USA > Missouri > Pettis County > The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches > Part 39
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manders of the Indian forces and led them to battle with intelligence and heroism rarely equalled in the world's history.
It is a matter of history that the pastoral people of this country, the American pioneers inhabiting the wild regions of the far west, have ever been unfriendly to emigration, because, in proportion as the country be- comes settled, the grazing area is diminished, and as it is merely human to be selfish, it is scarcely in order for those not similarly interested to criticise their motives or methods.
The early emigrants brought with them many horses and cattle of good breeds, but those in time became mixed with the native, producing the much despised and caricatured " western scrub." The beautiful rolling prairies, with a large number of differtent varieies of grasses, watered by numerous streams, bordered by as fine timber as ever grew under the sun, the altitude, pure air, dry soil, and mild climate of central Missouri, pre- sented an array of advantages for stock-raising vastly superior to those of the older and colder states, and in this profitable husbandry the early settlers engaged most exclusively. They raised immense herds of cattle, nearly all " scrubs," and the quality remained nearly the same up to 1830, when stock men began to improve their herds by importations of thor- oughbred bulls and stallions. During the thirty years following, the im- provement was gradual and permanent, and the quality of the vast herds of central and western Missouri had reached a degree of excellence truly marvelous. During the war Missouri was almost entirely stripped of stock by the two opposing armies, and the few that remained were par- ticularly worthless, and soon disappeared. When peace was restored the farmers imported high-grade stock from the eastern states, Canada, and Europe, and the importations have continued upon a large scale, until the stock interests of Missouri have assumed vast proportions, and will com- pare very favorably, both as to quality and numbers, with many of the old stock-producing regions of the eastern and middle states.
The warm and fertile soil of Pettis county, which yields such bountiful returns to the intelligent and industrious tiller, is not less generous to the experienced and prudent stockman. Probably, no county in the state offers superior advantages in soil, climate, and the various conditions essential to successful stock raising, and that these conditions have been appreciated and utillzed by nearly every farmer in the county, is evinced by the facts gleaned from the last report of the county assessor, giving the total number and value of live stock in Pettis county, as follows:
Horses,
8,871, valued at. $ 325,505.
Mules, .
2,658, valued at 130,570.
Asses and jennets,
55, valued at. 3,670.
Cattle,
29,040, valued at. 466,805.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
Sheep,
36,675, valued at. 57,457.
Hogs,.
. 27,293, valued at 64,395.
Dogs, .
2,637, valued at.
2,637.
Total number, .107,229. $1,048,139.
This is indeed a splendid exhibit-more in numbers and value than reported for either of the states of Delaware, West Virginia or Oregon, . and yet, when the superior quality and condition of the stock produced here, is taken fairly into consideration, the value and importance of stock husbandry in Pettis county becomes something marvelous.
Visitors from the famous stock producing districts of the eastern states and Canada, are totally unprepared for the revelation which the high character of the industry in Pettis county affords, and the first inquiry, invariably, is, what has become of the scrub stock of which at home we have heard so much that we have learned to regard it as indigenous to the soil, and a natural product of the peculiar climate, a degeneration from the higher grades, by reason of unskillful management in breeding, insuffi- cient and improper food and over work when young. Of course, then follows a detailed history of the origin of the "scrub," ending with the information that he was annihilated by the war, and has become a thing of history. They marvel at the high standard to which stock breeding has been carried in Pettis county, but when told that many of our stock- men were trained in the best methods of stock raising in New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, from whence they emigrated to Missouri, the mystery is satisfactorily explained.
Here may be found extensive herds of Short Horn, Alderney and other high bred cattle of the finest types; Berkshire and Poland China swine of the best English and American species; Merino, Cotswold and Downs sheep of the purest blood and highest breeding and fleece producing qualities; Hambletonian, Membrino, Norman, Denmark, Drennon, Lex- ington, Morgan, and other fine breeds of horses. And so on through all the departments of stock raising-only the best animals of the finest species are kept or bred from.
Many car loads of steers from two to three years old, weighing 1,200 to 1,800 pounds, have been shipped from Pettis county to Europe, during the past few years, and many car loads of swine, weighing from 300 to 500 pounds, are shipped to market every winter.
