USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 51
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In the time of the great strike of July, 1877, the railroad men and citi- zens held a meeting in the hall. Hon. A. W. Myers made a speech. Com- mittees from the conductors, firemen, and track men sent messages to the officers of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, asking for justice, and fair pay for fair work. There was no disorder in Brookfield, but at St. Catha- rine the agent was ordered by the road not to receive any freight for some days. In August and September Superintendent Simmons discharged a number of Brookfield men implicated in the strike.
1878.
October twenty-eighth the house of "Crazy " Neal (colored) in the south part of town caught fire and burned. A little negro child perished in the flames.
Ephraim Banning, an old settler of Brookfield township died November .'eighth, aged sixty-seven years.
512
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
1879.
March sixth the dead body of Wiley Flournoy, a colored boy, was found in a ravine, half a mile south of the coal shaft, near Yellow Creek. The boy had gone hunting in the month of December previous, and had been miss- ing since that time, It was supposed that he had been overcome by the cold, and had frozen to death. His gun lay by his side.
April twenty-first the Blossom House, the telegraph office, the railroad: depot, and offices, platform, ice-house, etc., caught fire, as supposed , from. sparks from an engine, and were burned. The Central Hotel and buildings ad- joining were on fire several times. The railroad company owned the Blos- som House, but Mr. G. N. Blossom was the nominal proprietor and land- lord. His loss was $1,400; that of the railroad company, $5,000. The railroad building containing the offices was rebuilt in the winter of 1882.
May first, Ascension Day, was duly observed by the Knights Templar of this place. Delegations were present from other commanderies at Macon, Hannibal, Moberly, Quincy, Chilicothe, and Hamilton.
1880.
In May the Missouri Press Association declared the Brookfield Gazette to be the best printed paper in the State.
There was a big celebration of Independence Day this year. Hon. Samuel H. Owens of California, was the orator of the day. Addresses were also made by Hon. John Walker, State Audior and Hon. D. H. McIntire, At- torney-general.
The Presidential campaign of this year received full attention in Brook- field. The Republicans had Garfield and Arthur clubs and the Democrats clubs for Hancock and English.
April fourth, Rowland Carter died, aged eighty-four. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and had been a citizen of the county since 1859.
November twenty-ninth, a row occurred in Henry Brown's saloon between two men named Stuart Marsh and Fred Wayne. Both men were intoxicated, and quarreled over a game of billiards. Marsh shot Wayne in the body, in- flicting a severe, but not fatal wound. He was arrested on a charge of as- sault with intent to kill.
At the November election the vote for the removal of the county seat from Linneus to Brookfield stood in Linn county as follows: For removal, 1,369; against removal, 2,389; majority against, 1,020. Of the votes given for removal, 557 were polled in Brookfield township. The question of re- moving the county seat to Brookfield was agitated as early as in June, 1870, and voted upon. It took definite shape again June 2, 1879, when a pe- tition was presented to the County Court by Hon. W. H. Brownlee, and others, asking for action leading to the removal. This petition was filed and indefinitely postponed. In August, 1880, the citizens met in Straw-
513
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
bridge Hall and took action to propose to build the court-house free of ex- pense to the people of the county at large if the capital were removed. Committees were appointed, among which was one composed of attorneys Huston and Lander to report as to the legality of this offer-whether or not it was in the nature of a bribe. The election resulted adversely, however, as stated.
1881.
The Brush Creek bridge disaster-On the first day of March occurred the dreadful railroad disaster at Brush Creek bridge, in the western part of Macon county, occasioning the death of some of the best citizens of Brook- field. The particulars can best be given by accounts printed at the time. The Brookfield correspondent of the Linneus Bulletin, writing the day of the accident, gave the following account:
" BROOKFIELD, MISSOURI, March 1, 1881.
