The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 64

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

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MISSOURI COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS' ASSOCIATON.

Organized March 4, 1880. Present membership 100. President, J. W. Kennedy; Secretary and Treasurer, Geo. Ferrell. The first organi- zation of commercial travelers in Sedalia, of which there are now over thirty, was a local organization, formed by and composed exclusively of Sedalia representatives of Sedalia wholesale houses. It was called the Sedalia Commercial Travelers' Association. The members who were instrumental in the formation of this first society were F. E. Hoffman, Henry Allen, S. S. Sherman, J. W. Kennedy, Geo. Ferrell, Jno. L. Hall, R. W. Wiley, J. W. Murphy, D. I. Holcomb, L. A. Ross, Seymour Lip- sis, Chas. Decklemeyer, Dan Hurlburt, Louis Schrader, Thos. Dugan. When it had gained strength, popularity, and efficiency on its own merits, the society was merged into the State organization, and became a branch of the Missouri Commercial Travelers' Association. In 1881 Henry W. Allen was sent as a delegate from this society to the meeting of the National Association.

CHAPTER XI .- THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

What Sedalia Has Done-What She Has-What She Expects to Do-And What She Will Have.

What Sedalia has done the previous chapters of this History will show. And her achievements are unsurpassed in the history of modern civiliza- tion in the west. Her last deeds are her best, for in the past two years and a half the city has built forty-five miles of railroad; successfully started a Street Railway, constructed a Water Works Reservoir at a cost of $10,000; gained the location of the General Railroad Hospital, and the Car Accountant's Office of the Missouri Pacific Railroad; has expended nearly two million dollars in general improvements and new

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buildings; and has Macadamized nearly two miles of streets. A bill is now before Congress asking for an appropriation of $50,000 for the erection of a Postoffice building; a project is on hand for the construction of thirty-five miles of railroad to connect the city with the Chicago and Alton Railroad, which will produce a competition in freight and passenger rates with the Missouri Pacific line; hundreds of buildings are in course of construction, and with the present prospects of bountiful crops the general business of the city will be greater than ever before in her history.

What the city now has and what it has done in the past year is a suffi- cient evidence of its present condition and capacities.

Let the thoughtful reader and the clear headed business man consider first what the city has in general:

Sedalia has more business houses doing trade in their own store-rooms and upon their own unencumbered, unborrowed capital, than any other city of the same size in the State.

Sedalia has to-day à less number of untenanted buildings than any other city in the State of the same size.

Sedalia is already a railroad center, and by the legislation of the late Constitutional Convention, she is likely to continue so, without a rival:

Because hereafter no county can issue bonds to railroads for more than five per cent. of the value of her taxable property, which amounts to this: that railroads will only be aided by private subscription, consequently there will be few or no more roads built, and there will be no more rail- road centers.

The charter of the Pacific Railroad, which passes through Sedalia, provides that no machine shops of the company can be located anywhere else in the State than along the line of their road. Now the property on which the vast machine shops, round houses, coal chutes, etc., of the Pacific Road are now situated in St. Louis, is becoming of such enormous value, that the company has for several years past been seriously agitating the removal of these enormous works to Sedalia.

Taking into account the unencumbered real estate, the small public debt of the city and county, the unborrowed capital invested in business, the moderate taxation, and this county has more real wealth than any other in Central Misouri.

Sedalia has not yet reached the highest point of prosperity, but is rapidly moving towards it, because new people are coming in every day, new farmers and mechanics, and more capital is being put into business houses and manufacturing interests, new banks are being started and additional newspapers founded.

Now let those who are interested in the city as property holders and business men, and those who are seeking new homes, new fields for busi-

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ness and new scenes of happiness, consider what the city has actually done in the past year of 1881.

Sedalia aspires to be the Capital of the State. She asks the honor, not as a beggar, but as one that demands her just rights. Her geographical position, her enterprise, wealth, beauty of location and accessibility by railroad, are all just and acknowledged facts in favor of this city, and the citizens seem inclined to continue to present their claims for the removal of the Capital until the question is submitted by a vote to the people of the State.