The annual shipments to market, of live stock from Sedalia, Lamonte, Dresden, Greenridge, Smithton, Houstonia, and other points in Pettis county of minor importance, consisting of fat cattle, sheep, swine, horses and mules, aggregate 1,600 car loads, valued at $1,630,000, and a careful estimate from a reliable source fixes the net profits to the producers at from thirty to seventy per cent. on the money invested. This is certainly
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
a most favorable showing, and ought to be conclusive evidence that nothing pays better than stock raising.
In this latitude the mildness of the climate affords a long season for grazing, the entire year, with the exception of about ninety days of mod- erately cold weather, which, together with the cheapness of lands and feed, and the excellent transportation facilities, constitute advantages vastly superior to states in a colder clime, where feed is scarce and expensive, and more shelter and labor required to carry stock through the long, bleak winters. In Pettis county nearly every farmer raises stock for market, and many of the wealthier, who do not make stock raising a specialty, buy from adjoining counties and fatten for market, turning off from eight to fifteen car loads every spring, and many of more limited means ship from two to five car loads, which contribute largely to increase the aggregate exports of fine stock to vast proportions.
Added to the warm, fertile soil and mild climate, is the inestimable advantage of a dry atmosphere, which contributes in no small degree to render sheep husbandry one of the most profitable industries of this region. The surface of the country is high, dry, and gently undulating, affording excellent natural drainage, and there is scarcely a quarter section of land in the county on which a lake cannot be formed from the rainfall by the construction of a simple and inexpensive dam of earth, thus affording an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water.
In Sedalia and vicinity water can be obtained in inexhaustible quantity, of the purest and most excellent quality, at an average depth of thirty feet. In the northern, northwestern and eastern portions of the county the well drillers seldom need to go more than eighty feet to obtain an abundant supply, although in the southwestern portion there are several wells in the neighborhood of one hundred and five feet deep, and splendid flowing wells obtained by means of wind mill pumps.
It will be observed that while Pettis county has but few natural flowing springs or running streams, nature has in other ways afforded facilities for securing an abundant supply of pure water, which added to the splendid grasses produced spontaneously upon the open prairies, and everywhere untouched by the plow of the tiller, shows this to be a most admirable region for stock raising in all departments, as well as for dairy and for general agricultural purposes.
Blue grass is indigenous to the soil of Pettis county. Everywhere it flourishes in rank profusion-on the prairies, in the fields and in the wood lands, conquering everything, crowding out the coarse weeds and less succulent herbage and furnishing to the farmer and stockman a free and exhaustless source of wealth.
Clover also springs from the soil spontaneously-a companion of the blue grass-and flourishes everywhere. While orchard grass, timothy,
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
and other meadow grasses, with but little preparation of the soil or culti- vation, take root easily and quickly and grow with great rapidity and luxuriance, yielding a bountiful harvest of hay, equal in every respect to the best produced in any region on this continent.
Major Wm. Gentry is probably the most extensive stock raiser in Pettis county, and during the many years he has devoted exclusively to this branch of husbandry upon a large scale, he has achieved wonderful suc- cess. At present his landed estate comprises six thousand acres of choice land, well watered and timbered and in a remarkably high state of culti- vation. His home farm "Oakdale," containing twenty-two hundred acres, is located two miles northwest of Sedalia, and in full view of the city. It is a magnificent prairie and timber tract, well watered by numerous flowing springs, by Brushy Creek and by several fine artificial lakes. The residence is handsome and commodious, and the approaches arranged in excellent taste and with a view to convenience and economy of space. The lawns and shrubbery surrounding the residence are arranged, well cultivated, and kept in excellent order, and the entire place . presents the appearance of refinement, comfort and affluence, suggesting to the visitor the application of that beautiful and pathetic song, "Home, Sweet Home."
Only about four hundred acres of this magnificent farm are devoted to the cultivation of grain, the balance being seeded down to blue grass pasture, and to clover and timothy meadow. Major Gentry's herd of breeding cattle consists of between thirty and forty thoroughbred Short- horns of the most popular families, and two fine bulls of about 2,300 1bs. weight. He has also fifteen fine brood mares and a thoroughbred Nor- man stallion of excellent form and qualities, ninety horse and mule colts, sixty work horses, six hundred pure bred Merino, Cotswold and Downs sheep, and one hundred high grade cattle. His annual sales of live stock average thirty horses and mules, three hundred to four hundred steers, six hundred swine, and six hundred sheep. He also has on his farm "Locust Grove," "Denmark Chief " and "Denmark Jr.," the very highest grade of that class of saddle horses. They are both premium stallions, having taken premiums at St. Louis, Cincinnati and at various other large fairs in 1874. Denmark Jr. is a young stallion of great promise, and is one of the fastest racking horses in the state.
