The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 94

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 94

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CHAPTER XVI .- LAMONTE TOWNSHIP.

Introduction- Location- Physical Features- Creeks- Roads- Statistics-Population- Old Settlers -- Post-office -- Churches-Old Ministers-Teachers -- Present Schools -- Civic Societies-Cemeteries -- Agriculture and Stock Raising-Biographical.

" Here, too, dwells simple truth ; plain innocence ; Unsullied beauty ; sound, unbroken youth, Patient of labor, with a little pleased ; Health ever blooming; unambitious toil; Calm contemplation and poetic ease. "

There is no place more delightful than the beautiful country home, adorned as it often is with nature's lovely foliage and surrounded by fruits, shade and flowers. Our longings in a city life are frequently for the quiet home of our childhood; that home where, away from the toil and care of business, surrounded by every comfort that heart could wish, we were wont in early days to spend many idle hours breathing the wholesome, pure and fresh air known only to inhabitants of rural districts. The sky had a brighter hue, the birds had a sweeter song, the cattle had a more mellow low, and the watch-dog a more trusty bark in those halcyon days of yore than at the present time. Then, when our every wish was for the whirlpool of business life, we knew not the happiness by which we were surrounded, and had no conception of the step we were taking, to enter the more active, more exciting and deceiving pleasures of city life.

As the pioneers of any settlement pass away, posterity begins to feel the need of an accurate record of the early events of their immediate locality. What we shall attempt to relate in the following pages of Lamonte Town- ship, may be fresh in the memory of the few remaining pioneers, but they will in time pass away to swell the innumerable army of the dead, while these pages remain to tell their story. It may be that much history of the early settlers is already lost. This, then, we should cherish the more, that other generations coming in our footsteps may profit by the laudable results, and be better able to steer clear of the rocks on the sea of life.

In the location and physical features of the township, we shall confine our readers mainly to the surface, soil and rocks, and general trend of the ground. Prospecting for coal has been carried on to some extent in the eastern part of the township, but the results did not afford sufficient encouragement to justify a great outlay of capital, and only private con- sumption was supplied. The rock is principally sandstone, and a stratum underlies the surface at a distance of about fifteen feet. The soil is a rich black loam, and this township being situated in that extremely fortunate part of Missouri known as the richest belt in the State, the products amount to astonishingly large figures. Water is abundant and of the best quality. Living wells are obtained by going down from twenty-five

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to forty feet, and the township being drained by the Muddy, Walnut Branch, Brushy Creek and South Fork, there is plenty of water for stock. The land is gently undulating, and no place is it low and flat enough to retain moisture for a sufficient length of time to be swampy. Timber is not abundant, although on each side of the streams before mentioned enough grows to supply the home consumption. The vegetable products of. the township are such as are common to this latitude of the State. Fruit grows to perfection. Instead of visiting the timbers in the fall, as the early settlers were wont to do in days past, and gathering the abund- ance of wild fruit, now each homestead is surrounded by its own orchards and vineyards, and the products far overbalance the home consumption. Shipments of fruits of all kinds is an industry of this township that cannot be overlooked in any accurately written review of the township.

Lamonte Township is bounded on the north by Blackwater Township, on the east by Dresden Township, on the south by Elk Fork Township, and on the west by Johnson County. It occupies the western central portion of Pettis County.

The first settlement of the township was made in 1832, or about one year before the organization of the county, by Mr. and Mrs. R. Craghead. Mr. Craghead was from Bedford county, Ky., and Mrs. C. from Frank- lin County, the same State. Mr. C. came to Callaway County, Mo., in 1819 or 1820 and remained in that county until he was married in 1831, when he emigrated to Pettis County and settled in the southeast corner of Lamonte township, and erected the first house built in the township. This was a primitive affair, having, as all early residences had, logs for the walls and "clap boards" for shingles, and being destitute of the modern innovation of carpets, or even a rough floor. Soon after this first settlement people began coming into the township, and soon neighbors were numer- ous enough to visit, the nearest being twelve or fifteen miles away. For in those pleasant days visiting was indulged in and enjoyed as thoroughly as it is at the present day.

