USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 12
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS.
Price Current, Commercial Indicator, Kansas City Review of Science and Industry, Mirror of Progress, 'Mid Continent. There are, also, published two German papers, and a society paper, The Herald. There are two auxiliary publishing companies, one by the Times company, and the other by Bunker & Brother.
CHURCHES.
All the denominations are represented, and they number thirty-six churches in all. The Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists, the latter North and South, are the largest in number. The Catholics have a fine cathedral and other edifices and are a large and influential body in the city.
There are ten Masonic lodges; eight, of Odd Fellows; five, Knights of Pythias; Grand Army of the Republic, one; two lodges of the order of Mutual Protection; The Ancient Order of David, one; The Ancient Order of Foresters, one; and Good Templars, one; The order of Chosen Friends, has three lodges, and there is the Irish Benevolent Society, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Academy of Science was organized December 2, 1875. It is repre- sented by some of the ablest minds in the city, and has resulted in much good.
At the annual meeting, May 31, 1881, the following officers were elected for the current year:
R. T. Van Horn, president; W. H. Miller, vice-president; T. J. Eaton, treasurer; Theo. S. Case, corresponding secretary; J. D. Parker, recording secretary; Harry Child, curator; Sidney Hare and Dr. R. Wood Brown, assistant-curators; Robert Gillham, librarian. Dr. T. J. Eaton, Dr. George Hailey, Maj. B. L. Woodson and John D. Parker are members of the exec- utive committee.
The Academy has two functions (1) to increase a knowledge of science by original observation and investigation, and (2) to diffuse a knowledge of science. The Academy has made some valuable collections and has a growing library. The influence of the Academy in diffusing a scientific spirit is beginning to be felt throughout the city and its immediate vicinity.
There are quite a number of miscellaneous societies. The Woman's Christian Association, which was organized in 1876, is worthy of special mention for its great charities and earnest and faithful work. The present 7
98
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
officers of the society are: Mrs. F. M. Black, president; Mrs. J. K. Cravens and Mrs. F. J. Baird, vice-presidents; Mrs. H. M. Holden, treas- urer; Mrs. Wm. Williamson, secretary:
The Craig Rifles were organized in the year 1877.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools of Kansas City are its glory, and there is no city in the Union of its size whose educational advantages are superior, while it is not too much to say that it has few equals. A condensed report ,of last year will give the reader of this book some idea of its great work.
1880-81.
The schools closed June 9, 1881, after having completed the most pros- perous year's work since their organization. For seven years the utmost harmony has prevailed in every department-the board of education, the superintendent, and teachers-all having worked unceasingly to bring the schools to the highest degree of perfection. From sixteen teachers in 1867, the corps has increased till at present it numbers one hundred and three earnest and faithful workers. Complete preparations have been made to furnish and equip sixteen additional rooms during the present summer so that they will be ready for occupancy when the schools open in September.
Under the skillful financial management of the board, all claims of what- ever character have been promptly paid on demand, and the entire busi- ness for the last six years has been conducted on a cash basis.
In 1873 the first class, consisting of four members, graduated from the Central school, and a class has graduated every year since. The total num- ber of graduates is one hundred and thirty-six, of whom forty-three are males.
Since the foundation of the library in 1876, it has continued to increase in usefulness and importance, and to attend to it properly required so much of the superintendent's time from his other duties, that the board last March employed Mrs. Carrie W. Judson as librarian and to perform such clerical duties at the office of the board of education as the superintendent might direct. The library is now kept open every day and its duties promptly attended to.
Already there are 3,000 volumes in the library, and large additions will be made during the year.
There are 16,981 children between six and twenty years of age in this school-district, and 8,026 enrolled in the schools.
The board remains unchanged in its organization and membership.
The public schools of this city have achieved a reputation for substantial work which places them among the foremost in the country.
KANSAS CITY STOCK EXCHANGE.
100
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.
As a manufacturing center Kansas City has unequaled advantages in her cheap and abundant coal, and in the cheapness and abundance of materials afforded by the contiguous country, a brief summary of which will be found further on in this chapter.
POSITION AND TRADE.