Another splendid farm owned by Major Gentry and sons is "Locust Grove," consisting of 1,400 acres and situated eight miles northwest of Sedalia. It has many pleasant surroundings, is in a fine state of culti- vation, and is regarded as one of the most valuable tracts in that vicinity. J. B. Gentry, son of Major Gentry, occupies the farm, and keeps there two hundred steers, one hundred and fifty stock cattle and three hundred swine.
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
Major Gentry is a native of Missouri, has resided in Pettis county fifty- eight years, is an intelligent, progressive business man, and intimately associated with many important public enterprises.
Nine miles east of Sedalia is the valuable farm of V. T. Chilton, con- sisting of six hundred and fifty acres, supplied with an abundance of water, and improved in a very complete and substantial manner. One hundred and sixty acres are reserved for plow land, and the balance is seeded down to timothy and clover meadow, and blue grass pasture. Judge Chilton keeps six hundred to seven hundred Merino, Cotswold and Downs sheep, twenty-five to thirty high grade breeding cows, and ships annually sixty to one hundred fat steers, and one hundred and seventy-five to two hun- dred swine.
Three miles northeast of Sedalia lies "Greenwood," the home farm of William M. Gentry, consisting of nearly seventeen hundred acres of beau- tiful prairie land, well watered and improved. An elegant residence and numerous farm buildings of a very substantial character, fine orchard, shade trees, beautiful lawns and pastures, and other valuable and pleasant surroundings, contribute to render this one of the most desirable farms in that locality. Mr. Gentry is an extensive planter and stock-raiser; plants annually about three hundred acres in corn, from which he gets an aver- age of sixty bushels per acre. He has one hundred and forty acres in timothy and clover meadow, twelve hundred acres in blue grass pasture, and keeps constantly about three hundred stock and beef cattle, fifty thoroughbred Short-horns, and two fine bulls; one thosand high-bred Merino and Downs sheep, from which he gets annually several thousand pounds of wool. Besides a number of choice brood mares, from which he raises superb carriage and saddle horses, he fattens yearly from one hundred to two hundred steers, about two hundred swine, and three hun- dred sheep for market.
On Cedar Creek, two miles northeast of Sedalia, and in full view of the city, is " Cedar Vale," a magnificent farm of sixteen hundred acres, situated mostly on a prairie of deep rich soil and gently undulating sur- face. Cedar Creek and numerous flowing springs and artificial lakes furnish an abundance of water, and renders this one of the best stock farms in the county. An elegant residence which cost $11,000, is sur- rounded by fine shade trees, and well-kept lawns, and at convenient dis- tance in rear are numerous substantial farm buildings, surrounded by fine blue grass pastures. This was the home R. J. Gentry, recently deceased, who was one of the most enterprising and successful stock raisers in Pet- tis county. Four hundred acres of this farm are devoted to the cultiva- tion of grain, and twelve hundred acres to timothy and clover meadow and blue grasss pasture. On this magnificent tract Mr. Gentry kept a herd of one hundred thoroughbred Short-horns, and two hundred stock
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
cattle, and fattened annually sixty to one hundred steers, and two hun- dred high bred Berkshire swine. He also keeps five hundred Merino and Downs sheep, a number of fine brood mares and horses, and sold annually froin twenty-five to fifty mules.
Directly east of Sedalia two miles, is "Sunnyside," a valuable farm owned by John M. Sneed, comprising seven hundred acres of prairie land of rich, warm soil, in a high state of cultivation. It is furnished with a substantial residence, and farm buildings, is well watered, and is divided into fields of convenient size for cultivation and stock-raising. One hun- dred and fifty acres are devoted to grain culture, and the balance, five hundred and fifty acres, to blue grass pasture and to timothy and clover meadow. Mr. Sneed grazes one hundred and fifty to two hundred stock cattle, two hundred Southdown sheep; keeps fine thoroughbred horses, and sells annually three to five car loads of fat steers, and two to five car loads of swine.
