun- gerford & Wilson; A. Moses, grocer; J. T. Brown, grocer; Henry Suess, saddlery; Hughes & Ellis, dry goods; J. G. Beck, druggist; E. Davis, livery stable; Elias Laupheimer & Wm. Bloess, dry goods and groceries; F. L. Parker, livery stable; Vickers & Landes, dry goods and groceries; Taylor & Co., E. Bixby & Co., firm, Elias Bixby & Jno. W. Houx, Chris- tina Landmann, fancy groceries, wines, beer and cigars; Mrs. Faulhaber & Sister, fashionable milliners. The advertisements of all the persons and firms named appear in the issue of the Weekly Times of June 16, 1865, and, it may therefore be presumed that they were the principal business institutions of the town, where there is now a wholesale trade alone of nearly $3,000,000.

Mr. P. G. Stafford was the editor and manager of the Times, at that period. Mr. Jas. G. Magann, a practical printer, a fair editor and repor- torial writer, had not yet come from Washington, Missouri, although he owned an interest in the Times. The leading editorial of that date shows the condition of the town and country. It says:

" Until the present week we have never felt at liberty to say that the war was over in Missouri. Two years ago many well meaning people in

464

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

Missouri congratulated themselves that the war was over. * * * But Price came back last fall, and found, though not as many as he expected, many persons treasonable and foolish enough to follow him. * * * There is now no reason why persons of treasonable proclivities should flock to this state to carry on the war, either with force of arms or to fight for political ascendency. * * The war is over in Missouri and our noble State, freed from the incubus of slavery, and the threatened danger of Confederate rule, will start forward with giant strides in the path of honor and prosperity."

In June, 1865, the circuit court was in session. Judge Tutt, now of Lexington, presided. Jno. E. Ryland, now judge of the criminal court, was prosecuting attorney. The attorneys present were Manetho Hilton and Jno. F. Philips, O. A. Crandall, of Sedalia, and Messrs. Douglass, Bryant, J. H. Draffen and Jos. L. Stephens, of Boonville, and E. Burke, of California, Mo., Geo. E. Leighton, of St. Louis, was also present.

There was a contest as to who was clerk of the court. The Times of June 16, 1865, refering to this matter says: "The new clerk, removed and not removed." "Capt. Putnam, commanding this post (it was still a military post, it seems,) received an order yesterday morning from Gen. Harding, to undo what he had done under orders of Gov. Fletcher, that is, put Lowe in, and Christian and Bassett out of office. Christian and Bassett were accordingly notified. Court being in session. Mr. Lowe (S. A.) was called, but did not appear. The court adjourned for an hour, and then proceeded with Mr. Christian as clerk." This was the second term of court held in Sedalia.

During the week of June 16th, eighty letters were left uncalled for, as advertised in the Times. Wm. H. Allison had a school here, in this year and month, called the " Sedalia Institute." J. M. Byler was one of the teachers. An advertisement calling for " Proposals to Build a Court House in Sedalia," appears in the same issue.

The proceedings of the city council are published in the same paper. At the meeting, June 6, 1865, a warrant was ordered issued for the sum of $122 "for hauling manure off of Osage street." Another warrant for $122.81 was ordered issued "to pay for rent and supplies furnished to the small pox pest house, during 1864." A petition praying for the opening of Lamine street, was received and read. J. L. Vickers was president of the council, and T. W. Moses, register.

From the issue of the Times of June 23, 1865, it is learned that the first public hall was completed that summer. It was built by John W. Harding on the south side of Main street, between Osage and Kentucky. It was seventy-eight feet deep, twenty-two feet wide, and had two stories and a basement. This building was occupied by the Bazoo newspaper in 1869. The basement was used as a restaurant. The second or street floor was used as a billiard and bar room, and the upper room as a public amuse-

465

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

ment hall. A grand ball was held in this hall, on July 4, 1865. Thos. E. Bassett, late county and circuit clerk, publishes "a card," a column and a half in length in this issue, containing various affidavits to clear him of the charge of " having made Confederate speeches in 1861."