" Dear Bulletin-To-day is all excitement. The passenger train from the east, due this morning at 3 A. M., was wrecked near Bevier, east of here. A dispatch was sent here for physicians, and a special with Drs. Wood, Rear and Waters, and some fifteen or twenty men, started for the scene of disaster. On their rapid trip of mercy and duty, at a little creek below Lingo-Brush Creek-they were thrown from the track and buried in the shattered and broken mass at the bottom of this creek. Dr. Wood was in- jured fatally and is now dead. Dr. Rear is badly injured, but yet alive. Dr. Waters, who was on the engine, escaped unhurt. W. S. Hallett, one of the bridge. men, was instantly killed. Also, Arthur Jury, of Bucklin; also, one brakeman, and two men whose names we have not heard, are dead. Mr. Noland, the roadmaster, is seriously injured and not expected to live. Harry Carter, leg broken; J. B. Connors, mashed up badly and has since died; James Cloud, arm and leg broken; and many others who have thus far arrived, are torn and bleeding with numerous cuts and wounds. All of the dead and wounded have not at this writing arrived. At least six are dead and ten or fifteen injured in various ways and degrees, the result of which is at present uncertain, as most of the doctors left, and those unhurt have been conveyed to the place of this double disaster, and are now on the scene caring for the injured, dying, and dead. This sad and sickening catastrophe has cast a gloomy cloud over our happy city, and the wail of broken-hearted brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers, takes the place of shouts of laughter and joy that twelve hours ago characterized these grief- stricken people.
" The causes of these accidents are at present conjectural. A broken rail is reported to have been the cause of the passenger train, and the spe- cial was thrown by some part of the wrecking machinery dragging on the track and catching on some part of the bridge."
514
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
The Brookfield Gazette Extra, of Tuesday evening, March 1, gave the following account:
"As this morning's west-bound passenger train was nearing the Wardell inine, one-half mile east of Bevier, from some cause at this hour unknown, the engine, baggage cars, and four coaches (the whole train except the sleeper) left the track and tumbled precipitately into the ditch.
"The train was running at full speed, and the wreck was a frightful one for train men and passengers to undergo, and it is a marvel that none were killed outright. * * *
The officials here on being notified of the disaster, at once issued orders for the wrecking train to be got out, and also sent to all the physicians and gathered as many volunteer workers as possible, and a little after five o'clock the wrecking train was under way, with quite a force of bridge and section men, and Dr. O. H. Wood and Dr. Rear, to the relief of the suffer- ers, and to clear away the wreck.
" Just as the wrecking train reached the Howe truss bridge over Brush Creek, three miles this side (west) of New Cambria, a broken rail, over which the engine passed safely, threw the flat cars off and striking the bridge, they broke its timbers away, and down went the bridge and the cars tumbled into the wreck with a fearful crash, the engine being safe on the other side.
The scene that followed beggars description. Almost every one of the inmates of the caboose were stunned and more or less injured. Those not so badly hurt, set to work to help the others, some of whom were found wholly or partly buried under the debris of the train and fallen timbers of the bridge. One was found quite dead, others apparently so, and some se- riously, and some severely wounded. The wounded were taken up as ten- derly as possible and put on the engine and taken up to New Cambria, and thence the news of this second and far more serious disaster was telegraphed to the officials here. The alarm was at once given and an extra ordered out, and such doctors and volunteer help as could be secured, accompanied by some of the friends of those injured, boarded the train and started for the scene of the later wreck. * * *
As may well be imagined this heartrending occurrence produced a gen- eral feeling of gloom, and people abandoned their homes and business, to inquire and to relate the latest intelligence. Business houses closed all along Main Street, and everything took on a funeral appearance, for the larger part of the injured and nearly all of the dead are of our own citi- zens, and their homes are now in mourning. And to express the sorrow and desolation thus brought to homes and hearts in Brookfield would be utterly impossible. To witness it strikes one dumb.
Of the killed, Mr. Hallett and Dr. Wood belonged here, and all the
515
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
wounded of the construction train. Mr. Hallett is an old citizen, and Dr. Wood, one of our most prominent and highly respected physicians.