The pioneer settlers of the township were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crag- head, who came in 1832 from Callaway County, Mo. Mr. Craghead died several years ago, and Mrs. C. still resides on the old homestead. They had a family of five children, all of whom were born, raised and married on the original home site. Judge Jesse Pemberton came to the township a few years later, from Kentucky; Mason Pemberton, also from Kentucky, James Kemp, Jefferson Moore, Dr. Thomas Pemberton, Geo. Pemberton, Harrison James, Mr. Hughes, (his wife, Mrs. Jane Hughes, was probably the oldest person living in Lamonte township, being ninety- six years of age); Squire Sharpe, Dr. J. W. Snoddy, J. S. Fleming, from Virginia; Reuben DeHaven, from Virginia; Solomon Sandridge, Wm. Moore, Andrew Carroll, John H. Divers, Wm. Brown, now a mer-

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chant at Knobnoster, Johnson County, Missouri; Thomas McKeean, father of the notorious Jack McKeean; John F. Yankee, John W. Allen.

James Kemp passed quietly from life at his home, near Lamonte, Pettis County, Mo., on the 14th day of May, 1882, in the eightieth year of his age.

He was attacked with paralysis on the 15th day of December, 1878, from which he only partially recovered. On the 11th day of February, 1882, he became worse but revived some, until on the night of the 24th of March, from which time he revived only at times, until death came.

He was born in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1803. He emigrated to Pettis County, Missouri, in 1832. He made a visit to his native State in 1833, and returned with his brother William and family in 1834. He spent eight years of his life as a public officer. In the year 1843, he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of Constable, after which he was elected to the same office. He was elected Sheriff in 1847 and again in 1849, serving two terms. He was married to Mrs. Sarah Kemp in 1850. His wife and only son, Thos. W. R., survive him to mourn his loss.

He was a good husband and father in the truest sense. He was a father to his step-children and step grandchildren. He was the true friend of those in distress-the friend of the widow and orphan. Yet he never boasted of his charity.

The community in which he lived has lost one of its best neighbors- the county one of its best citizens. He will be sadly missed by many besides his family.

From the Sedalia Democrat of May 10, 1882, we clip the following notice of Mrs. Hughes' death:

" Mrs. Jane Hughes, of Lamonte, died Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock. She was ninety-six years old on the 14th of last February, and was the oldest lady in Pettis County. She has over 60 grandchildren and was the mother of fifteen children, the first wife of Mr. Vincent Terry being one of her daughters. She leaves four children living. Her husband died in 1854."

The parties who first entered lands had great difficulty in locating their farm from the fact of imperfect surveys. It was not a pleasant experience to erect a house and afterward find it was located on another's land. This, however, in course of time was remedied and farms began to take definite proportions, improvements to spring up, and the red man and game, with which the country abounded, were gradually forced back and finally dis- appeared until now no traces that this was at one time, and that within the memory of those yet living, a wilderness.

The first justice of the peace in the township was Jesse Pemberton. The records of courts of those early days have been destroyed or lost, and no doubt with them are also lost many very interesting historical facts.

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Since then a number of persons have occupied the position, and could our more pretentious courts of similar character now view the simple and perfect justice meted out in early times, it might hasten and simplify the now too tiresome details.

The educational interests of the township were looked after at an early date; when neighbors became near enough a suitable person was employed, and schools were held at private houses. The first district school house in the township was erected on the farm of Mr. R. Craghead, about two miles southeast of the present town of Lamonte. A school building still stands on the same site in which school is taught from six to nine months every year. The name of the first teacher who occupied this pioneer structure, which was erected in 1842, is Mr. Thomas Hill. The gentleman now resides in Sedalia. After teaching in this house sometime, he married one of his pupils, Miss Catherine J. Craghead. The schools of the town- ship are now numerous, and under the supervision of instructors who take a pride in their profession.

The first church erected in the township was built about 1837. Prior to this meetings had been held in the private houses scattered over the prairies. This first chapel was built about four miles south of the present town of Lamonte, on Walnut Branch, by the Baptist denomination. The first minister was the Rev. Martenis Embry. The next church building in the township was erected in the present town of Lamonte. The present churches of the township are situated in Lamonte. They are the Metho- dist Episcopal, South, Baptist and Christian.

