The History of Pettis County, Missouri, including an authentic history of Sedalia, other towns and townships, together with biographical sketches, Part 56

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 56

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On the 23d day of July, 1870, the first excursion train out of Sedalia ran over the M., K. & T. Line to Clinton, Mo., forty-five miles south- west.

On the 12th of December, 1870, the remaining 165 miles, to Fort Scott, Kas., was completed, and cars ran between Sedalia and Fort Scott. There never was, in the annals of railroad building, more rapid or excellent work done than was done on the south end of the line.

In 1871 the passenger and freight traffic, over this line, had grown to such an extent that it was necessary to erect a union depot, near Engineer street, even before the extension from Sedalia to Hannibal had been put in full operation. This depot was burned in 1877, and was not rebuilt. The construction of the northern end of the same road, from Sedalia to Hannibal, was also pushed with a most remarkable energy and rapidity. The road-bed on this division was ready for the ties and iron on March 13, 1872, and on that date the first were laid. In a little over one year the greater portion of the track was laid. On May 4, 1873, the first excur- sion train, on the northern extension, ran from Sedalia to the Lamine River, a distance of twenty miles. The large bridge over this river fell in just before its completion, and the time expended in its reconstruction delayed the running of regular through trains for some time.

In April, 1873, the southern extension was completed to Denison, Texas.

Some time in November, 1873, the first through trains over the M., K. & T. ran from Sedalia to Hannibal and from Sedalia to Denison.

In the latter part of 1873 the company established their general offices in Sedalia. The general office is now the Missouri Pacific Railroad Hos- pital, and is one of the handsomest, largest and best built edifices in the city. It is located in the eastern part of the city. From the time of their establishment until the M., K. & T. Railroad was purchased by Mr. Jay

519

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

Gould, the offices remained here and gave employment to a very large clerical force. All the officers in active service, from the general manager down to the lowest, resided in this city, and it always presented a most pleasing scene of activity and life.

The following gentlemen were the general managers of the road while its headquarters were in Sedalia: Col. R. S. Stevens, Maj. A. B. Garner, William Bond and A. Mitchell. James D. Brown, for many years the General Passenger Agent, succeeded in making the road known through- out the entire Union, by his ingenious devices in advertising and his skill and judgment in the preparation of advertising matter. It is only the plain truth to say that the M., K. & T. was one of the best advertised railroads in the world.

Col. A. D. Jaynes, the Cashier of the First National Bank, was for a number of years the Treasurer of the road.

From the time the first trains passed over this line, until the present, the passenger and freight traffic has been very large, and has increased to immense proportions. For the five years previous to 1SS0 almost every train contained large numbers of emigrants on their way to Kansas and Texas to settle upon the cheap lands. Sedalia and the M., K. & T. Rail- way were inseparably connected, and became as well known throughout the country as St. Louis and Chicago. It was also known that Sedalia had really originated the road.

In the spring of 1870 the present K. & T. Division Railroad shops were established here. There was a small beginning and only a few men employed, but they grew day by day, and building by building. In 1871, the first substantial buildings, outside of the original temporary ones, were erected. In 1872, the Union Depot was built in East Sedalia. The shops grew gradually until 1873, when more additions were made and they continued to increase their dimensions until 1875. In this year there were two hundred men employed in the shops, about seventy-five in the general offices, and about one hundred train men, who made their head- quarters in Sedalia. The monthly pay roll in Sedalia amounted to $25,000; the value of the company's property was estimated at $150,000; it was estimated that seven million pounds of freight were received by it at Sedalia, and nearly 25,000 tickets were sold at the station.

An article written in 1876 upon the condition of the railroads in that year, says:

There are employed by this company in various departments 203 men who are stationed at Sedalia. These men are paid monthly about $16,000. In addition to this there are 100 train men, conductors, engineers, brakemen, &c., who spend a greater portion of their time here and pay out in the city about $6,000 monthly.

It will appear from these figures that this company pay out in this city annually about $250,000.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

In the general offices sixty men are employed, and the monthly pay roll is $7,000; in the locomotive and machine departments there are forty- seven men, the sum paid them monthly being about $2,000: in the car department, sixty-five men, and pay them $4,000 per month; miscellaneous employes 31, pay $3,000. During the year ending March 31, 1875, there was forwarded by this company 26,599,839 pounds of freight.