In the vicinity of " Sunnyside" is the farm of M. O. Green, consisting of sixteen hundred acres, surrounded by a splendid hedge of Osage Orange. A creek and numerous springs and ponds furnish an inexhaus- tible supply of pure water. The residence and other improvements are good and substantial; the soil is moist and fertile, and for all purposes the farm is regarded as among the best in that part of the county. Six hun- dred acres are devoted to the cultivation of grain; two hundred acres to blue grass pasture, and eight hundred acres to meadow. Mr. Green keeps three hundred to four hundred steers, four hundred to five hun- dred swine, forty to eighty mules, and sixty to eighty cows for breeding purposes.
Twelve miles northeast of Sedalia, in an exceedingly fertile and attrac- tive district, lies the splendid farm of H. S. Scott, one of the most thor- ough and enterprising stockmen in Pettis county. The tract comprises four hundred acres of excellent land, well watered and improved, and possessing superior natural advantages for successful stock raising. Mr. Scott has a fine herd of twenty thoroughbred Dutchess and Maries cattle, two hundred Cotswold sheep and one hundred Poland China swine, besides several fine brood mares and horses.
The farm of J. W. Cole, five miles southwest of Sedalia, is very favor- ably situated for all purposes, and is in an excellent state of cultivation. The soil is deep, warm and of marvelous fertility, yielding bountiful returns for the labor of cultivation, and springs and ponds furnish an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water. The farm of eight hun- dred and eighty acres is surrounded and divided into convenient fields by a thrifty hedge of Osage orange, and the buildings and other improve- ments are substantial and well kept. Mr. Cole makes a specialty of thor- oughbred stock and has a fine herd of forty high bred Short-horns, led
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
by a bull of excellent form and qualities. He keeps also eighty to one hundred breeding cows of especial merit, one hundred to one hundred and fifty pure bred Cotswold sheep, and fifty to one hundred high grade swine.
In the extreme northwestern portion of Pettis county, twenty miles from Sedalia, is " Avandale," the magnificent home farm of Thomas B. Price. It consists of eight hundred acres of wonderful fertility, situated in the midst of an exceedingly prosperous agricultural district, and surrounded by well cultivated farms. It is adorned by a residence, which in archi- tectural design and completeness and elegance of finish, is far superior to any farm residence in the county. The farm buildings are also of excel- lent design, very substantial and complete, and the surroundings of wood- land and lawn, of fields and pastures, of meadows and highways are equally convenient, pleasant and attractive. The farm is divided into fields of forty and eighty acres each, by eight miles of well cultivated hedge fence; numerous flowing springs, creeks and artificial lakes furnish an exhaustless supply of pure water the entire year, and belts of timber here and there afford grateful shelter to stock from the scorching sun of midsummer. One hundred and eighty acres are reserved for plow land, and six hundred and twenty acres are laid in meadow and blue glass pas- ture. Mr. Price keeps continually thirty to forty Short-horn cattle of the most popular families for breeding purposes; fattens one hundred and forty to one hundred and sixty steers, and two hundred and fifty to three hundred swine annually, and keeps on hand three hundred young mules, fourteen thoroughbred brood mares and a fine stallion, and raises superb carriage and saddle horses.
Fulton H. Bradford's fine farm "Glenwood," joins " Avondale," and is a marvel of neatness and thrift. It comprises about five hundred acres, divided into fields of convenient size, and is well fenced and cultivated. Two hundred acres are devoted to the cultivation of grain, and the remainder to meadow and blue grass pasture. Water, pure and abund- ant, is furnished by streams, springs and ponds, and the place possesses many other natural advantages which render it valuable in the highest degree for stock raising. The residence, which is a model of architec- tural beauty, and the barn and other farm buildings are neat, substantial, and convenient. Mr. Bradford keeps his farm well stocked with good breeds of cattle, sheep and swine.