The M. E. Church, South, is now located in Lamonte, but the class was organized in August, 1866, by L. P. Siceloff, the first year of his ministry, at Craghead school house. The original members were, Robert and Nancy H. Craghead, John S. and E. I. Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Higgin- bothan, Mrs. Elizabeth Moore, Mrs. Monroe Garton. In August, 1866, Rev. L. P. Siceloff held a protracted meeting in the grove, near Craghead school house, lasting two or three weeks, and resulted in twenty addi- tions to the class. The present church building was erected by Joseph Bradfield and Robert and R. Brown, carpenters. It was completed in 1871, and was dedicated by Rev. Wm. M. Prottsman, Presiding Elder of this district. The complete list of pastors up to date is: N. Talbot, J. R. Bennett, P. E .; J. M. Kelley, A. M. Rader, W. S. Woodars, M. Adkin- son, P. E .; W. M. Bewley, M. M. Pugh, P. E .; M. Dusun, J. B. H. Wooldridge, who being afflicted, resigned the charge, and J. J. Hill was appointed by J. L. D. Blevens, P. E., for 1882. The number of the present membership is one hundred and three. The church has a large and prosperous Sunday School connected, with an average attendance of seventy-five. Dr. J. P. Walker is Superintendent, and Mr. Joseph Brad- field is Secretary. The church building is situated on the north side of

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town about one-fourth of a mile from the Missouri Pacific depot. It is a frame structure, and was erected at a cost of $2,000. It is thirty-two by fifty feet, eighteen feet to the ceiling, a gallery with good seats, two-story belfry with good bell. It is carpeted and has a good organ.

In the Sedalia Bazoo of May 7, 1882, we find the following: "The Methodist Episcopal Church at Lamonte was partially burned on Sunday, March 26. It was supposed at the time that the loss would have to be put up with, as there was no insurance. But the truth was that R. T. Gentry, the insurance agent, and J. R. McConnell, the well-known farmer, had gone to work some time before the fire and secured a thousand dollar policy on the church property. This was kept a profound secret from the congregation, and they made up their minds to pocket their loss by the fire, and be done with the matter. Accordingly on the Saturday after the fire, a collection was taken up at a church meeting, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of repairs to the building. The people were lib- erally disposed under the circumstances, and over sixty dollars were subscribed. After this was done the adjuster of the insur- ance company, G. D. Carpenter, of this city, came forward and informed the deluded trustees that he was ready to pay the amount of indemnity due from the company. He was as good as his word, and passed over $69.90, so that the church, by this little scheme on the part of Messrs. Gentry and McConnell, is richer by the amount of the some- what unusually liberal contributions from the members of the church. It was a good scheme, and something new in the way of replenishing the depleted exchequer of a church."

The Church of Christ (Christian) at Lamonte was organized Decem- ber 7, 1869, by James Randall, with nineteen members; W. D. Snoddy and B. R. Taylor were elected elders of the congregation. The latter resigned the position in 1874, and William Duke was elected to fill his place. The number of additions to the church since its organization by confession and baptism has been 5; by commendation from other con- gregations, 108; making 212 enrolled upon the church books. That number has been materially. diminished as follows: By death, 6; by removal, 86; by withdrawal from fellowship, 29; making 121 who have gone out, and leaving 91 as the total number remaining in the organization at this date. The church has met regularly every Lord's day since its organization to worship. It has a Sunday School connected, with an average attendance of seventy-five pupils. J. W. Snoddy is Superintendent, and Maggie Price, Secretary. The following persons have preached for the church in the order in which they are named: James Randall, two years ;. O. Spencer, one year; C. A. Hedrick, one year; James Morgan, one year; J. C. Crippin, one year; William Dorsey, one year; G. Phillips, one year; S. K. Hallam, one year; E. M. Berry, one year;

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O. Spencer is preaching for the church again this year. The church build- ing is a frame, thirty-six by fifty feet, and was built in the the year 1870, by James Randall, at a cost of about $1,200. The original membership includes the names of W. D. Snoddy, E. A. Snoddy, Vincent Terry, Sallie A. Terry, W. B. Shaw, Susan Shaw, John Schutt, Utica Schutt, John Bard, Mary A. Bard, B. R. Taylor, Polly A. Taylor, Thomas Terry, N. Terry, George Duncan, Bettie Duncan, Lanora Hardy, Olive Shaw and Fannie Bard. Total, nineteen. Since the church building was completed about $150 have been expended in the way of repairs, carpets, and other improvements; the principal part of which has been within the last year. The congregation makes weekly contributions for contingent expenses, and every three months makes liberal additions to the fund for missionary work.