There were received at this station during the same period 65,472,568 pounds of freight. The total number of passengers leaving Sedalia dur- ing this period was 23,383."

In 1881, the Missouri Pacific R. R. Co., which also owns the M., K. & T., had the following in Sedalia:

New brick shops in course of erection, $20,000; Missouri Pacific shops and machinery, $75,000; K. & T. Division, $50,000; General Superin- tendent's office, $20,000; General Hospital, $30,000; other buildings, $15,000. Total, $210.000.

Total value of railroad property in Sedalia, including real estate, Mis- souri Pacific Railroad shops, K. & T. Division shops, General Hospital, Superintendent's and Dispatcher's office, Union Stock Yards and miscel- laneous buildings, $250,000.

Total number of men employed in 1880 in Sedalia, 362. In 1881 the total number, 562. Increase in one year, 200. About the same number are employed in 1882.

Approximate amount of cash receipts for freight received at this sta- tion in 1881, $240,000; cash receipts for freight shipped from city in 1881, $140,000. Total receipts in Sedalia for freights in 1881, $380,000.

GRAND AGGREGATE, 1SS1.

Total amount spent for material in all departments, $230,000; total expended for labor in Sedalia, in all departments, 1881, $496,000; amount spent for new buildings, yards, etc., 1881, $40,000; grand total for 1881, $766,000.

Tickets sold at Sedalia depot in 1SS0, $83,717.45: in 1881, $111,126.10; increase in sale of tickets in one year, $27,408.65.

The Sedalia shops are the only ones on the line of the Missouri Pacific proper, between Kansas City and St. Louis, and the only ones on the line of the K. & T. Division between Parsons, Kas., on the south, and Hannibal, Mo., on the north.

THE MISSOURI PACIFIC SHOPS.

The figures above, in the last few paragraphs, are the combined esti- mates regarding the Missouri Pacific and the K. & T. Division shops. The Missouri Pacific shops were not established in the city until the lat- ter part of 1872 and completed in 1873. The town had no Board of Trade at that time, but a free library had been established in the city several years previous, and the Board of Directors of this body had been in the habit of discussing all subjects of public importance. This

521

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

body of Directors went to work and organized a Board of Trade. A number of our most prominent citizens of the present day became mem- bers of it. Members of the Board learned that there was a possibility of getting a portion of the Missouri Pacific shops located at Sedalia. They agitated the question among the people; found out what propositions would be accepted by the railroad company; laid the matter before the City Council and then influenced the latter body to enter into negotiations with the railroad authorities. The Council finally ordered the issue of $40,000 worth of city bonds to aid in building the shops, money was raised by subscription among the citizens, twenty acres of beautiful land purchased in the northeastern suburbs of the city, and these bonds and this land given to the railroad company, on the condition that all the shops on the line of the road between St. Louis and Kansas City should be removed to Sedalia and remain there permanently. Of the bonds $30,000 was delivered at once. In the fall of 1872 the work of building the huge Round House began, and during the year 1873 this and the large frame shops were completed. In 1882 the work of building the new brick shops began, and when the foundation was completed in March the remaining $10,000 in city bonds was turned over to the company. These shops, building and machinery are now worth from $75,000 to $100,000. In order to show what a large amount of work is done in the Missouri Pacific shops alone, exclusive of that done in the K. & T. Division Department, and the immense increase in thair capacity since they were started in 1873, the following statistical information, furnished by the proper officers, is appended:

No. of men employed Jan. 1st, 1880, 276; No. of men employed Jan. 1st, 1881, 354; increase, 78.

No. of engines running Jan. 1st, 1881, 76; No. of engines running Jan. 1st, 1850, 63; increase, 13.

No. of locomotives repaired or rebuilt, not including repairs in the Round House, in 1881, 40; No. of same in 1880, 36; increase, 4.

Labor expenses for the month December, 1881, $20,029.10; same for the month December, 1880, $14,120.80; increase in one month of year 1881, $6,170.30.

Expended for material in December, 1881, $5,370.22; December, 1880, $3,312.93; increase in one month of year 1881, $2,057.29.

Total amount paid out for material December, 1881, $25,961.32; in December, 1880, $17,133.73; total increase, $8,227.59.

Aggregate expenditures, 1881, $243,493.20; aggregate expenditures, 1850, $169,449.60; aggregate increase, 1681, $74,043.60.