True, this city does not yet supply all the merchandise, nor market all the products of the vast region tributary to her. The country and the city, commercially speaking, are but a quarter of a century old. The people com- ing in from all quarters, as emigrants always do, at first look back to the point from whence they came for supplies and for markets. It takes time to establish new associations. This city, as a depot of supply, is not over fifteen years old, and as a market only about ten, but her development in these respects is, for rapidity, without a parallel in the history of cities. She has trade relations established throughout the domain, and now reaches a point where all competitors must give way forever. She sends merchandise to Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, New Mexico and Texas, and though this trade has not been in existence to exceed ten years, she has now nearly excluded all competitors from the markets for the cattle of Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, the Indian Territory, New Mexico, and western Missouri; the hogs of western Missouri, Kansas, south- western Iowa, southern Nebraska and Northern Texas; the sheep and wool of Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, and the wheat of western Missouri, Kansas, and southern Nebraska, and partly of southwestern Iowa.
That she will in a few years market all the products of this vast area and supply it with all its merchandise, is certain. Her railway lines penetrate it, radiating in all directions. The railway system of this entire area centers at Kansas City, the roads that. do not terminate here making their connection with those that do. The non-use of navigable waters makes the railways the sole arteries of commerce, and that they will bear the pro- ducts of the country to Kansas City, and bear the merchandise from Kansas City, is as certain as that they radiate from Kansas City to all parts of the country.
It is a remarkable fact that the markets of Kansas City came into exist- ence and grew to nearly equal importance with those of St. Louis and Chi- cago-in some respects to a controlling position-within five years, while there was little visible growth in the city and little immigration into the country. It is a remarkable fact also that during the same period, and un- der the same conditions, the mercantile business of the city was quadrupled, and has continued to grow with unprecedented rapidity since. The signifi- cance of these facts is unmistakable. It simply means the rapid, intense concentration of the trade of the country at Kansas City.
101
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
As a manufacturing center Kansas City has unequalled advantages in her cheap and abundant coal, and the cheapness and vastness of her material supplies afforded by the contiguous country. She has become a vast depot of supplies for the entire western and southern domain, an area covered by no other city on the continent.
ASSESSED VALUATION.
The assessed valuation of property, real and personal, in Kansas City, shows the following rapid increase. The valuation is given by decades up to 1870, and then by years, to show the fluctuation of values and the effect of the great financial crash of 1874, which culminated in 1876, and its rapid recovery since that date.
The following is the valuation of all property for the years given.
1846
$ 500,000
1861
1,814,320
1870
9,629,455
1875
11,728,750
1876
8,923,190
1877
9,370,287
1878
9,092,320
1879
10,706,660
1880
13,378,950
The clearing-house report from 1876 to 1880, inclusive, gives the follow . ing handsome showing:
1876
$ 62,840,608.76
1877
69,213,011.51
1878
41,000,317.56
1879
68,280,251.55
.1880
101,330,000.00
THE NEW WEST AND ITS RESOURCES.
The area in which Kansas City trades may be defined as between the 17th and 29th meridian west from Washington, and the 23d and 41st parallels of latitude, embracing a greater variety of climate and mineral and soil pro- ducts than can be found in any similar area in the world. The great agri- cultural belt of the United States crosses it. It contains the greatest pasto- ral region in the world, and embraces the famous lead, zinc and coal mines of Missouri and Kansas, and the lead, coal, iron, silver and gold mines of Colorado and New Mexico. There are no adequate statistics of its popula- tion or productions. It is so new and has been settling and developing so rapidly since the general census, in 1870, that the facts of the census would grossly misrepresent its present condition, and the census of 1880 is not yet available.
The general conditions of a country have much to do in determining its
102
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
fitness for the habitation of man. These may be said to consist of climate, rain-fall and soil, and we propose to take a brief view of these.
CLIMATE.
As above stated, this country embraces a wide range of climate, due partly to the number of latitudes it embraces, and partly to the difference in altitude, the country rising from about seven hundred feet at the Mis- souri River, to about five thousand at the base of the mountains. However, the most desirable latitudes cross it, the country between the 3Sth and 42d parallels, both in this country and Europe, having been found to be the best adapted to vigorous manhood, longevity and physical and mental effort. These parallels embrace, on both hemispheres, the largest per cent of the population north of the equator, and the seat of man's highest achieve- ments.
SOIL.