The Baptist Church of Lamonte township was organized, as before stated, in 1837, and is one of the oldest churches in the county. The present house of worship in the town of Lamonte was built by the Pres- byterians, and the congregation of the town consisted of twenty members, as follows: Rev. W. S. Webb, W. B. Webb, A. J. Hall, Sarah H. Hall, Kittie Fleming, Mrs. Frier, Maud Fleming, H. A. Webb, Priscilla Brown, Margaret Watson, Zoda Webb, Sallie Fleming, E. J. Webb, Jennie Crag- head, Mrs. Oberby, Cardy Oberby, Susan Strickle, E. S. Webb, G. F. Bailey and M. L. Bailey. Total, twenty.

On August 29, 1874, Bethel Church, with a membership of thirty, united with the congregation above mentioned, since which time they have continued to grow and prosper. For three years the congregation wor- shiped in the Presbyterian Church building, and for three more years their services were held in the building belonging to the Methodists. The former building was purchased in 1880, from the Presbyterian congrega- tion. It was erected in 1871, and cost about $1,500. Rev. W. S. Webb was pastor for four years, and Rev. J. K. Godby has been pastor for the last three years. The present membership is fifty-four. The Sabbath School was organized last April (1881), with A. J. Hall, Superintend- ent. Present Superintendent, J. S. White; Secretary, A. Gresham; Scholars on the roll, 100, and the average attendance is seventy-five; num- ber of teachers, ten; the library contains 130 volumes. The church has a good bell and organ. Its aisles and rostrum are carpeted. The building was dedicated by Revs. W. S. Webb and Godby in December, 1880. The present membership is fifty-four. The property is worth about $2,000, and out of debt. Preaching is held every fourth Sunday. The Church Clerk, E. C. Baldwin, died recently, and the church is at present without a clerk.

The population of Lamonte Township, including the village of Lamonte, is 1,263. It contains 23,040 acres, nearly all tillable land, and its value,

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from the Assessor's books of 1881, is $187,390. From the assessment list of property for 1882, based on the ownership of property, June 1, 1881, it is found that there are 460 horses in the township, valued at $16,150; mules, 146, and valued at $6,010; cattle, 1,072, valued at $15,385; sheep, 1,734, valued at $2,515; hogs, 1,029, valued at $2,405. Total valuation of real estate and live stock in the township is $229,855. The farm and orchard products are greatly in excess of the home consumption, and large and valuable shipments of wheat, corn, flax, apples, peaches and small fruits are annually forwarded to western markets; either Sedalia, Kansas City or St. Louis being near at hand, and such shipments always bring the best prices. Land has advanced in value from $12.50 per acre in 1856, to $50 in 1882.

TOWN OF LAMONTE.

This beautiful little village was laid out in 1866, by Col. Frank Hickox and J. R. McConnell. The first house erected in the village was built by a Mr. James. Mr. James was a resident of the township when he moved to the future village, and died only a short time since. In 1862 the grading of the Missouri Pacific Railroad was commenced and the track was laid, and cars commenced running through the town in 1864.

The village at that time was called Boomer, named in honor of Mr. Geo. Boomer, a prominent bridge contractor of the railroad. It retained this name for a member of years afterwards, and was the source of much annoyance to travelers who wished to come to Lamonte. The reason was that the post-office, which had been established for a number of years, was called Lamonte, and after it was moved to Boomer, it still retained the original name. How the name of Lamonte came to be given to this little western town is one of the things lost with the demise of the earliest settlers.

The town is pleasantly situated on both sides of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, in the eastern part of the township, about twelve miles west of Sedalia; it contains between five hundred to six hundred inhabitants, and has a good retail trade, and in the fall of 1880 there were larger shipments of grain from it than from any town of its size between Kansas City and Sedalia. Its business men are careful buyers and thoroughly understand their trades, and as a consequence have never been cramped for capital to operate on during the past two years of close times. From its founda- tion to the present time, Lamonte has had a steady growth, and from a village of one house and one store, it has grown to its present important 4 place in this county.

The first store house was built by Mr. Geo. H. Hardey. Mr. John Harris was employed to manage the business of the concern. This was in 1866 or '67. The building is a frame, and still stands, and is now occu-

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pied by Mr. J. S. White, with a large stock of hardware, implements, etc. In the minutes of the proceedings of the County Court, we find the act of incorporation of the village of Lamonte, under date of December 6, 1880.