In the month of June an enumeration was made of the business inter- ests of the place, making the following showing:
BUSINESS SUMMARY.
Abstracts . 1
Hotels 3
Agricultural implements
2
Insurance agencies 5
Attorneys (firms) ..
5 Jewelers . 3
Bakeries 2
Livery stables 2
Banks
2
*. Lumber 2
Barbers
3
Machine shops. 1
Blacksmiths.
3
Marble workers 2
Boots and shoes (exclusive)
2
Meat markets 3
Boot and shoemakers
2
Merchant tailors 2
Brick yards.
2
Milliners. 4
Clothing, etc. (exclusive) 2
News depots 1
2
Contractors and builders
3
Newspapers
2
Dentists 2
Drugs.
3
Printers ( job)
2
Flouring-mills
. Restaurants 1
3
Furniture
2
Sewing-machines 2
Grain
1
Stock.
2
Groceries .
6 Tobacconists 1
Hardware. 2 Vineyards. 1
Harnessmakers
3
1881.
On the fifth of July the mayor reported the assessed valuation of prop- erty in the city to be $400,000; the expenses for the ensuing year were estimated at $2,000.
Death of President Garfield-Upon the reception of the news of the death of President Garfield, the bells of Brookfield tolled and the city wore the weeds of mourning. The acting mayor, W. D. Crandall, convened the board of aldermen in special session, and the following is an abstract of the record of their proceedings:
THE CITY OF BROOKFIELD, 1 OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN, September 2, 1881. )
The board of aldermen met in special session at the call of the acting mayor, all members being present.
Coal and wood 1
Photographers 8
Physicians 2
Dry goods .
4 Real estate.
516
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
On motion, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, In his inscrutable wisdom it has pleased Divine Providence to permit an assassin to strike down unto death His Excellency James A. Garfield, President of the United States, at the beginning of an adminis- tration that gave promise of as great good to the American people as that of any other President in the history of our Republic, thereby bringing grief and mourning upon an entire nation; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the board of aldermen of the city of Brookfield, for themselves and for the people they represent, do express their unfeigned grief and sorrow at this great calamity to the entire American people, and do express their heartfelt sympathy for the sorrowing family of the deceased President. And further be it
Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon a memorial page in the records of the city, and that a copy thereof be furnished to the city papers for publication.
Acting Mayor Crandall, voicing the general sentiment of the people, also issued the following proclamation :
MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION.
BROOKFIELD, MISSOURI, September 22, 1881.
To the citizens of Brookfield:
In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor of Missouri and the Governors of other States, as well as in sympathy with the universal feeling of sorrow occasioned by the death of the President of the United States, I request that on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of September, 1881, between the hours of one and four o'clock P. M. of said day, all business be suspended, and our people, in appropriate manner, express their grief at this national calamity, and remember that during said honrs our assassi- nated Chief Executive is being laid in his last resting place. A memorial meeting will be held at two o'clock at Strawbridge Hall, and all are re- quested to attend.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, 1881.
W. D. CRANDALL, Acting Mayor.
It hardly needed the proclamation of the mayor to call the citizens from their business to express their deep sorrow at the national calamity. All business was closed and Strawbridge Hall was densely packed by the citi- zens to take part in the last sad rites of a martyred President. The pulse of the nation beat in unison with the sorrowing hearts of the late Presi- dent's household, and the people of Brookfield bowed at the shrine of the country's woe.
517
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS OF BROOKFIELD FROM APRIL 2, 1867, TO JANUARY 1, 1882.
1867 -- Elected April 2. Trustees, W. T. Snow, James Tooey, E. J. Cran- dall, L. Norton, - Hyatt; collector, G. W. Adams; treasurer, E. H. Sal- isbury; attorney, A. W. Meyers; health officer, A. Van Meter, M. D .; street commissioner, J. M. Scott; marshal and assessor, J. R. Worthley; clerk, W. D. Crandall.