After the capital removal scheme, the next great purpose of the city is to enlarge and increase the manufacturing business, and make Sedalia a source of supplies for all the country within her business territory. The building of a railroad north to connect with the C. & A. R. R., is a pro- ject to be carried out in the near future. The erection of a great institu- tion of learning comes next in importance.

KRUSE & FREDERICK

MEAT MARKET.

CIDR. H.W.WOODHOU

H.W.WOOD

DRUG STORE

G. C.W.ENG CU

BUSINESS HOUSE OF H. W. WOOD.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SEDALIA.

Biographical Sketches.

All men cannot be great; each has his sphere, and the success of his life is to be measured by the manner in which he fills it. But men may be both true and good, may be morally great, for in true living there are no degrees of greatness-there is no respect to persons. It is not intended in the following pages to include all the several and separate acts of a man's life, important or otherwise. The design is to give the merest out- line, for a complete review of the life and character of the person named, would be both unwarranted and without general value. The names which follow, for the most part, are those of men who have been or are now closely identified with the interests of the county and their respective townships. The sketches of many of the early settlers are found elsewhere in this volume; but to have given a sketch of every man in Pettis County would have been utterly impossible. If any have been omitted, who should have been represented, it was more the fault of them- selves or their friends than the publishers of this work. For the most part these have contributed to the enterprise which the publishers have been able to furnish the people. Great care has been taken to give the facts in these sketches as they were given to the historian, and if an occa- sional error is found, it is largely due to the incorrect statement of the one who dictated the sketch.

DR. D. T. ABELL.

Was a native of Brookfield County, Pa. His parental ancestors were natives of Massachusetts. His father, Daniel H., died in 1877, at the age of eighty-two years. His mother is still living and has attained the eightieth year of her age. Young Abell was educated at the Susque- hanna Collegiate Institute, and took his medical course at Homœ- opathic Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating in 1860. Dr. Abell, as an able and competent practitioner of medicine, is too well known in Pettis County to need special comment here. Commencing his practice in Athens, Pa., from thence he moved to Darlington, Wis., where he was appointed examining surgeon for pension applicants, a position which he now holds in Sedalia. He has an extensive practice, both in the city and country-one of the largest in the County or even Central Missouri. Dr. Abell is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Sedalia.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

LOUIS G. ADDOR.

Dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry, etc. Was born in Switzerland, in St. Croix. His father, Victor Samuel Addor, died in the old country in 1872. His mother, Marie Nanette Jaccard, died in the old country in 1878. Louis G. was taught the watchmaking business in his boyhood, serving six year as apprentice in the old country. In 1861 he went to South America and entered a wholesale watch and jewelry house. Here he remained until 1865, when he came to this country, locating in St. Louis, and working in the large house of D. O. Jaccard & Co. Here he remained until 1868, when he went back to South America on account of his health. He remained until June, 1871, when he went to Europe and visited his old home and friends. He returned in the fall of the same year to the United States, and traveled in the South, looking for a loca- tion. During the winter of 1871-72 he located at Brownsville, Mo., where he engaged in business. He remained in Brownsville until the spring of 1873, when he came to Sedalia, and opened the large jewelry store which he now occupies. Mr. Addor is a thorough workman, making a specialty of repairing fine watches, of which he has a large assortment, also clocks, jewelry, and everything in that line. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which, for several years, he has been treasurer.

CHARLES W. ALLEN.

Manager of the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Co., Sedalia. Mr. Allen was born in London, England, in 1845. His father, Charles W. Allen, and his mother, Isabel nee Thompson, came with their family to America in 1847. Charles was reared and educated in Illinois and Iowa. In 1862 he entered the Federal army, in Co. H, Sixty-eighth Ill. Regt., serving three months. In 1866 he came to Atchison, Kan., and the year following to Rockport, Mo., where he engaged in the sewing machine business, in connection with. the Wheeler & Wilson Co. He remained in Northwestern Missouri with this Company until 1880, when he took charge of their business at St. Joseph, Mo., where he continued until 1882, when he came to Sedalia, where he keeps a full stock of these most excellent machines. Mr. Allen was married in 1866 to Miss Eutha A. Burke, of Pike Co., Ill. They have six children. Mr. Allen and his wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. He is also a member of the Masonic Fra- ternity.

THOMAS B. ANDERSON.

