The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information, Part 72

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean
Number of Pages: 906

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TORNADO.

Not many wind storms have swept the prairies of Linn county, and those have come and gone, and did but little damage until the year 1876. On the fifth day of September of the centennial year a tornado swept through the southern part of the county, and Parsons Creek township lay directly in its course. It had passed through Livingston county, where it did con- siderable damage. It passed over the farm of William Harvey, who was killed, and a hired man, also killed by being struck by lightning. The house and barn of Elijah Harvey were nearly destroyed, and his daughter quite seriously hurt. . His fences were badly scattered. E. D. Harvey had the roof blown off his barn; Milton Jones's house was blown all to pieces, but strange to say, the family escaped with some severe bruises. His barn and orchard were also destroyed. William Hopper's house and barn shared the same fate as his neighbors, while William Lisenby lost the roof off his- barn, and his orchard was a wreck. The cornfields suffered, but as the corn was about matured there was little loss.

Another storm not quite so extensive in its destructive force, passed over Parsons Creek township June 5, 1880. This storm seems to have spent most of its force on the town of Bedford, over in Livingston county, the damage being estimated at fully $15,000. The house and barns of Mr. Edward Patterson were totally demolished, but the family, luckily, was ab- sent. A few other houses in the track of the storm suffered some damage, as did also fences, grain, and fruit, but the loss was small in the aggregate, though severely felt by the immediate victimns.

June 7, 1880, Mrs. C. L. Wilder, wife of Jefferson Wilder, of Meadville, dropped dead in the street on her way home from the store, where she had been making purchases-apoplexy.

MEADVILLE.

Meadville, like most other towns on the line of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, dates its real existence on the completion of that road through

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

Linn county. To be sure the site of Meadville was a year or two older. The following description taken from the Meadville Messenger is a pretty correct outline of its birth and growth as far as given. "It was," it says, 4 in 1858, that John Botts ventured to build a little store on the present site of Meadville, then a vast expanse of wild prairie where deer and ante- lope were wont to roam at will and without molestation. A short time thereafter David Lancaster built a little blacksmith shop. These two build- ings comprised the settlement which was named

" NEW BALTIMORE.

"The first stock of goods that was ever brought to this place was hauled with an ox-team from Brunswick by William M. Botts, who still lives near this place, and is a son of John Botts. The stock consisted of dry goods, groceries, queensware, tinware, hardware, crockeryware, and last, but not least, whisky, which was sold by the drink. Time rolled on; and sometime during the years of 1858-59 the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was com- pleted through this place. Mr. Botts had quite a time to get them to build a depot here. They were talking of building it two miles west of New Baltimore; but by some trade that was made by Mr. Botts with them, they finally built a depot, and we are sorry to say it still stands,-a dis- graceful landmark. This is the only disgrace we have to our town. While all this was being done the town had not yet been laid out. On the twenty- first day of February, 1860, John Duff, John M. Forbes, John Brooks, and John Botts, by their attorneys in fact, Josiah Hunt and John L. Lathrop, appeared before Peter B. Groat, notary public in Hannibal, Marion county, with acknowledgments that they had laid out the town of Bottsville on section six, township fifty-seven, range twenty-one west of the fifth prin- cipal meridian, in the county of Linn and State of Missouri, and a correct plan was also attached. This proceeding was duly signed and sealed accord- ing to law; and on the twenty-seventh day of February, of the same year, John Botts appeared before W. B. Woodruff, justice of the peace in Lin- neus, and made the same acknowledgment, and it was then duly recorded by Jeremiah Phillips, recorder, per J. C. Phillips, deputy recorder. The surveyor, was F. R. Lockling. Thus the new town of New Baltimore went into oblivion and Bottsville became a reality."

Thus Bottsville started out in life duly authenticated, and like all small country towns, improved only as the country around became more thickly settled. By and by the war came on and matters came to a stand-still and remained so until about 1867, when things began to take a turn for the bet- ter. At that time Bottsville's business interests were not of mammoth proportions. T. D. Evans was the postmaster, and he also carried a small stock of general merchandise; L. W. James (now deceased), ran a drug-

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

store, and Daniel Thurston and T. F. Spencer carried a small stock of gro- ceries, etc. L. N. Goodale was station agent.