1868 -- Elected April 9. Trustees, A. W. Meyers, E. W. Weed, T. D. Price, L. Norton, and James Tooey, chairman; collector, J. B. Cooley; treas- urer, L. A. Smith; auditor, W. D. Crandall, Jr .; health officer, N. J. Petti- john; marshal, Joseph Brown; clerk, W. D. Crandall.
1869-Elected April 6. Trustees, H. L. Dunlap, A. W. Meyers, E. L. Carlton, W. D. Crandall, Jr., and R. O. Thompson, chairman; marshal, col- lector, and street commissioner, W. S. Hallett; treasurer, T. D. Price; clerk and auditor, W. D. Crandall, Jr .; attorney, S. L. Bullard; health officer, H. Shook.
1870-Elected April 5. Trustees, James Tooey, George W. Adams, J. F. Roberts, L. K. Myers, and L. Norton, Jr., chairman; marshal, W. S. Hal- lett (until July, when he resigned and J. W. Walters was appointed); treas- urer, T. D. Price; attorney, A. W. Meyers; auditor, G. W. Adams; health officer, J. F. Roberts.
1871-Elected April 8. Trustees, A. K. Lane, B. F. Carey, W. D. Hicks, Gilbert Burnham, and H. L. Dunlap, chairman; clerk and auditor, W. D. Hicks; treasurer, W. T. Snow; marshal, F. McGinness; attorney, C. D. Pratt.
1872-Elected April 3. Trustees, A. K. Lane, B. F. Carey, Thomas E. Lewis, James M. Gilson, and H. L. Dunlap, chairman; treasurer, W. T. Snow; attorney, C. D. Pratt; marshal, W. G. Dalton; clerk, J. M. Gilson.
1873-Elected April 9. Trustees, D. C. Strawbridge, John H. Brown, L. A. Howard, H. Jones, and A. C. Clarke, chairman; clerk and auditor, D. C. Strawbridge; marshal, William G. Dalton; treasurer, John Gould; at- torney, Charles D. Pratt; health officer, Dr. Cooper.
1874-Elected April 7. Trustees, Daniel Cheney, L. T. Ross, G. W. Adams, William Egar, and Thomas E. Lewis, chairman; clerk and auditor, L. T. Ross; marshal, W. O. Dougherty; treasurer, L. S. Bowden; attorney, Ell Torrance; health officer, J. H. Roberts; police justice, Edward Hoyle.
1875-Elected April 6. Trustees, N. J. Pettijohn, John Riggs, H. Jones, James Gilson, and D. C. Strawbridge, chairman; clerk, Edward Hoyle; treasurer, John Riggs to January, 1876; L. S. Bowden remainder of term; attorney, C. D. Pratt to November; H. Lithgow remainder of term; health officer, N. J. Pettijohn; marshal, B. F. Carey, removed twice in January, 1876; James E. Ford appointed after last removal; Carey short in his account at the April meeting, $175.
32
518
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
1876-Elected April 5. Trustees, John Ford, L. A. Howard, Thomas A. Miller, George Brown, and William H. Brownlee, chairman; clerk, John Ford; treasurer, Thomas A. Miller; marshal, Alfred L. Crain; assessor, Edward Hoyle; health officer, J. T. Roberts; attorney, S. P. Huston.
1877-Elected April 3. Trustees, George Brown, L. A. Howard, James Dillon, John McCartney, and L. T. Ross, chairman; clerk, Ed. Hoyle; auditor, L. T. Ross; marshal, Robert Davis; treasurer, W. H. DeGraw ;. attorney, S. P. Huston.
1878-Elected April 2. Trustees, L. T. Ross, A. D. Scott, F. M. Allen, George Brown, and Hamilton DeGraw, chairman; clerk, L. T. Ross; treas- urer and collector, A. D. Scott; attorney, H. Lithgow; marshal and street commissioner, William Kirk.
