The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches, Part 40

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 1154

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 40

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Squire James Brown has a large and beautiful farm, in a high state of cultivation, and well watered by creeks and living wells-substantial resi- dence and farm buildings, excellent hedge and rail fences, fine orchard, meadow and pastures. He keeps a number of high grade breeding cows and a large number of cattle of mixed breeds, feeds two to three hundred head of stock of all kinds, and is a very successful stock man.

Washington Stark has a beautiful prairie farm two and one-half miles south of Reeds' and one mile south of Browns'. It is divided into fields of convenient size, well fenced and improved, and presents a very tidy and thrifty appearance. Mr. Stark has a number of breeding cows of Short-horn and Alderney, half and quarter breed, led by a fine Short- horn thoroughbred bull. Keeps a large number of horses and mules of good quality, and sells annually several thousand dollars worth of surplus stock and grain.

Professor J. H. Knapp has a handsome prairie farm of six hundred and

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forty acres, two and one-half miles west of Greenridge. The soil is very productive, yielding bountiful crops of grain and hay, is well improved and kept in excellent condition. Prof. Knapp grazes from one hundred to two hundred head of stock, and is doing a profitable business in stock raising.

Chas. Wadleigh owns a small, but well improved farm three miles south of Greenridge. He makes a specialty of thoroughbred Morgan horses, of which he has two fine stallions, several brood mares and colts; keeps a number of high grade breeding cows and a herd of stock cattle, followed by over one hundred swine.

Geo. E. Hollenbeck has a new, but well arranged farm, one mile north of Greenridge, and makes a specialty of miscellaneous stock raising, and buys, fattens and sells large numbers of cattle.

John Kendrick, four miles north of Greenridge, has a large and well arranged farm, adorned by a costly and commodious residence, and ample barns and other farm buildings in good repair. The place is fenced by a well kept hedge of Osage orange, and is supplied with water by ponds and wells. Mr. Kendrick keeps from ten to thirty breeding cows of good quality, one hundred to two hundred cattle of mixed breeds, a large flock of well bred sheep, one hundred to two hundred swine of high grade, and a number of brood mares, young horses and mules.

Judge Wes. Perdue, six miles north, and John R. Gray, eight miles west of Greenridge, are large farmers and stock dealers and grazers, and keep thoroughbred horses, cattle, sheep and swine, but the precise num- ber cannot be stated for want of definite information respecting their herds.

John Bennett, eighteen miles south of Sedalia, has a valuable farm which has been in cultivation many years, and is well improved, and kept in excellent order. It is situated on Flat Creek, has extensive meadows and blue grass pastures, and supplied with an abundance of pure water. Mr. Bennett keeps from thirty to forty high grade breeding cows, a large flock of sheep of good quality, several valuable Short-horns, twenty to thirty young horses, mules and brood mares, and grazes and fattens for market annually one hundred to two hundred steers, fifty to one hundred mutton sheep and one hundred swine.

" Crawford Lawn," the home of G. W. Crawford, situated three miles east of Hughesville,is one of the most valuable small farms in Pettis county. It contains one hundred and sixty acres, is well watered and surrounded and divided into fields of pasture meadow and plow land by a well culti- vated hedge fence. Mr. Crawford is doing a prosperous business at mixed farming, and sells annually a large amount of surplus stock and grain.

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The farm of Gregg Bros., eleven miles northwest of Sedalia, contains six hundred and forty acres, of which twohundred and fifty eight acres are devoted to pastures and meadows, and the balance to the cultivation of grain. The owners, G. W. & O. G. Gregg, manage the farm in person, and sell annually three hundred fat steers, three hundred swine and two hundred mutton sheep.

J. S. Hughes' " Pleasant Retreat," a beautiful, well cultivated and very productive farm of three hundred and sixty acres, is situated on Brushey creek twelve miles northwest of Sedalia. One hundred and sixty acres are reserved for plow land, and the balance is devoted to blue grass pas- tures, meadows and orchards. He keeps twenty-five to thirty choice breeding cows, seventy-five to one-hundred Southdown sheep, fifty to one hundred cattle, and one hundred to two hundred swine.

A fine farm of seven hundred and sixty acres, six miles southwest of Sedalia, is owned by George & D. E. Davis. Three hundred and twenty acres are used for the cultivation of grain, and four hundred and forty acres are laid in meadows of timothy and clover and blue grass pasture. Water is supplied by springs, wells and ponds, and the value of the prop- erty is enhanced by a large and well constructed residence and number of convenient and commodious farm buildings. The owners keep a splendid herd of Short-horns, six high grade brood mares, and thirteen mules and horses. They also fatten and ship to market annually about one hundred fifty swine and two hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty fat steers.