The soil of. Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa are composed of what geologists call the drift, loess and alluvial deposits. The first is of compar- atively limited extent, and is mostly found combined with the loess in what is known as modified drift. In this form it is very fertile, and yields sixty bushels of corn to the acre. The second embraces all the upland soil, and the third the bottom-lands.
THE CLOSE.
Thus has been sketched Kansas City and her surroundings. No city in the Union has exceeded her wonderful growth, or developed greater com- mercial resources, and that growth and strengthi will continue with increas- ing years. She is the marvel of the nineteenth century, and as such every Missourian should know her and feel a pride in her extraordinary success.
UNION DEPOT, KANSAS CITY.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The First Settlement at Blackstone Hills-Robidoux-Biographical Sketch-At the Bluffs- Then at Roy's Branch and Blacksnake Hills-1834-1836-Robidoux's Home-Employes- Servant-Ferry-From 1837 to 1840-Rival Towns-Wolves.
The French element of the class of pioneers settled Canada and the north- western part of the United States, as well as the country about the mouth of the Mississippi River. They came into the upper Mississippi and Mis- souri Valleys in 1764, under the lead of Pierre Laclede Liqueste (always called Laclede), who had a charter from the French government giving him the exclusive right to trade with the Indians in all the country as far north as St. Peter's River. Laclede brought part of his colony from France, and received large accessions to it in New Orleans, mainly of hunters and trap- pers, who had had experience with the Indians. In the year 1764 this col- ony founded the present city of St. Louis. From this point they immedi- ately began their trading and trapping incursions into the then unbroken wilderness in their front. Their method of proceeding seems to have been to penetrate into the interior and establish small local posts for trading with the Indians, whence the trappers and hunters were outfitted and sent out into the adjacent woods.
In this way the country west and northwest of St. Louis was traversed and explored by these people, at a very early day, as far west as the Rocky Mountains. But of the extent of their operations but little has been re- corded; hence but little is known of the posts established by them. It is known, however, that such posts were established at a very early day on the Chariton and Grand Rivers, in Missouri, and at Cote Sans Dessein, in Cal- loway county.
BIOGRAPHY.
Joseph Robidoux, the son of Joseph and Catharine Robidoux, was born in St. Louis, August 10, 1783. He was the eldest of a family consisting of six sons and one daughter; to-wit., Joseph, Antoine, Isadore, Francis, Mi- chael and Palagie. Louis. the second son, lived and died in California, after
BUCHANAN COUNTY COURT-HOUSE.
105
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
his removal from St. Louis. Joseph, Antoine, Isadore and Francis were all buried in St. Joseph. Joseph, the father of this family, was a Canadian Frenchman, and came from Montreal, Canada, to St. Louis, where he lo- cated shortly after the settlement of the city by the French.
Being a shrewd business man and possessing great energy he accumu- lated a fortune. His wealth, his business qualifications, and his genial disposition, made him many friends among the leading mer- chants and influential men of that city. He occupied a large mansion; lo- cated between Walnut and Elm streets, surrounded with every comfort and convenience. Here he entertained his friends in a royal style, and so noted was his hospitality that the first general assembly of Missouri did him the honor of holding its first session at his house, on the 7th of December, 1812.
Four years after his marriage his wife died. After her death young Rob- idoux, then in the twenty-third year of his age, became an extensive trav- eler. He made a voyage up the Missouri River in company with one of the partners of the American Fur Company.
Blacksnake Hills had been seen by some of the men connected with the fur companies while en route on one of the expeditions, their attention being attracted thither, not only by the topography of the country, but by the presence of the congregated tribes of the Sac, Fox and Iowa Indians, who assembled here en masse at stated seasons of the year, preparatory to cross- ing the river, either on a visit to other tribes farther west, or for the pur- pose of hunting.
Seeing the Indians here in large numbers while on their journey at this time, the partners debarked, and after looking at its points and its advant- ages as a probable future trading-post, they proceeded on their way to Council Bluffs, Iowa, the original place of their destination.
Being favorably impressed with the " Bluff's " as a trading-post, Mr. Robidoux returned to St. Louis and purchased a stock of goods, which he transported up the Missouri by a keel-boat, arriving at the " Bluffs " in the fall of 1809.
Here he remained for thirteen years, and while residing at the " Bluffs," in 1813, he married Angelique Vandory, another lady of St. Louis, who died in the city of St. Joseph on the 17th of January, 1857. By this union they had six sons and one daughter.