An editorial announces that the " city fathers have given notice that bids will be received for the building of certain culverts, and for the grading of West Main street." This was in all probability the first propo- sition to grade the streets of Sedalia, as a half column is devoted to the subject. The paper contains also the call of Henry Suess, " Colonel of the Pettis County Missouri Militia," ordering that all persons subject to military duty appear at Sadalia, June 26, 1865, and at various other places in the county, to be organized into companies of militia, "in accordance with the ordinance passed by the State Convention." It also contains the announcement of the marriage of Col. John D. Crawford to Miss Annie Parberry.

In accordance with the above call of Maj. Suess, on June 26, 1865, two companies of militia were organized with the following officers: E. Davis and Chan. P. Townsley, captains; W. H. Porter, John W. Houx, W. P. Jackson and Jacob Nussberger, lieutenants. The regular troops had long before been withdrawn, and these companies were organized to be ready in case of any emergency which might arise.

The first flouring mill-and it was the first institution in the shape of a manufactory-was built in Sedalia, in June, 1865. It was completed in the fall. Wm. and Theodore Hoberecht built it. It is still in active opera- tion, and is now known as the Capital Mills, Jno. F. Antes, proprietor. Maj. Bacon Montgomery of the famous Sixth Missouri Cavalry, was in this summer promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He is the well known city editor of the Sedalia Daily Democrat. He fought for his country during the war, as boldly as he now writes for his readers. A. J. and I. W. Johnson, a new firm of carpenters, came to the city that year. Kebrman and Gabriel Vogler received a new stock of furniture. Chas. Hartenback then owned and conducted the Eagle Hotel on Main street. On the 4th of July there was a grand Sunday school picnic at Wool- ridge's Grove, a mile north of town. Dr. Tobias was the leader of an amateur band of singers. The delinquent tax list fills four columns of fine type in the paper for June.

In the summer and fall of 1865 the first brick buildings were erected in Sedalia, and the material to build them was brought from Washington, Mo., on the cars.

Messrs. Stafford & Magann erected the first, a one-story brick, on the southeast corner of Second and Ohio streets, for their newspaper office. That point was then in the business suburbs of the town. The building

466

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

is still standing, and is now occupied by Aug. T. Fleischmann as a drug store.

Col. John F. Philips' residence was the next built. At about the same time James G. Tesch and his brother erected two two-story brick store- rooms, on the north side of Main street, between Osage and Kentucky. These were the first two-story brick buildings built in the town, and are the same now standing west of Parmerlee Brothers. Quite a number of frame houses were put up that year also, but no record of them could be procured. These three were the only brick buildings put up in that season.

Work was begun upon the first church building in the town the same year. The Independent Presbyterian Church erected the edifice on the corner of Lamine and Second streets, which is still standing. When it was partly completed an ice-cream and strawberry festival was held in it and this was the first church sociable.

The first two real estate offices were opened; James M. Byler and Dr. Clarke managed one and Cotton Brothers & Reese the other.

The first two additions to the city were made this year. Smith & Mar- tin's First Addition, extending from Third street south to the alley south of Fifth street; from Washington street on the east to Missouri avenue on the west, containing sixteen blocks, was laid off June 23, 1865.

C. D. Lesher and Louis Kumm's Addition, on the west of town, was laid off Dec. 12, 1865.

The rush of immigration had begun and the town was filled by persons seeking a business location or a farm. The land offices emphatically and literally "did a land office business" in those days. Jas. M. Byler was one of the most active men in selling land and making trades. In the year 1865, the Parker House, containing thirty-four small rooms, took in, in the hotel, billiard hall and bar-room, the sum of $48,000.

THE YEAR 1866.