The most noted breeder of pure Berkshire swine in the state is N. H. Gentry, whose splendid farm of six hundred acres lies six miles northeast of Sedalia. This farm is noted for its fertile soil, beautiful location and the convenience and completeness of its arrangement. The entire 600 acres are laid in blue grass, and the sun never shone on finer pastures. Water, pure and abundant, is supplied by living streams and a steam pump, and the appliances and buildings connected with the breeding and raising of stock, cost a large sum. Mr. Gentry has a splendid herd of twenty-five Short-horns, led by a bull of superb form and qualities; two hundred and fifty Merino and Southdowns from imported stock, and sells annually over three hundred pigs at fancy prices.

Two miles east of Hughesville, in a flourshing agricultural district, is the excellent stock farm of Wm. Lowry. It consists of one thousand acres, all under substantial fence, and divided into convenient fields. One- half is seeded down to blue grass pasture and timothy meadow, and the balance is reserved for the cultivation of miscellaneous crops. The buildings are of the most substantial character, costing over $7,000, and water is obtained by means of bored wells with wind pump attachment. Mr. Lowry has a number of fine horses, brood mares and breeding cows,

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two hundred sheep, mostly improved grades, two hundred Poland-China and Berkshire hogs, and a large number of miscellaneous stock of mixed breeds.

M. H. Seibert owns a handsome, well cultivated farm three miles west of Sedalia. It contains six hundred and eighty acres, properly sub-divided for convenience in the management of stock, is exceedingly fertile and is in the midst of a very flourishing agricultural district. Three hundred and twenty acres are laid in blue grass pasture and timothy meadow, and the balance is in plow land, orchard, etc. Mr. Seibert has a herd of thirty registered cattle-Dutchess and Maries-a number of breeding cows of mixed breeds but high grade, twenty-five Berkshire hogs of the best species, one hundred fine sheep, Merino, Southdown and Cotswold, and gets as high price for his wool as any sheep breeder in the state. He keeps also one hundred and fifty to two hundred stock cattle of good breeds, and fattens and ships to market annually one hundred head of choice steers.

SHEEP HUSBANDRY.

Among other industries for which Pettis county is becoming noted, Sheep Husbandry is fast assuming perhaps the most prominent place.

As early as 1830, Richard Gentry, the father of R. W. Gentry, presi- dent of the Missouri Wool Growers Association, began paying special attention to sheep. On his large farm of over 6,000 acres, lying north- east of Sedalia, he kept a flock of Merinos, varying in number from 2,500 to 5,000, and in quality unsurpassed by any flock in the state. This flock was a mixture of Spanish, French and Saxon blood.

Mr. Gentry was known throughout the state as the great sheep man of his day, and strangers often came long distances to see his farm and sheep. Mr. Gentry was at his death the wealthiest man in the county; and he always claimed to have made most of his money in handling sheep. He handled Merinos exclusively, and his wool, on account of its quality and condition, always brought the best market price. His clip one year during the war brought him $12,000.00.

A flock of 800 sheep, descended from the flock Mr. Gentry left at his death, are now the property of R. W. Gentry, above mentioned, who lives on the old home place. In addition to these, Mr. Gentry has 200 sheep imported from Vermont, than which there are none better in the state.

Mr. Gentry is president of the State Wool Growers Association, secre- tary of the Pettis county Association, a member and secretary of the Missouri State Board of Agriculture, and a young and thoroughly pro- gressive man.

He has a farm of 1,100 acres highly improved, lying northeast of

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Sedalia, on which he proposes to keep a flock of 2,000 registered Ver- mont sheep. He has now four large barns, and is making improvements every year. His residence is connected with Sedalia by telephone, and all letters and telegrams are promptly received. Mr. Gentry was the first president of the State Wool Growers Association, and is now presi- dent for the third time. He is ambitious to make Missouri the sheep state of the Union, and Pettis the sheep county of the state. He is not at all selfish, but is doing all he can to induce others to embark in the busi- ness; and he is weekly answering letters from other states from parties desiring to move to Missouri, to embark in the sheep husbandry. Parties in Pettis having farms for sale or rent would do well to keep Mr. Gentry informed of the fact.