At the present time, July, 1882, the company is engaged in erecting a splendid new brick building for shops, which will cost when completed, $20,000.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

These two sets of shops now make as fine freight, passenger and sleep- ing cars as are made in the best and oldest car manufactories in the United States. Everything but the casting of the car wheels is done in Sedalia. Locomotives are built complete and all the work of constructing them is done in this city, except the work of casting the huge driving wheels and the casting of steel driving shafts, cylinder heads and a few minor articles which require special skill and machinery.

THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD

and its history, is inseparably connected with the life and labors of Gen. George R. Smith, the founder of Sedalia, and the chief promoter of the consummation of the project. For a complete and detailed account of the inception, progress and completion of this great line of railway the reader, is referred to the early chapters of this history, and the biographical sketch of General Smith.

SEDALIA, WARSAW AND SOUTHERN R. R.

This is a narrow gauge road, and was built recently. It was chiefly the work of Sedalia. In 1869 the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas R. R. Co. built a piece of road bed from Warsaw to Cole Camp. It was intended that this road should intersect the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Tipton, Mo. The scheme fell through and the company forfeited its charter. In 1879 the citizens of Sedalia began to agitate the proposition to build a narrow gauge road from Sedalia to Warsaw, Mo., a distance of forty-five miles due south of Sedalia. Benton County agreed to give the old road bed it had graded from Warsaw, to Sedalia. In September 1879, the Sedalia, Warsaw and Southern R. R. Co. was organized in Sedalia with the following officers: Wm. Gentry, President; Gen. Geo. R. Smith Vice President; James H. Lay, Secretary, and Cyrus Newkirk, Trea- surer. The new constitution of the State forbids counties issuing bonds beyond a certain limit. As neither Pettis nor Benton County could issue any more bonds, it was necessary to build the road with money raised by subscriptions of the people. During the year 1880 the citizens of Sedalia subscribed about $55,000. About $40,000 of this was collected.

In November, 1879, work was commenced on the road. It was com- pleted and ready for the cars in 1881. The first regular freight and passenger trains ran over it during the summer of 1881.

The road is now taxed to its utmost capacity, and has opened up a splendid region of country to be tributary to the city. Cyrus Newkirk was the chief worker for this railroad.

THE POST OFFICE.

This is perhaps the oldest public institution in Sedalia, and its propor- tions have increased with those of the city. It was established just before

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

:881

GROCERIES

W. J. BAGBY

TAGBY

W. J. BAGBY, GROCERY STORE, SEDALIA, MO.

the arrival of the railroad at this point, in the latter part of the year 1560. The office was in a lone barn-like house, north of the railroad track, and in those days commanded a view of the rolling prairie, with here and there a farm house dotting the broad expanse. The first postmaster was A. T. Hodge, who remained but a few months, as early in 1861 he gave up his commission, and joined the Confederates. W. H. Cottrell succeeded him; he was also, express and stage agent, adding the duties of postmaster without any inconvenience. Ira Pierce of Oswego, Kan., was his assistant, and together they did a paying business in the grocery line along with the express matter, the stage agency, and postoffice. Mr. Cottrell leaving in 1862. Dr. Logan Clark, who was an old citizen of the district, was appointed, with Miss Mary Kidd as assistant, and in March, of the same year, the postoffice was removed to the south side of the rail- road to a frame house very near the site of the present Smith's Opera House. Then in October it was again moved to a small room west of the present Pacific boarding house. On the 15th of October, 1864, the Con- federate General Jeff. Thompson made a descent upon Sedalia, and the postoffice shared in the general wreck, his soldiers making a thorough search of the house, and but few letters or valuables of any kind were left at their departure. In 1864 Dr. Clark resigned in favor of O. T. Crandall,

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

now of Santa Barbara, Cal., who took possession in January, 1865, and held it until 1867. The office was located in a brick house near the corner of Main and Lamine streets, where it remained until the fall of 1868, when another removal was made to the building, corner of the alley on Ohio street, now occupied by the co-operative store. June 1, 1869, [Perry Hawes was appointed postmaster, and took possession. Harry C. Demuth, now captain of the Sedalia rifles, and a member of the book firm of Easton & Demuth, entered the office at this time and remained con- tinually until 1882, where he had been chief clerk, and practically manager of the office for seven years. He resigned voluntarily after a service of nearly thirteen years. He had charge of the books and accounts from the time the income of the office amounted to a few thousand dollars a year up to the time that the gross income amounted to nearly $200,000 per annum.