They were not large stocks that these merchants carried, and an incident will explain to the reader some of the quantity of some kinds of goods men kept on hand. A new-comer stepped into one of the above stores and called for a pound of tea. "W-h-a-t!" says the storekeeper, " a pound of tea; why I reckon you must be crazy! That's a right smart chance of tea, and you surely do not want that much, do you?" "Well, yes!" says the stranger, rather embarrassed at the man's wonder. "I don't reckon I have got that much," says the merchant. " I never get but two pounds at a time and that is enough to last three months, and I won't sell you all I've got, for some one may want an ounce or two for sickness; but I will let you have all I can spare."

It was about this time that John Botts, the pioneer of Jefferson town- ship, who had lived in the township over thirty-two years, sold his farm to Mr. A. Lippet and removed back to Howard county. He was the first post- master, and when he left one of the old landmarks was indeed gone. This was the situation as above remarked in 1867. The immigration of that year was great, and not only Parsons Creek township but Bottsville itself began to feel the inspiration of renewed life and more rapid progress. It soon did away with the game of marbles, and even the Indians failed to come and shoot pennies from a crotched stick with their bows and arrows; in fact, Bottsville began to put on airs, and wanted to be called something besides a hamlet on the prairies. Another thing they did not like was the name, and so a petition was taken before the County Court asking that its name might be changed to Meadville. This was in April, 1869. Some, however, opposed this change, and also went before the County Court at the May term, and on May third the following order is found of record; to- wit, "That a majority of the voters residing in the town of Meadville, in Linn county, having filed their petition in open court, asking the court to- change the name of said town back to Bottsville. It is therefore ordered by the court that the name of said town be changed from Meadville to Bottsville." From May third to October sixth, 1869, the name Bottsville remained, but at the latter date it was finally changed to Meadville, and will probably remain so for all future time. It was named in honor of Charles Mead, at that time superintendent of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad.

MELANGE.

The first building was a frame, twenty by thirty-two. The first school- house was built on lot seven of block one, of the original plat, in 1859. It was a frame building, eighteen by twenty-six, and cost about two hundred dollars. It is still standing. The present or new school-house is of brick,

Men

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

and was erected in 1872, and an addition added in 1878. The main build- ing is forty by twenty-two, and the addition twenty by fifty, and was put up at a cost of $3,600. There are three departments in this school. The first teacher was E. D. Harvey.

The first wedding in town was in August, 1866, that is the first on record. E. D. Harvey performed the marriage ceremony and the parties were Joel F. Spencer and Elizabeth James.

The first child born was Ada Grace, daughter of James A. and Tabitha W. Grace, in 1863. They are now residents of Chillicothe.

The first death in Meadville was Mrs. Frank Harvey, who died in the winter of 1866, and was buried in Ogan's graveyard.

Dr. Stephen Beach was the first resident physician. He came in 1866, and purchased a farm soon after just south of town; and upon which he died March 12, 1875.

Father Hogan held the first religious service in the year 1859. The first resident minister, however, was Rev. L. W. James of the Christian Church, who came in the spring of 1865.

The first principal of the graded school was Mr. M. L. Smith.

The Christian church, now owned by the Methodists, was erected in 1869. It was intended by the Campbellites to be used for educational pur- poses, but was disposed of as above in 1873.

The Eureka Mills were put up in 1870 by Messrs. Lash & Hinton. They run three run of burs, and is a first-class mill in every respect. It has been lying idle the past year, but to a man with some means is a splendid busi- ness opening.

From 1875 to 1880 Meadville doubled its population. Meadville also claims to have been the first to start what is known as agricultural picnics. They are a gathering of the farmers, their wives, sons, and daughters, and they are joined by the town people en masse. It is a day looked for with interest, and when it arrives is one of unalloyed pleasure. As high as three thousand people gather at these festivals, and the scene is hard to de- scribe, for it is an ever-changing panorama of country life.

WHAT SUSTAINS IT.

It is the richness of the country around Meadville which will yet make it one of the most important towns in Linn county. The farmers are all in good circumstances, and are growing wealthy from year to year, and the people of Parsons Creek township stand by their little live and progressive city. As before remarked Meadville doubled its population in five years, from 1875 to 1880; and from the latter date for another five years her in- crease will undoubtedly be at a still greater ratio, for at this witing (in the spring of 1882) Meadville is growing with wonderful rapidity, and her peo- ple have determined to make her the second city in the county at the next

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

census. And it does look as if the progressive spirit of her people would win the prize sought.