Pettis county has by no means reached its full development in the mat- ter of sheep husbandry. It has but fairly made a beginning. Over 3,000 blooded sheep were shipped out of the country last year, and the number is annually increasing. Mr. Gentry is shipping bucks in large numbers to Texas. Mr. John S. Woods and the Deweese Bro's are also shipping Merino bucks and ewes to various points in large numbers.

Messrs. Wm. M. Gentry and N. H. Gentry, who have hitherto been raising various kinds of blooded stock, the latter especially Berkshire hogs, have concluded to give special attention to sheep. They propose to keep Merinos; and have already very choice flocks. They are half brothers of R. W. Gentry, and the three, living on adjacent farms, hope to control a large trade.

Sedalia is the place at which are held the annual conventions and shear- ings of the State Association, and the meetings of the County Association ; so that Pettis county, on this account as well as on account of its railroad facilities, may be regarded as the sheep centre of the state. The County Association is composed at present of the following named gentlemen :

Wm. Baker, Greenridge; John S. Banks, Sedalia; Fenton Barnett, Dresden; E. C. Bouldin, Georgetown; Dr. J. L. Cartwright, Longwood; V. T. Chilton, Smithton; J. W. Cole, Sedalia; Oliver Elmore, Longwood; Major Wm. Gentry, Sedalia; Wm. M. Gentry, Sedalia; N. H. Gentry, Sedalia; R. W. Gentry, Sedalia; Joshua Gentry, Dresden; F. C. Hayman, Longwood; T. S. Hopkins, Georgetown; J. B. Hopkins, Dresden; C. C. Jackson, Hughesville; J. M. Jackson, Hughesville; Henry Jones, Long- wood; S. T. Lupe, Lamonte; James McCampbell, Greenridge; Wm. McDaniel, Houstonia; H. L. Quisenberg, Sedalia; H. B. Scott, Sedalia ; J. E. Scott, Houstonia; J. M. Sneed, Sedalia; B. P. Smith, Smithton; John Thomas, Dresden; Hebrew Tivis, Houstonia; David Thompson, Sedalia; J. W. Walker, Sedalia; J. S. Woods, Sedalia.

There are quite a number of sheep men in the county besides the above, whose names no doubt will soon be enrolled. This association has thous-

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ands of sheep, and clip annually over 100,000 pounds of wool. The officers are J. M. Sneed, president; R. W. Gentry, secretary; John S. Woods treasurer.

Most of these gentlemen sell their wool to local dealers, some ship to St. Louis; while the most enterprising ship directly east to commission houses, thus doing away with all profits of middlenien except one, thus realizing a good round price. Mr. R. W. Gentry shipped this year to Walter Brown & Co., No. 98 Federal Street, Boston, and realized for his clip of 7,000 pounds, 27 cents. per pound over and above all expenses.

CONCLUSION .- The foregoing by no means comprises the entire number of persons engaged in stock raising in Pettis county. Every where may be found magnificent farms, stocked with thoroughbred animels of the finest species, or of mixed breeds of excellent qualities. Every farmer raises stock for sale in proportion as his means and the facilities of farm affords. Every farmer boy is being trained in the best methods of stock husbandry by careful experienced fathers, and granger mothers are instructing their daughters in the art of butter making, poultry raising, and the various domestic duties so essential to successulf husbandry. The various conditions essential to the propogation of animal life, and its growth and development to the highest possible standard and of excellence exist, effecting alike both brute and human, and nowhere under the sun can be found finer types of the human race than those "to the manor born, "and reared in the pure air, the healthful clime, and upon the fertile soil of matchless Pettis county.

CHAPTER XIV .- RAILROAD HISTORY.

Introduction .- First Enterprises in this Direction .- Sketch of the Inventor of the Locomo- tive .- Some of the First Railroads. -- Building of the Pacific Railroad .- Prominent men in Railroad Enterprises of the County .- The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad. -Narrow Gauge .-- Lexington Branch.