1878-Elected April S. Trustees, D. C. Strawbridge, George Ziehr, F. Laedlein, James Dillon, and H. DeGraw, chairman; clerk, A. G. Torrance; treasurer, D. C. Strawbridge; attorney, M. M. Crandall; auditor, H. De- Graw; assessor, A. G. Torrance; collector, F. Laedlein; street commis sioner, George Ziehr.
1880-Election first Tuesday in April. Mayor, D. C. Strawbridge; board of aldermen, first ward, W. D. Crandall, senior, C. H. Chamberlain; second ward, C. B. Simpson, George Ziehr; third ward. George W. Adams, George Brown; marshal, Fred Laedlein; attorney, M. M. Crandall; collec- tor, Fred Laedlein; treasurer, Hamilton DeGraw; health officer, Dr. T. A. Bryan; street commissioner, Fred Laedlein; clerk, A. G. Torrance.
1881-Election April 11. Mayor, D. C. Strawbridge; board of aldermen, first ward, W. D. Crandall, Sr., C. H. Chamberlain; second ward, C. B. Simpson, George Ziehr; third ward, George W. Adams, A. Questa; mar- shal, Fred Laedlein; attorney, M. M. Crandall; collector, Fred Laedlein; treasurer, Hamilton De Graw; health officer, Dr. T. A. Bryan; street com- missioner, Fred Laedlein; clerk, A. G. Torrance.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was organized in 1874, on August 14. They purchased a building at a cost of $1,500, and gave it a thorough repair, which added very materially to its cost, and it is now one of the most beautiful churches of this denom- ination in north Missouri. The original members were John Bolton, sen- ior warden; Joseph Gamble, junior warden; Mrs. John Bolton, Mrs. Joseph Gamble, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Vosburg, Mrs. Gib- son, Miss Fannie Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable, Mrs. Bishop, Miss Emma Brickell, Miss Ellen Brickell, Mrs. Fantam, Mr. and Mrs. DeGraw, Mrs. M. Graff, Mrs. Willis, and Miss Armstrong. The church now numbers forty-five members. It was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Robertson, and its ministers have been Rev. Robert Talbott, and Rev. E. Talbott.
There is a flourishing sabbath-school connected with the church, and the
519
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
church itself has a promising future. The present membership is forty- five.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This church, probably the largest and most influential church in Brook- field, was organized May 18, 1865, with the following original members, as far as learned: A. B. Campbell, Mrs. Abby Campbell, Charles H. Pratt, Mrs. Rebecca Stinehilver, and Miss Isabella Ross. The church edifice, the most costly in Brookfield, was erected in 1866, and on the twenty-eighth of October, of the same year, was dedicated by the Rev. Charles H. Pratt. This was the first church building erected in Brookfield, and this church, and the Catholic Church were the first religious organizations in the city. The church building cost $5,000, and there has also been added a handsome parsonage at a cost of $2,000. The church is entirely out of debt, the col- lections paying current expenses, and all the departments are in a thriving condition. The Rev. Charles H. Pratt, its first pastor, and who worked faithfully toward building up the organization, continued its pastor for four years. He was succeeded by the following preachers, in the order named: Revs. C. C. Salter, Charles C. Harrah, five years; John Foster and Irwin L. Caton, one year each; I. C. Plumb, two years; and the present pastor, Rev. L. S. Ham, who began his pastorate December 1, 1881. The present membership is one hundred and ten. In connection with the church, a so- ciety has been established called " Our Circle," which was organized by the Rev. Charles C. Harrah, April 6, 1872, with only a membership of twelve, which now numbers one hundred and thirty-eight. Its object is thus expressed :
" In order to promote good will, temperance, a pure society, a high esti- mate of character, and a true Christian culture among the young people of Brookfield and vicinity, we associate ourselves together under the name: OUR CIRCLE.
They also have what is called a " Bible School," which meets the third Sunday evening of each month. Prayer-meetings and the meetings of the different societies belonging to the church keep the members active, and place the church and all its surrounding charges in a flourishing condition.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian Church of Brookfield, Missouri, was organized November 18, 1866. Those who were instrumental in placing this large and influential church upon its foundation, were A. W. Myers, Lavinia H. Myers, Ephraim Banning, senior, Louisa C. Banning, William Donaldson, Jane Donaldson, Ira Johnson, Ellen A. Johnson, Otho Reams, Martha J. Day, and Samuel P. Huston.