An outline history of the city during the year 1866 will now be given. During the latter part of 1865 and the early part of 1866 a great many men came here, who had a marked influence upon the destiny of the town, and contributed greatly to its development and advancement. Many of these gentlemen are still citizens of the city, to which they came when it was a village, and the mere mention of their names is sufficient to suggest their history, at least to the majority of the oldest residents of the city.

Among the new citizens, who were here in the spring of 1866 and actively engaged in business, are the following: W. W. S. Snoddy, Lucius L. Bridges, Jas. S. Botsford, late U. S. District Attorney, Henry C. Sinnet, J. M. Glasscock, C. C. Bassett, Arch. J. Sampson, late Attor- ney-General of Colorado; John S. Cochrane, P. C. Hughes, lawyers;

467

HISTORY OF SEDALJA.

Drs. A. Y. Hall, J. H. McGirk, A. Condee, Thos. J. Montgomery (a sur- geon in Sedalia during the war); John W. Trader; Carman & P. G. Stafford, real estate agents; John Walde, book store; John R. Stewart and John F. Jenkins, extensive wholesale hardware and agricultural imple- ments; H. C. Smith & Bro., hardware; Vogler & Nussberger, hardware & furniture; J. R. Veeters, drug store, Volney and Frank Mason, drug- gists; Staley, Vinton & Co., A. P. Morey, of Shields, Milliken & Morey, dry goods; Chas. C. Taylor, jeweler and watchmaker; E. Lungstras & Co., Wm. Latour; Christopher Demuth, W. B. Adams, firm of Demuth & Adams, brickmakers; R. H. Moses, bricklayer and architect; John Stryker, builder and bricklayer; Cyrus Newkirk and Col. A. D. Jaynes, the founders of the first bank, the First National Bank; Col. Richard Ritter, James M. Mills, Clifton Wood, J. G. White, lumber dealer, Jamison & Oates, wagon manufacturers; W. S. Baker, John J. Yeater, grocers; John F. Antes, Jos. E. Hillis, cooper shop; S. H. Beiler & Co., grocers; W. C. & J. J. Weiler, livery stable; C. E. Smith, clothing; J. H. Mertz, druggist; S. L. Highleyman, deputy circuit clerk; John S. Landes, clerk; John D. Crawford (born and raised in the county and identified with the town from its very start, though a resident of the county); Jas. P. Leake, John Burkhardt, B. G. Wilkerson, a prominent lawyer, and nephew of Gen. George R. Smith, founder of the town.

The summer of 1866 was the beginning of "the great building era," and an important event was the establishment of the first brick yard by Demuth & Adams, who made the material from which were built many of the principal houses of the town, which are standing to-day. Mr. Demuth had furnished the troops at the post during the war with beef, from early in 1862, and having done business in the place recognized the necessity for having brick ready when the demand for them came. The first kiln was ready in June. This firm made the brick for the Stewart & Jenkins building on Main street, now occupied by W. S. Mackey; for all the buildings on the north side of Main, between Osage and Kentucky streets, but three; for over half those on the north side of Main, between Osage and Ohio; for Chas. Lesher's building on the south side of East Main, now occupied by Keifer's saloon; for Louis Kumm's residence in East Sedalia; for the Bazoo office on Ohio street; for the Old Red Store on West Main; for the Ohio street M. E. Church; for the brick formerly on the corner now occupied by D. H. Smith; all of which were erected in 1866. They also furnished the brick for the residences of Col. A. D. Jaynes, Cyrus Newkirk and M. M. Pritchard, on Broadway, which were built later, and for the entire Ilgen House block, and the Christian Church. D. T. Hartshorn finally bought Mr. Adams' interest in the yard. The firm continued to furnish the brick for nearly all the brick houses which were contracted up to 1871. The present Bazoo office was built by

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.

The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 50

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882 Publisher: [n.p.] Number of Pages: 1148

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: [n.p.]
Number of Pages: 1148