In this age of great, unprecedented progress and advancement in all that pertains to the elevation and enlightenment of mankind, nothing in all the domains of science and art has been more effective in bringing about these results than the invention of railroads. The imagination of men, stimulated by the most gorgeous scenes of beauty and grandeur, could never have conceived the marvelous and unparalleled changes that have been wrought in this country by the introduction of railroads. Men liv- ing in the present generation can distinctly remember when the iron- horse first breathed from his nostrils, the dark, wavy columns of smoke that hailed his appearance in the world. Nothing in all the realms of truth or fiction has ever before surpassed the rapid strides the world has made,

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in every department of literature, in every field of art, and in all the rami- fications of science, since the year 1830, when steam locomotion, for the first time in the history of the world, was made a veritable fact. It need not be claimed that this degree of advancement is due alone to the great advantages brought on by railroads, but it may be shown that they have contributed to these results more than any other factor; nay perhaps, more than all the other factors that make up the civilization, refinement, and prosperity of the present day. All nations have become neighbors The wealthy merchant in New York can spend his summer vacations with his relatives or friends on the distant shores of the Pacific, surrounded by all the beauties and delicacies of a tropical clime. The northern citizen may spend the day with his southern neighbor, and return to his home in the same length of time. All civilized nations are brought into close connec- tions with one another in the various relations of business and pleasure.

Time is almost annihilated, and space made as naught, by the grand and mighty railroad and the attendant luminary, or satellite, the telegraph. Within the last few years the telephone has added new and cheaper means of communication of thought, especially in cities. By these rapid means of inter-communication and exchange of products, all the learning, discov- eries and inventions of the world are brought together, as one vast motive power to lift up the world and make it what it is. It has been by the united effort of mankind, brought on by our grand systems of railroads and telegraphs, that such an impetus has been given to every department of human activity, destined, perhaps, to continue to elevate and ennoble the human race for coming ages, until they shall have risen to a height so grand, so lofty, and so transcendant in all its aspects, as would cast in the dark shades of barbarism, the boasted civilization of to-day.

As early as 1602 railways are mentioned in history, and are thus described: The manner of the carriage is by laying rails of timber from the colliery to the river, exactly straight and parallel; and bulky carts are made with four rollers fitting those rails, whereby the carriage is so easy that one horse will draw down four or five caldron of coals, and is an immense benefit to the coal merchants. The first iron railway was laid down near Sheffield, England, by John Curr in 1776, but was destroyed by the col- liers. In 1786 considerable railway was laid at Colebrook Dale, England; however, the railway system was not sanctioned until 1801. Up to this time the cars were drawn by horses. In 1802, a patent was applied for and granted by the government for high pressure locomotive engines to Trevethick and Vivian. In 1813, Wm. Hedley built the first travelling engine or substitute for animal power. It was not till George Stephenson in 1814, constructed his locomotive that speed amounted to much, and that was only six miles per hour, but by 1829 the speed was accelerated to

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twenty-five and thirty-five miles per hour, and by 1830 received attention in the United States of America.

It may be truly said that George Stephenson, an ingenious engineer, who invented the steam engine, was one of the greatest benefactors of the human race. His experiments covered several years, beginning with 1814.

The following is a brief sketch of this great benefactor: George Step- henson was born at Wylam, in Northumberland, England, June 9, 1781. His father was a fireman of a colliery, and was unable to give his children an education at school. At the age of fourteen, George became an as- sistant fireman in the colliery. He learned to read and write at a night school. Having been promoted to the office of brakesman, he married Fanny Henderson about 1802. He exercised his mechanical skill in mending clocks, studied mechanics, and acquired a practical and the- oretical knowledge of steam engines. In 1812 he became chief engineer of Killingworth Colliery. His first locomotive engine was completed in July, 1814, and drew eight loaded cars four miles an hour. He made an- other, with important improvements, and applied the steam blast pipe, in 1815, and soon after that date improved the construction of the railway. In 1822 he was employed to construct a railway from Stockton to Dar- lington, which was opened in 1825, and was the first railway made for public use. About 1824, Mr. Stephenson and Edward Pease, of Dar- lington, established a manufactory of locomotives at New Castle. He was chief engineer of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, finished in 1803, not without opposition from land owners and others. A prize of £500, equal to $2,434.30, was offered by the directors of this railway for the best locomotive, which was awarded to the " Rocket," made by George Ste- phenson and his son Robert, in 1830. This engine is said to have run at the rate of thirty miles per hour, to the great amazement of the people. He was subsequently employed as engineer of the Grand Junction Rail- way, of that which connects London with Birmingham and other places. He spent his latter years in the superintendence of his extensive coal mines, and in August, 1848, he passed from the stage of action, having spent nearly threescore years of active life.