In 1872 the building occupied by the office, on the corner of Pearl River and Ohio street, was consumed by fire. It was then removed to the ground floor of the building almost opposite, beneath the Bazoo news- paper office. It remained in that building until 1877, when Mr. Hawes, second term expired and Albert Parker was appointed postmaster. Shortly after his appointment the office was removed to a building espe- cially prepared for the purpose, on the south side of Second street between Ohio and Lamine. This is its location in 1882. Under Mr. Albert Parker's administration there were very marked improvements made in the interior arrangements of the office that contributed much to the public convenience. The clerical force was increased; a large number of new call and lock boxes were added; a general delivery window exclusively for ladies was added; and a fire-proof vault for the storage of valuable supplies built. Mr. Parker also appealed to the Postoffice Department for the establishment of lamp-post letter boxes, and made such reliable and convincing representations that in the fall of 1881 twenty-five letter boxes were placed throughout the city. They have proved a great convenience. The arrangements, building and manage- ment of the post-office were all in harmony for the first time.

The Money Order Department was not established in the Sedalia office until the spring of 1866. From that time on the business increased . immensely.

Milo Blair was the next postmaster appointed, and took formal posses- sion of the office on Feb. 20, 1882.

In 1864 the office paid the postmaster, by commissions, about $600. In 1869 it was made a salaried office, with a fixed salary of $2,400. In a year more it was increased to $2,600, and still later, with the rapid increase of business, to $2,800 per annum. In 1875 the salary was raised to $3,200.

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

In 1879 it was cut down to $2,600 with an allowance in 1882 of $2,000 for clerk hire.

From the time that Mr. Hawes took charge of the office the increase in business has been steady and large. The following comparative state- ment will give a fair idea of the amount of business done.

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT.

From sale of stamps, etc.

1878. $14,853.93

1879. :$16,095.62

1880. $17,096.89

Amount box rents .

1,712.25

1,884.25

2,001.15

Unpaid postage collected

57.18

93.54

112.65

From sale of waste paper

2.71

6.57

9.04

Total receipts.

$16,626.07

$18,079.98

$19,219.73

Amount Money Orders issued

$69,392.35

77,566.69

S9,585.61

Amount Money Orders paid .

65,843.86

80,178.72

87,572.23

Number Registered Letters handled.

11,281

13,752

17,040

Gross receipts of office from the sale of stamps, postal cards, wraps, etc., and from money orders issued: 1878, $86,628.00; 1879, $95,646.00 1880, 108,805.00. Increase in above items of gross receipts from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1881, $22,786. Total amounts of money handled in office by sale of stamps, postal cards, envelopes, wraps and foreign and domestic money orders paid and issued, 1878, $152,862.00; 1879, $175,825.00; 1880, $196,377.00; 1881, 192.904.74. Increase in amounts handled from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1881, $44,515. Increase from Jan. 1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1882, $40,042.74.

A bill is now before Congress asking for an appropriation of $50,000 for the erection of a postoffice building in Sedalia, and in view of the present magnitude of the business done and its steady increase as shown by official reports the petition is a just one, and it is quite probable that there will soon be a postoffice building erected commensurate with the size of the town and the business done. The office has been conducted with such honesty and intelligence by its first three postmasters, Crandall, Hawes and Parker, that the Department has not lost one dollar.

BANKS.

The city now has four regular banks, with a cash paid up capital of $300,100. The deposits on Jan. 1, 1882, were, according to official state- ments, $834,545.37.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK.

This is the first and oldest banking institution in the city. It has a capital of $100,000 now, and started with the same amount. It was organized in March, 1866, by Cyrus Newkirk and Col. A. D. Jaynes. 21

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

The former was president until January, 1874, when he was appointed cashier. Col. Jaynes had been cashier from the start. In 1869, James C. Thompson became assistant cashier, and is still in the bank. Col. Jaynes was in 1874 appointed treasurer of the M., K. & T. R. R. Subsequently he resigned the position of cashier and Mr. Thompson was advanced to the position. Mr. Newkirk again became president.

The bank was opened in a small frame building a few doors north of its present location, and remained there until the latter part of 1868. In 1867, the fine building now occupied by the bank was begun, and was completed in 1868. It cost then nearly $30,000. This handsome build- ing has an iron front, plate glass, is heated with registers, furnished with telephones, and has a triple safe with the latest improved patent Yale Time Locks.