As far back as 1876 Meadville began to give evidence of being a ship- ping point of no mean dimensions, and as the population, agriculturally speaking, has increased in Parsons Creek township, as shown by the census figures, nearly fifty per cent, some idea of what she is doing now in the way of a market and shipping point may be gathered from what was sent out by cars in 1876, as follows: There were 1,100 head of cattle shipped; 3;300 hogs; 700 sheep, which has been so increased as to make 7,000 nearer the figures at this time; 26,000 bushels of corn; 3,000 of oats; 1,600 bales of hay; 180,000 pounds of tobacco; and not less than 150,000 shaved hoops. These were the figures when the entire population numbered less than 300 persons all told. Now with a population of at least 600, and as above re- marked, increase of the farming community, Meadville at this time ships more farm produce and stock than any other town of its size on the Hanni- bal & St. Joseph Railroad, and some towns with from fifty to one hundred per cent greater population cannot show such business results.

A CITY.

At the opening of the year 1881 the people of Meadville decided upon the formation of a city government, and to this end a petition was drawn up and signed by about all the adult males of the town in favor of such action. This petition was duly presented to the County Court at its session in Jan- uary, and was favorably received and acted upon. The records of the County Court on January 4th, 1881, show the following action of the Court upon the petition :

INCORPORATION OF MEADVILLE.

" Whereas it appears to the court here that a majority of the taxable in- habitants of the town of Meadville have filed a petition in this court asking that said town be incorported under the provisions of section 4385 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri, and it having shown to the satis- faction of the court that said town contains more than five hundred inhabi- tants and less than five thousand, it is therefore ordered by the court that the town of Meadville aforesaid be and it is hereby incorporated as a city of the fourth class, and shall be known hereafter by the name and style of the " City of Meadville." The corporate limits of said town or city to ex- tend over such territory as is laid out and described, and laid out in the plat of said town by metes and bounds as follows; to-wit,

" Beginning at the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section six, township fifty-seven, of range twenty-one, and running thence west thirty-eight chains and eighty-two links; thence south forty-five chains and forty-nine links; thence east fifty-seven chains and

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

sixty-six links; thence north twenty-four chains and fifteen links; thence west eighteen chains and forty-two links; thence north twenty chains and thirty-six links, to the place of beginning. And it is further ordered that the following named officers be appointed for said city as follows; to-wit: George W. Golden, mayor; A. D. Black, J. C. Wat- ers, John McNicholas and D. M. Sevey, aldermen, and John Crafton, mar- shal. Dated January 4, 1881."

LIST OF OFFICERS.

On the granting of the city charter by the County Court, it also ap- pointed the first city officers to hold until the spring election to come off in April following, when the people could install officers of their own chos- ing. Those appointed by the court were as follows: Mayor, George W. Goldman; aldermen, A. D. Black, Dr. J. C. Waters, John McNicholas, and D. W. Sevey; marshal, John Crafton; clerk and attorney, S. A. Fields, and W. W. Sturges, treasurer. This council declined to grant any saloon license, and there are no saloons in the city.

At the election in the following April, the following officers were chosen for the coming year, or until their successors were elected and qualified: Mayor, George W. Goldman; aldermen, B. L. Barbee, L. N. Goodale, J. B. Duskin, and Mathias Johnson; marshal, H. G. Lyons; clerk and attorney, S. A. Fields; treasurer, W. W. Sturges.

H. Black is now and has been for quite a number of years the postmaster. He is one of the representative men of the place.

The school of Meadville is in a flourishing condition. Its corps of teach- ers is composed as follows: Ella Howe, principal; Rose Bishop, interme- diate department, and Mary Goldman, primary. The enrollment, summer term, was one hundred and fifty; winter term, one hundred and twenty- seven. The total enumeration for 1881, whites, one hundred and seventy- seven; colored, 5, in all one hundred and eighty-two.

One of the concomitants of a city and generally a very necessary institu- tion is a calaboose, and Meadville felt as if she could not assume metropoli- tan proportion without this important adjunct of civilization, and so one was built in the summer of 1881, at a cost of seventy-five dollars. The next thing in order will be the rock pile, and then her criminals instead of being an expense can crack rocks enough to pave her main street, if not more.

MEADVILLE MESSENGER.