Joining " Avondale," on the west, is "Prairie Home," the model farm of Capt. Samuel Shanks, consisting of six hundred and twenty acres, which, like the others last mentioned, possesses many natural advan- tages for stock raising. There are two hundred and eighty acres in plow land, one hundred of the remainder in meadow and blue grass pasture, all well fenced and conveniently divided into fields, and a fine two-
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
story brick residence and outbuildings, (a view of which appears else- where in this volume), and general surroundings in perfect keeping. Capt. Shanks has a herd of twenty five high-bred Short-horn cattle, a number of high-bred Denmark brood mares, one of which is Denmark Maid, a noted mare-she having taken fifty-seven premiums, always taking the premium at every fair where she was exhibited, and feeds two hundred steers, six hundred swine and from three to five hundred mutton sheep.
Two miles southwest of Capt. Shank's farm is the beautiful farm of John G. Senior, comprising 420 acres of the finest land in the county. On this farm he annually feeds a choice lot of stock cattle and hogs.
" Pleasant Grove," a beautiful farm of fourteen hundred acres and a fine residence, (a view of which appears in this volume) is owned by J. C. Higgins, and is situated four miles west of Houstonia. Six hundred and fifty acres are planted in grain, and seven hundred and fifty acres seeded down to clover and timothy meadow, and blue grass pasture. The place is kept in excellent order, is well arranged for convenience and economy in the care of stock, and even to the casual observer has the appearance of thrift and good management. Mr. Higgins is a thorough stock man, and personally superintends his business in all its details. He fattens for market annually one hundred and fifty to two hundred steers, and three hundred to four hundred swine; keeps two hundred Cotswold and Downs sheep, raises Denmark and Ned Forrest horses, and buys and sells one thousand mules a year.
Mrs. Wm. C. Gibson, wife of the late Judge Gibson of the Pettis County Court, owns " Gibson's Glen," a superb prairie farm of twenty- three hundred acres, thoroughly cultivated and well watered. The resi- dence is a handsome building, surrounded by beautiful lawns, shade and ornamental trees and shrubbery, and is a model of neatness and elegance. The farm is divided into fields by good fences, eleven hundred acres being reserved for cultivation, and twelve hundred acres in pasture and meadow. On this farm Judge Gibson kept continually six hundred to eight hundred steers, one thousand swine, and four hundred mutton sheep, which were fattened and shipped to market, yielding large annual profits.
S. T. Lupe's valuable farm, "Fairview," two and one-half miles east of Lamonte, in the western portion of the county, consists of seven hundred and fifty acres, enclosed and divided into forty and seventy acre lots by a splendid hedge fence. A handsome residence, surrounded by beautiful lawns and shade trees, a view of which appears elsewhere in this volume, large and convenient barns for stock and the storage of grain, and an abundance of pure water render this farm especially desirable. Miscel- laneous farm products are cultivated upon one hundred and sixty acres,
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HISTORY OF PETTIS COUNTY.
and a timothy meadow of eighty acres yields abundant harvests of hay of the best quality, while a well watered pasture laid in blue grass comprises the remainder of the farm. Mr. Lupe keeps fifty fine breeding cows, a large number of pure Berkshire swine, five hundred Merino, Cotswold and Shropshire Downs sheep, and fattens for market annually, fifty steers and one hundred swine.
A splendid farm of sixteen hundred acres, two and one-half miles south of Sedalia, is owned by Curd Petty. It is divided into pasture, meadow and plow land in proper proportions for stock raising upon a large scale, and is under good fence and otherwise well improved. Mr. Petty grazes and fattens for market annually two hundred to three hundred steers, keeps from ten to twenty excellent breeding cows, two hundred to three hun- dred head of mutton sheep, a large number of swine, several fine brood mares, and gives considerable attention to the raising of horses and mules.
Daniel Wadleigh has a well cultivated farm two and one-half miles south- west of Greenridge, in the extreme southwestern portion of the county. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Morgan horses, and has on hand continually from twelve to twenty of all ages. His other stock, con- sisting of stock cattle, breeding cows, sheep and swine, are all well bred and represent many thousand dollars in value.
Adjoining Dan'l Wadleigh's on the south is the fine stock farm of Berne and Nathan Reed. Situated on a gently rolling prairie of fertile soil, well cultivated and improved, it possesses many of the conditions essential to successful stock raising. The owners are young enterprising stock men, graze and fatten for market several car loads of cattle annually, besides a large number of swine. They also keep mules and horses of good quality, and are doing a profitable business in miscellaneous farming.
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