The officers and directors are among the wealthiest and most solid citi- zens of the county. President, Cyrus Newkirk; Cashier, Jas. C. Thomp- son; Teller, F. H. Guenther; Directors: Wm. Gentry, largest land owner in the county, stock dealer and farmer; J. R. Barrett, large land owner, dairy and stock man; E. A. Phillips, tie contractor and capitalist ; Wm. Lowry, large land owner and farmer; Jos. C. Higgins, extensive land owner, farmer and stock dealer, and the officers of the bank.

The following condensed statement will show the extent of its busi- ness: Notes discounted in 1881, 8302,275; deposits in 1881, $310,004; resources, $555,604. It has a surplus of $70,000 besides its capital.

SEDALIA SAVINGS BANK.

This is the second banking institution founded in the city. It was established in February, 1868, by Mentor Thomson, an old resident of the county, and Elisha Brown, formerly of Boonville, Mo., and Jackson- ville, Ill. Mr. Thomson was elected president and is still in the same position. Mr. Brown was the first cashier, and Mr. Adam Ittel, now cashier of the Citizen's National Bank, was the first teller. Mr. Brown died in 1872, and Mr. Thos. W. Cloney, for years a member of the first, oldest and largest wholesale house in the city, Cloney, Crawford & Co., became cashier. The position is still held by him. In 1872, Richard T. Gentry became the assistant cashier, Mr. Ittel retiring to enter another bank.

Mr. Gentry was in 1878 elected County Treasurer, a position he has filled with honor. The bank has a magnificent safe of the finest and cost- liest make, and a fine two-story brick building.

The directors are: John L. Hall, Phil. E. Chappell, John F. Philips, Wm. M. Gentry, John G. Rissler, V. T. Chilton, John M. Sneed, James M. Warren, M. H. Seibert, and the officers.

527

HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

Capital stock paid up, $50,100; current deposits, $150,000; surplus fund on hand, $21,200; Time deposits, $16,169; resources, $245,851.

CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK.

The third bank established was the above. The preliminary steps were taken in December, 1872. A large number of leading business men, farmers and stock dealers were found ready to take stock in the new bank. When all the introductory work had been completed, a meeting was held of those who had subscribed for stock and they elected a Board of Directors. Clifton Wood, the first merchant in Pettis County, an old resident-a man of means and business ability and possessed of the confi- dence of the county and city-was elected the first president. Adam Ittel was elected cashier, and still holds the same position.

Mr. Wood died Dec. 9, 1877, when John J. Yeater was elected Presi- dent, and holds the same position still. Chas. W. Bullen has been teller of the institution almost since its foundation. B. F. Richardson has been the confidential book-keeper for a number of years. The bank occupies a handsome two-story brick edifice on the southeast corner of Main and Ohio streets, and has a splendid vault and fine safes, secured by the best Yale Time Locks.

This bank has a capital of $100,000. In 1881 the bank had nearly 700 depositors; an increase of nearly 100 over 1880.

Average current deposits subject to check, 1880 $250,000

Same in 1881. 300,000

Increase, 1881, about. 50,000

Notes and drafts discounted in 1880 175,000

Same in 1881 200,000

Increase in 1881

25,000

THE MISSOURI TRUST COMPANY.

This institution is one of Sedalia's best enterprises. It was organized for the purpose of doing a general business as a Trust Company, and takes charge of estates, endowment and trust funds, and invests the same in safe and paying securities. The scheme originated with its founder, O. A. Crandall, and its success has surpassed his most sanguine expectations. It was organized on July 3, 1880, with a paid up capital of only $10,000, and placed under the control of the following officers, viz .: O. A. Cran- dall, Pres't; A. P. Morey, Vice Pres't; and P. G. Stafford, Sec'y. At the end of its first year its capital was increased to $20,000, and the capi- tal will again be increased at the annual meeting in July to $50,000. Since its organization it has received for investment over $400,000, all of which has been loaned to farmers at an average of seven per cent interest per annum, on from three to five years time. The officers are the same as

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HISTORY OF SEDALIA.

when first organized. The Board of Directors consists of O. A. Crandall, A. P. Morey, W. H. Powell, W. T. Hutchinson, Jos. C. Higgins, Frank C. Hayman, and T. T. Clifford.

PETTIS COUNTY BANK.

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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 56

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