The first meeting of the board was held, Dec. 15, 1880, and Mr. A. J. Hall was elected President of the Town Board, and J. R. Wade, Clerk; P. S. Zilhart was elected Marshal. The statement of the first year's business from April 1, 1881, to April 1, 1882, is as follows: Receipts: Taxes col- lected on personal property, $156.60; taxes collected on real estate, $52.45 ; fines, $17; saloon license, $100; other license, $3; total, $329.05. Expendi- tures: Amount paid out on warrants drawn on the City Treasurer, $236.68: leaving a balance in the City Treasury at the close' of business at the end of the fiscal year, on March 31, 1881, of $92.37. The present officers of the village are: Dr. A. P. Snoddy, Mayor; Jule Busch, Clerk; members of Town Board, J. R. Wade, Thomas Emerson and Wm. Emer- son. The number of votes cast at the recent election was sixty-five. The judges of election were, B. B. Taylor, D. W. Reesman, and S. R. Davis; T. J. Emerson, John Patton, Clerks.

The Lamonte postoffice was established at an early day, about one mile south of the present site of town, and until it was moved to the village it was on the Georgetown and Lexington stage road, and Mr. Thos. J. Mason was postmaster. After the railroad was completed the postoffice was moved into the village. Mr. James S. White is the present post- master, and came here from Pennsylvania about six months ago.

The depot of the Missouri Pacific Railroad is located near the center of the town. The first agent was H. C. Spaulding, who occupied the office for two or three years, and was succeeded by J. R. Wade, now a pros- perous merchant of the village. 'R. H. Wheeler is the present agent, and has held the position for two years. The annual receipts of the office for several years past have averaged $10,000 per year. The average ship- ments in car-loads have been: Cattle, fifty; hogs, thirty; sheep, ten; corn, one hundred and seventy; wheat, seventy-six; oats, ten; flour, twenty; merchandise, ten; flax seed, twenty; total average car-load ship- ments per year, three hundred and ninety-six.

The school building is located in the western part of the village, and was erected in 1866. It has since been enlarged until it is capable of accommodating 150 to 175 pupils. It is at present in a flourishing con- dition. Numbers of pupils from the country adjacent attend each session on account of the superior facilities offered and higher branches taught. At present it is in charge of Prof. H. F. Triplett. Mrs. Wood is his assist- ant. There is an enrollment in the two departments of about one hun- dred and thirty.

The secret societies of the village are the I. O. O. F. and I. O. G. T. Lamonte Lodge, No. 296, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was

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instituted May 1, 1873, by Elias Bixby, D. D. G. M., and a charter was granted the organization on June 7, 1873. The charter members were: John J. Bunton, J. D. Sherman, John B. Brooks, Thomas Terry, Elder White. The first officers were Thomas Terry, N. G .; Joseph J. Pen- quite, V. G .; John B. Brooks, Secretary; John D. Sherman, Treasurer. The present officers are R. E. Guthrie, N. G .; Dr. John P. Walker, V. G .; H. L. McNeil, Recording Secretary; J. R. Wade, Permanent Secre- tary; George H. Shepherd, Treasurer. The number of members at present is thirty-one. There are no Grand Lodge officers numbered in the membership. The hall is a commodious one, a two-story brick, ele- gantly finished on the inside. It was erected in 1876 at a cost of $1,500.

The Independent Order of Good Templars was organized in April, 1881, by B. Y. Nesbit, District Deputy. The officers of the lodge at present are H. F. Triplett, W. C. T .; Miss Susie Martin, W. V. T .; George Hardy, Recording Secretary; Willie Taylor, Financial Secretary ; Mrs. P. Barkar, Treasurer; Joseph Bradfield, Lodge Deputy. The Order has now a large and flourishing membership. They occupy a large and commodious hall over Hardy & Company's dry goods store, and hold their meetings weekly. It has been the object to rid the town of drinking saloons, and they have met encouraging success on every hand. The prosperous condition of the present Order speaks volumes for the feelings of the people on this important subject.

Lamonte Cemetery was laid out shortly after the founding of the town. It occupies a position in the northwest part of the village, and is on a beau- tiful spot of ground. As yet, few attempts have been made to beautify it, but where nature has such admirably adapted surroundings, art can do little to make them more pleasant.

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, History of Sedalia, Part 94

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