Readily adapting himself to the habits, manners and customs of the Indians, and speaking with considerable fluency the dialects of the tribes by whom he was surrounded, Mr. Robidoux became an expert Indian trader.
The American Fur Company were also in business at the " Bluffs," and had a monopoly of the entire Indian trade for some time previous to the locating there of Mr. Robidoux. But a short time, however, passed after his
106
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
arrival before he began to divide the trade, and finally became so popular with the Indians that he controlled a large portion of this trade, to the great detriment of the fur company.
The company, wishing no further opposition from Mr. Robidoux, finally purchased his stock of goods, giving him fifty per cent on the origi- nal cost, and in addition thereto the sum of one thousand dollars annually for a period of three years, conditioned that he would leave the " Bluffs."
He then returned to St. Louis, where he remained with his family, car- rying on the business of a baker and confectioner, until the expiration of the three years, the time agreed upon between himself and the fur com- pany. Having spent already many years of his life among the Indians as a fur trader, a business which, if not entirely congenial to his taste, had at least been a profitable one, he concluded to embark once more in the same pur- suit. Not that he really wished-
-" for a lodge in some vast wilderness- Some boundless contiguity of space,"
but that he might reap therefrom a golden harvest. Making known his in- tention to the fur company, it at once offered him the post at the mouth of " Roy's Branch," just above the " Blacksnake Hills," at a salary of eighteen hundred dollars per year, provided he would in nowise interfere with the business at the " Bluffs."
This proposition he accepted, and having been furnished with a stock of goods he landed at the mouth of "Roy's Branch," in the fall of 1826. Shortly afterward he removed to the mouth of " Blacksnake Creek," where he continued to work for the fur company until 1830, at which time he purchased their entire interest in the goods then in his possession, and be- came the sole proprietor of the post at " Blacksnake Hills."
For many years the solitary log cabin of Joseph Robidoux was the only evidence of the presence of civilized man within a radius of fifty miles. With every puffing steamer which ascended the turbid waters of the Mis- souri came the emigrant and the adventurer, seeking homes in the western wilds. A few embryo settlements had been made along the banks of the great river in Jackson, Clay and other' counties. The famous " Platte Purchase " became the new Eldorado, and the beauty of its rich, fertile valleys and prairies, fine timber, perennial springs and its numerous water courses, had been spread far and wide.
A few families from Franklin county, Missouri, consisting of Thomas and Henry Sollers, Elisha Gladden, Jane Purget, and a few others, settled near the spot in 1834, '35 and '36.
ROBIDOUX'S HOME.
The only building that stood upon the town site of St. Joseph at that time was the log house of Joseph Robidoux. It occupied the spot where
IBA
BANK OF ST. JOSEPH.
FRANCIS STREET, ST. JOSEPH.
108
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
the Occidental Hotel now stands-on the northwest corner of Jule and Second streets-and was a building of considerable magnitude. It stood east and west, was a story and a half and contained nine rooms-three above and six below. On the north side was a shed divided into three rooms. A covered porch was built on the south side extending the entire length of the building. The west room of the north shed was used by Mr. Robidoux as his sleeping-room. His store was the middle apartment of the main building, the entrance to which was through a door at the east end, first passing through an outer room to reach it.
So confident were some of the business men living in Clay and Clinton counties that some one of the last mentioned towns would be the future emporium of the "Platte Purchase," that they not only purchased land, but in one or two instances laid off towns and opened business houses. John W. Samuels and Robert Elliott began business at White Cloud, or what was known as "Hackberry Ridge." G. W. Samuels, now of St. Joseph, built a warehouse at Elizabethtown, where he bought and sold hemp. Amazonia was expected to be the county-seat of Andrew county. Charles Caples, concluding that the quarter section east and adjoining Amazonia, would be a more eligible spot for the building of a great city, laid it off.into lots and gave it the name of Boston. These places, ex- cepting Savannah, are numbered with the things of the past, and live only in the memories of the men whose pluck and energy gave them a name and brief existence.
WOLVES.