In October, 1869, the congregation commenced the erection of a church
520
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
of worship, and the same was completed the following year, November, 1875. It is a handsome brick edifice, of imposing appearance, and cost the sum of $4,500. It was dedicated the following summer by the Rev. J. Leighton. Its first pastor, and its present one, for he has continued all these years, is the Rev. J. P. Finley, D. D., who, by his talents and earnest work has built up not only a house dedicated to the service of the Lord, but a monument unto himself. The church has a present membership of one hundred and twelve, and is in all things progressive.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The organization of this church was effected in the fall of 1865, at the residence of Mr. C. P. Hyatt, by the Rev. N. Shumate, who was at that time presiding elder of the Hannibal district, Missouri, and Arkansas An- nual Conference. The original members present on the occasion, were C. P. Hyatt, Mary A. Hyatt, J. F. Hyatt, Hattie A. Adams, M. C. Scott, M. E. Foster, and Mrs. Dr. Shook.
Their first place of worship was erected in 1870, under the pastorate of the Rev. W. F. Clayton, and the edifice cost some $1,800. Unfortunately for the church, this building was destroyed by a tornado in 1876. This, although a severe loss, did not deter the congregation from at once taking steps to rebuild, and as the membership was increasing, a larger and better church building was decided upon. The new edifice was completed the following year, 1877, the church being then under the pastorate of the Rev. George S. Stocking. Completed, the church cost $3,000; a good substan- tial frame, handsomely finished off, and is one of the most comfortable churches in the city. The first church was dedicated by the Rev. Benjamin St. James Fry, D. D., of St. Louis, in 1871, and the latter, or new church, by the Rev. C. C. McCabe, D. D., of Chicago, in 1877.
The following ministers have officiated in this church in the order named: Revs. Mr. Maloy, W. F. Clayton, Guy Hamilton, Rev. Myers, Revs. W. S. Wentz, G. O. Ash, G. T. Weam, W. F. Clayton, C. S. Cooper, T. J. Ferril, J. F. Mesuer, G. S. Stocking, H. B. Seeley, and J. H. Poland, the latter being the present pastor.
There is a present membership of one hundred and ten, and there is con- nected with the church a very successful Sunday-school with an enrolled membership of one hundred and seventy-three, the largest school in the city.
The Brookfield church lies within the bounds of the Missouri Conference, to which department it was attached by the act of the General Conference, which held its'session in Chicago, Illinois, in May, 1868.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was first organized in 1867, Rev. E. J. Scott, pastor. It disbanded in a few years and was again organized September 23, 1874.
521
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Rev. S. L. Cox served as pastor for two years; after that it again dis- banded and has not been since revived.
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .< Church Still in same place as started 1965
The Catholic Church of Immaculate Conception was organized in 1860, and the church itself was built in 1861, at a cost of some $1,500. Of course the congregation was small for a number of years. The church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hendrick, of St. Louis, in the winter of 1868, and those who officiated were the Rev. J. J. Hogan, Rev. R. Tucker, Rev. Thaddeus Brogan, Father Haley, Rev. Walter Drohan, Rev. Thomas Walsh, and the present earnest and efficient representative of the church, the Rev. Walter Tormly.
The original member's names are as follows: Michael McGowan, Thomas Bresenhan, Michael Gannon, William O'Neil, Michael McGrail, Patrick Tooey, Michael White, John McCormick, Michael McKenney, John Curtin, and James Tooey. The present membership is between six hundred and fifty and seven hundred, and as will be seen was the first church edifice and organization in Brookfield, the Congregational Church deing next. The church building is a frame, and situated on the corner of Livingston and John streets. The church has grown steadily with the growth of the town and is a strong power for good in the city.
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