Formerly proprietor Sedalia Telephone Exchange. Was born in 1848, in Lawrence Co., Mo. His father, S. M. Anderson, was a native of Pennsylvania, who is now a resident of Sedalia, and seventy-four years of age. His mother, Emily, nee Owen, was a native of Virginia, still living.

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Thomas B. was educated in Sedalia. Learned the jeweler's business, and in 1873 opened a jewelry store in the city; afterwards went to Spring- field, Mo., where he was in the same business two years, returning to Sedalia in 1878. In 1879 he obtained a charter for the Bell Telephone, and in December of the same year opened the first Telephone Exchange in Sedalia. This enterprise soon demanded all his time. He sold out his store, and has since devoted all his time to the telephone lines of which he is proprietor and manager. He was married in 1874 to Miss M. V. Tav- lor, a daughter of C. G. Taylor, the pioneer jeweler of Sedalia. They have three children, Rosa E., Mabel N. and Charles B. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

JOHN. F. ANTES.

Proprietor of the Capital Mills. Mr. Antes was born in 1830, in Pennsylvania. His father, Henry Antes, was a native of the same State. His mother, Catharina M. nee Forester, is a relative of Secretary Forester of Ireland. After growing to manhood, John F. engaged in the commission business, until 1849, when he went to Boston and was employed in a railroad office until 1853, when he went to Chicago, and was engaged in book-keeping until 1854, when he went to St. Louis, and began railroading, which he continued at various places until 1869, when he gave his whole attention to the Gas Works of Sedalia. In 1880, he sold out the Gas Works, and in 1881 bought the mill where he is now engaged in making flour. Mr. Antes is a live business man and has taken no small part in the upbuilding of Sedalia. He was married in 1863 to Lucy. Dempsey, of Otterville. They have four childern, Catharina, John H., Marcius S. and Florence H. Mr. Antes has twice served as a member of the City Council of Sedalia, one year as chairman of the same.

J. H. ARMSTRONG.

Ticket Agent at the Fifth Street office of the M., K. & T. He is the son of H. J. Armstrong, a native of Kentucky, but who moved to Missouri in 1862, settling at Lexington, where he was engaged in the agricultural implement business in connection with a complete stock of hardware. The father disposing of his business at Lexington moved to Kansas City, in the year 1878, accepting a position with the Moline Plow Company. The subject of this sketch was born in Fleming County, Ky., Sept. 9th, 1855. He received his education partly in the schools of his native State, completing the same in the schools at Lexington, Mo. Mr. Armstrong in starting out in life accepted a position in his father's store at Lexington. After quitting the hardware business, he engaged in farming. The life of a farmer was not the business he wished to follow, and after he disposed of his buisness he moved to Sedalia and accepted a position as car-clerk in

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coming to Sedalia, Mr. Barnett was associated with W. L. Felix, until the latter's death in May, 1881. He was married in June, 1874, to Miss Jennie Christy. They have three children: Robert A., Irene L., and Carl H. Mr. Barnett and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

J. R. BARRETT.

One of Sedalia's most influential citizens is the subject of this sketch, J. R. Barrett. He has been identified with Sedalia almost since the city had its birth, and certainly no man has done more in his way to advance the material interests of the Queen City than he. Mr. Barrett is of English descent. . His father, J. F. Barrett, was a native of Massachusetts, but at an early day moved to the State of New York, living in Washington County, of that State, until his death; he dying at the advanced age of eighty-eight. J. R. Barrett, the son, was the youngest child in a family of ten children, and was born in Washington County, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1834. He received his education principally in the schools of his native county. In the fall of 1850 Mr. Barrett, then being a youth of sixteen years, emi- grated to North Carolina, remaining about seven years, when he moved to Missouri, settling in. St. Louis in the spring of 1857; here he remained until the year 1866, when he moved to Pettis County, locating at Sedalia, where he has since resided. Mr. Barrett was married, September, 1864, to Miss Ada Barnett, a daughter of Judge Richards Barnett, of Vicksburg, Mississippi. From this union there were four children, three of whom are yet living, viz: Richards B., Jonathan F. and Annie B. Mrs. Bar- rett dying, November, 1870, he was again married in November, 1877, to Mrs. T. N. McClaughry, a daughter of Stephen T. Neil, of Lafayette County, Mo. Mr. Barrett is a man of great business ability and was for many years connected with railroad interests. He was one of the orig- inal directors of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, also a director in the M., K. & T. R. R., and one of the prime movers in the construc- tion of the Narrow Gauge Railroad, south to the coal fields. Mr. Barrett is also largely connected with the banking interests of this city. He has been for years a stockholder, and a director in the First. National Bank of Sedalia. For the last few years Mr. Barrett has given his attention more particularly to the management of his extensive farm just west of the city. This is one of the finest estates in Pettis County, containing 700 acres, 300 of which lie within the city limits. This magnificent homestead lies at the western terminus of Broadway, and is approached by a wide avenue, on either side of which are two rows of shade trees. The residence is a fine large frame, surrounded with a beautiful lawn, shaded with maple and other trees. The gardens are beautiful and spacious, laid off in the most tasteful manner, provided with a number of hydrants and other conveniences. Mr. Barrett's farm is principally in