In 1839, shortly after the arrival of Judge Toole in the county, he came to the " Blacksnake Hills" one afternoon, horseback, and while passing along, near the present site of the Pacific House, he saw a large gray wolf, which he chased into the bottom, about where the first round-house now stands. In fact, the wolves were so numerous at that time in and about the " Blacksnake Hills" and their howls were so loud and incessant that to sleep at times was utterly impossible.
REMINISCENCES.
The first white male child born at "Blacksnake Hill" was Thomas B. Sollers, born in 1837. The first white female child was the daughter of Polly and Henry Sollers, born in 1838, in a small hut east of the present site of the Occidental Hotel. The first physician who came was Dr. Daniel G. Keedy, in 1838. Dr. Silas McDonald arrived about the same time in the county.
He owned an old colored servant, who not only possessed a French name (Poulite), but who could speak the French tongue, having been raised among that nationality in St. Louis. This old man attended to the culinary affairs at the post.
109
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
Mr. Robidoux operated a private ferry just below Francis street for crossing the Indians and those who were in his employ. The crossing gen- erally was done in canoes, and occasionally in Mackinaw boats. The road leading from the ferry on the other side of the river led to Highland, Kan- sas, or to the Indian Mission, which was established after the removal of the Indians. The road from the ferry on this side passed below the Patee House, and crossed at Agency Ford, where it divided, one branch of which led to Liberty, Clay county, and the other in the direction of Grand River.
The next house (log) erected at Blacksnake Hills was built in March, 1836, and occupied by Thomas Sollers, east of Pinger's packing-house, for Mr. Robidoux, who wished to take up another additional quarter section of land, and about this period began to think that Blacksnake Hills would develop into something greater than a mere trading-point for the conven- ience of the non-progressive and half-civilized Indian. No other improve- ments of a special character were made until the following year.
FROM 1837 TO 1840.
The treaty for the " Platte Purchase " had been negotiated, the Indians removed, the country opened to settlement, and hundreds of emigrants were flocking hither, locating in the interior and at different points along the Missouri.
The small colony at Blacksnake Hills was increased in number by the arrival of F. W. Smith, Joseph Gladden, Polly Dehard, Samuel Hull, John Freeman, Charles Zangenett, Father John Patchen, Captain James B. O'Toole, Judge Wm. C. Toole, William Fowler, Edwin Toole, and others.
RIVAL TOWNS.
Between the years above named the country settled rapidly, and one of several localities in or near the Missouri River, it was thought, would take precedence of all the other settlements, and become the chief town in this portion of the State. The respective aspirants for future greatness were Blacksnake Hills, White Cloud, Savannah, Amazonia, Boston and Eliza- bethtown, all north of St. Joseph, some eight or ten miles, and within a ra- dius of five miles.
IMPROVEMENTS.
In 1841 Dr. Daniel G. Keedy erected a saw-mill in the bottom, north of the present fair grounds.
At the same time Joseph Robidoux built a flouring-mill on the west side of Blacksnake Creek.
A little later another flouring-mill was built by Creal & Wildbahn. John Girard was the miller.
Still, a little later, the first tavern in the place was erected by Josiah
ST. JOSEPH CITY HALL AND MARKET-HOUSE.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH
Beattie, located between Main and Second streets. In this tavern the Rev. T. S. Reeve preached the first sermon that was delivered at Blacksnake Hills.
In 1842 came Louis Picard, the first regular carpenter, and Wm. Lang- ston, the first plasterer.
About the same time came the Belcher brothers, who were the first brick- makers.
During this year Jonathan Copeland built a warehouse near the corner of Jule and Water streets.
Then came Jacob Mitchell, a worthy son of Vulcan, the ringing of whose anvil was heard by the villagers from " early morn until dewy eve."
A FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR BURGLARY.
Having regard to facts and dates as they occur chronologically, we have now reached a period (1842) in this history when there happened an inci- dent which not only attracted the attention of the settlers at Blacksnake Hills and surrounding country, but furnished a theme for conversation around their firesides for months afterward, and as the circumstances con- nected therewith are of an interesting character, we shall narrate them: In the summer of 1842 Mr. Robidoux received from the Sac and Fox Indians the sum of four thousand dollars in silver, in four different boxes, each box containing one thousand dollars. Mr. Robidoux had sold goods to these tribes to this amount, and when they were paid their annuity by the gov- ernment its agent turned over to him the sum above mentioned.
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