The first railroad in the United States, built in 1826, was used in carry- ing granite from the quarry at Quincy, Mass .: the first locomotive was im- ported in 1829. The following year, a locomotive, the first successful one ever constructed in this country, was produced at Baltimore, and was used for the transportation of passengers on what is now the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The same year, the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad was be- gun between Albany and Schenectady, and in 1832 a load was drawn over it at the rate of thirty miles an hour. From this time railroads multiplied rapidly; and when the revulsion of 1837 occurred, more miles of railroad

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were in operation in the United States than in any other country. Since then the improvements have been quite rapid, and the simple engine and plain carriage originally used do not look much like the powerful locomo- tives and costly cushioned and elegantly furnished cars of the present day.

The Pacific Railroad was the first important railroad projected in the county. The question of its location began to agitate the people as early as 1850. There was a fierce struggle, involving much animosity and bit- terness, carried on in the state legislature, as to whether the road should be located on its present route, called the inland route, or along the river counties. Prominent among the men who contributed much to bring the road through Pettis county is Gen. Geo. R. Smith.

At the beginning of the war, 1861, the Pacific Railroad was completed to Sedalia, and at once the town became a nucleus around which all the country for a radius of more than fifty miles came to do business. Many came to the terminus of the road for the purpose of work and protection from the rebels. For about three years the road was not pushed farther west. In 1865, after the close of the war, work was resumed.

March 2, 1857, the court made the following order:

It is ordered, that the president of this court sign the bonds of Pettis for $100,000, heretofore ordered to be issued to the Pacific Railroad com- pany; and the agent of the county is hereby authorized to make a sup- plemental contract with said company, requiring that no interest shall be charged on said bonds whilst they remain unsold. It is further ordered that the clerk of this court attest said bonds and sign the coupons attached thereto.

Upon the same day Gen. George R. Smith was appointed by the county court to cast the vote of the county of Pettis for directors of the Pacific Railroad company at the ensuing election. At this time A. M. Forbes was president of the court, a man of considerable enterprise and ability. The following order appears on the county court record for March 6, 1855:

Ordered, that the collector of Pettis county pay over to C. & W. Wood, George Heard, William H. Powell and David Thomson, the amount bor- rowed of them by the county to pay a call on the county made by the Pacific Railroad Company, with interest, as soon as he shall collect suffi- cient of railroad tax for that purpose.

On the tenth of this month Gen. George R. Smith was authorized by the county court to cast his vote in the next election for directors of the Pacific Railroad. On July 3d, 1865, it was ordered by the court " that a tax of one per cent be levied on all property set forth in the assessor's book for railroad purposes for the present year." Taxation continued to be quite heavy until the Pacific bonds were paid, and then a cessation of prosperity intervened for several years, and with the exception of the panic of 1873, the county has continued in prosperity.

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One of the most noted railroad men who has given time and influence in building up Sedalia and Pettis county, benefitting and adding thousands of dollars in value to real estate of Central Missouri is Mr. Cyrus New- kirk, who, by foresight, cast his lot with the interests of the people of Pettis county in 1865. Here he at once inaugurated a project whereby the Tebo and Neosho Railroad could be completed, extending from Seda- lia to Fort Scott. Nine years previous a charter was granted, but the board of directors were not organized, and it was the principal object of taking hold of this railroad and pushing it through that induced Mr. New- kirk to come west. When the board of directors was organized, Col. A. C. Marvin was president, and Cyrus Newkirk treasurer. Active work commenced in 1866, and the charter being a very liberal one, allowing the road to extend into and through every county of the state; and the county courts could by subscriptions encourage, grant, and issue bonds for the construction of the road. Mr. Newkirk continued to work for this project with alacrity until its completion. He succeeded in negotiating in behalf of Pettis county with the Land Grant Railway and Trust Com- pany of New York, whereby the people could have a highway opened up for them which amounted in dollars and cents to far more than all the bonds voted. This road is now the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and extends north from Sedalia to Hannibal, and south to Denison, Texas, and is now a part of the Jay Gould combination. Col. A. D. Jaynes, Major Wm. Gentry, J. R. Barrett, Reece Hughes, and others of the county had done consid- erable for this enterprise. Gen. George R. Smith was the agent to dis- pose of the bonds of the Tebo and Neosho Railroad for Pettis county, and may be regarded as one of the leading public men of Pettis county who never lost an opportunity to assist in building it up.

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The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches, Part 40

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald Publication date: 1882] Publisher: [n.p. Number of Pages: 1154

Author: Demuth, I. MacDonald
Publication date: 1882]
Publisher: [n.p.
Number of Pages: 1154