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blue grass pastures, upon which he grazes about 150 head of milch cows. He is engaged extensively in the dairy business, employing about fifteen men, who are engaged in caring for the stock and other work connected with the business. His dairy consists of all the latest improvements for the business. The barn is large and commodious, being divided into stalls, and will accommodate 140 head of cows. Mr. Barrett is one of the prime movers to get the capital removed to the Queen City, and he has made the State the generous offer of 100 acres of his beautiful lands adjoining the city, for the Capitol and other State buildings. A view of his resi - dence appears on page 447.

WILLIAM BARRETT.

He was born in 1818 in Hinsdale, N. H. His father, Elisha Barrett, was a native of Vermont, and died about the year 1824. His mother, Betsy, nee Tower, was born in Hinsdale, N. H., and died in 1876. The sub- ject of this sketch lived a considerable time in New York State, but in 1866 came to Missouri, where he has since resided. He was married to Miss Amanda Chapel, of Barrington, Mass. They have five children living, George W., Edward H., Maurice S., Carrie and Freddie L. Mr. Barrett has spent all his life as a machinist. · Considerable attention has been given to his invention, the King Feed Cutter. Of the many good qualities claimed by its inventor the following is a brief synopsis: There is nothing about the machine that is liable to get out of order, and should it need repairing it could be done by a country blacksmith. It has not been the study of the inventor to see how much machinery could be made to work together to cut feed, but rather to dispense with all complication and make a machine in the simplest form. And having accomplished that object he feels warranted in making the offer of $10,000 for the right of the United States for a feed-cutter that can be constructed with less mate- rial and for less expense, and that will cut more hay, straw or corn fodder with less power applied, without any infringement upon his patent of Feb. 8, 1881.

EDWARD H. BARRETT.

Of the firm of Barrett Bros., Novelty Works. He was born in 1850, in Berkshire County, Mass. He came with his father, William Barrett, to Sedalia in 1873. He was married to Miss Clara Tompkins, of Amboy, Ill., Nov. 1, 1877. Mrs. Barrett is a daughter of Stephen N. Tompkins. They have two children, Lottie and Walter. He and his worthy wife are members of the East Sedalia Baptist Church. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.

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MAURICE S. BARRETT.

Of the firm of Barrett Bros., Novelty Mills. The subject of this sketch was born in Rensellær County, N. Y., in 1852. His father, William Barrett, is a native of New Hampshire, who came to Sedalia in 1873, also Maurice S. and his brothers Edward H. and George W. coming with their father. In 1879 they built the Novelty Works on the corner of Second and Miller streets, where they have been engaged in manufac- turing doors, sash, blinds, and doing a general planing-mill business. They are also engaged in the manufacture of the King Feed Cutter, patented by their father in 1857, more particular mention of which is given in connection with the sketch of William Barrett. They make a specialty of the manufacture of this cutter, having established agencies in various parts of the State. Maurice S. is a member of the Congregational Church, where his superior talent for singing is manifested in the fine quartette choir of that organization.

MAJ. WILLIAM BECK.

Mr. Beck was born in the year 1827, near Hamburg, Germany. His father, William Beck, was in the government service, and in 1872 died at the advanced age of eighty-five. Maj. Beck's mother, whose maiden name was Zinnius, is still living in Germany, having attained the age of eighty- two. He received a collegiate, education after which he went aboard a ship and made several trips both to North and South America. At the age of eighteen he received a position in the Custom House in Germany and remained there till the breaking out of the Revolution of 1848, when he joined the army against Denmark with Sleswick and Holstein. He was soon promoted to Lieutenancy, serving till 1851, when the army was dis- banded by the forces of Austria and Prussia. Then he held again for a short time a position in the Custom House, which was terminated by the Danish occupancy of Holstein. In 1852, when the Australian gold excite- ment was at its highest, young Beck, who had been reared in affluence and luxury, held government positions, been an officer in the army, and associated only with the higher classes, resolved to make his own fortune in the world, and started as an emigrant to that distant land, arriving in Australia with scarcely a dollar in his pocket. He here saw many ups and down of fortune. His first day's work in Melbourne was wheelbar- rowing furniture, for which he received $5.00; and for the first week, at the same wages per day, he engaged in whatever he could find to do that furnished honest employment, such as moving goods, sweeping chimneys, cleaning stores, &c., &c. He then went up among the Ballart mines where he worked for three months without much success. Joining an Irish party they made a large sum of money in deep mining, but a flood came which caused them to lose nearly all they had made. Soon after,

HISTORY OF SEDALIA. 613

Mr. Beck struck another "lead," but engaging too extensively and employing labor at too high wages, it proved a financial disaster. He also speculated in mining shares, but usually he found himself on the " wrong side." No reverses were sufficient to quench his indomitable spirit, and when he left Australia for England in 1855, he had accumulated a hand- some sum of gold. He then spent some time in traveling on the Conti- nent of Europe, but being dissatisfied without regular employment, he came to the United States for the purpose of entering new fields of enterprise. He visited New York, Chicago and other large cities; finally falling in with old comrades who had served with him in the army he engaged in the lumber business and merchandising in Morgan County, this State. This was in 1856. In 1858 Mr. Beck came to Pettis County, and settled in Priceville, about eight miles east of the site now occupied by Sedalia. At that time very little of the prairie land of this county was settled. In 1860 the houses comprising Priceville, about fifteen in num- ber, were removed on wheels two miles to the present site of Smithton. He was married in 1860 to Miss Rebecca Bohon, daughter of Walter Bohon, a native of Kentucky, though for many years a resident of this county, now at the advanced age of ninety-two years, the oldest man in Pettis County. At the breaking out of the war in 1861 Mr. Beck joined the Union forces, taking command of the volunteer home guards raised in Benton and Pettis counties. At the expiration of the three months ser- vice he resigned and again engaged in business at Smithton, but the rav- ages of armed bands of marauders made it necessary to remove to Sedalia, which at that time was headquarters for Central Missouri. Here he engaged in merchandising, which he has followed with great success ever since. Maj. Beck is one of the oldest merchants in the city. having come here when wild deer in large numbers could be seen on the very land where the populous city now stands. He has met reverses and successes, proving with his undaunted energy what a young man may accomplish. In 1864 his store was destroyed by fire, and in 1876 the same element destroyed his residence. In 1866 the clouds of war having passed away, men of enterprise and wealth established business here, greatly enhancing real estate, and Major Beck shared in the profits arising from his judicious purchases. In 1875 Mr. Beck was made a pensioner of his native govern- ment for military service in the Revolution of 1848. In 1876 he received into partnership Chas. E. Messerly, an enterprising young man who had for some time been a salesman in the same house; and since that date they have carried on a general merchandising business with flattering success. Their large and well stocked business house is situated on the corner of Osage and Second streets. Major Beck's family consists of three children living, one son and two daughters, Lewis, aged eighteen, Ella, aged fifteen, and Cora, aged eleven. Three of their children have

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died. Among the worthiest and most influential citizens of Sedalia Major Beck has stood prominently identified. From the very organization of the city government he was a member of the City Council and has served in that capacity four terms since. He has been a member of the Board of Education a greater portion of the time since the present system was adopted in this State, having served uninterruptedly from 1868 to 1872. His energy, coupled with uniform honesty and fair dealing, has won for him the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who have known him in his long residence here.

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 64

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