One of the leading institutions of Meadville is the Meadville Messenger one of the best and most enterprising local newspapers in the State and not exceeded by any in Linn county. It was started January 8, 1881, by its present owner, J. L. Brown, and the first and only newspaper ever started

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

in Meadville. It started with but five columns to the page, and the editor and proprietor had only energy and perseverance to start with, money be- ing a stranger. He is now the sole owner of his office, has increased the size of his paper to seven columns, and has the good will and support of the people of his town. And in the support of such a paper the citizens show good judgment, for while there may be more wealthy men there is no- man doing business in that thriving town who advances its interest in a. greater degree than the publisher and proprietor of the Messenger. What is known of Parsons Creek township and Meadville is not from local gossip, but through the medium of their newspaper. It is the life of a town; with- out it obscurity would hold a controlling hand. A town is largely rated by the ability of its press, and the support given it by its home patrons.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The growth of Meadville for the past two years has been quite rapid, and seems still to gain, making its future one of bright promise. Its business interests are sustained by the following list of mercantile and other houses, as reported March 1, 1882.

Grocery stores 5 Harness shops 2

Dry good stores. 2 Bank 1

Dry goods and clothing stores. 2

Printing and job office 1

Boot and shoe houses 2

Agricultural implement ware-

Hardware houses 2

houses 3

Drug stores. 3

Furniture and undertakers' estab- lishments. 2

Paint shop. 1

Steam flouring-mill (three run of burs). 1

Blacksmith shops

Game and poultry refrigerator

Lumber yard. 1

house. 1 Shoe shops 2

Carpenter shops 3

Hotels

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Meadville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1868. It was the first organized in the village, although for years there had been services held, not only in Meadville, but over the township, at the log school-houses or at the cabins of the settlers. The original members of this church were G. W. Meyers, J. W. Meyers, Lester Sloniker, R. E. Side- bottom, John Crafton, and William Crafton. They were unable to erect a church building of their own until the year 1873, when by perseverance and industry and by liberally subscribing they purchased a good substantial structure at a cost of $1,500, which was formerly owned by the Christian

Wagon and carriage factories 2

Livery stables 2

Meat market. 1

Millinery stores 2

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

Church. It was a severe struggle, but they accomplished it, and the church continued to grow. The new church was dedicated the same year, the dedi- cation sermon being preached by the Rev. Nathan Shumate. The church has grown and prospered until it has an enrolled membership of seventy-tive. Those who have sustained the position of pastors of this church since its foun- dation are named as follows: Rev. S. H. Enyeart, R. E. Sidebottom, John Glanville, H. B. Seeley, O. Bruner, James Allen, J. H. Schott, H. B. Barnes, and S. Knapp, in the order of their names. The church is out of debt and owns the parsonage, a neat frame building erected in 1875, at a cost of five hundred dollars. A Sunday-school is held in connection with this church, and has some fifty pupils in attendance, under the superintendence of Robert Crafton, an earnest worker in its behalf. The Rev. R. E. Sidebottom died in 1878. A congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South hold service in this church building once a month, the Rev. Craig being the pastor.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

While the Baptist Church was one of the earliest organized churches in northern Missouri, and in many places led all other denominations, did not prove so at Meadville. It was not until March 4, 1878, that the Bap- tist Church of Meadville was organized. Service had been held long before this, but there failed to be members enough of that denomination to effect a permanent organization until the above date. At that time those who be- longed to that persuasion determined to organize not only a church mem- bership, but also to erect a place of worship. The names of those who united together for this purpose and became the first enrolled members of the first Baptist Church of Meadville are here given. They are as follows: William M. Botts, R. P. Waters, George H. McKay, L. H. Rogers, H. Hicks, E. D. Levell, E. Williams, W. S. McGrimes, J. C. Waters, J. H. Dunn, Mary Green, Mary E. McKay, Lucy Cundiff, Luella Dunn, Anna Waters, Nancy Levell, M. B. McGrimes, Sallie Rogers, M. A. Barber, Sal- lie B. Botts, Dora Botts, and Delia Sturges. In the following summer the erection of the church was commenced and was completed in the fall, and was considered the finest church building in the town. It was a handsome frame structure plainly and neatly finished and furnished with a total cost of $1,700. October 20, 1878, the house was dedicated to the service of the Most High, the sermon being delivered by that eloquent man of God, Rev. W. Pope Yeamon. He spoke of the tenets of their faith, and of earnest work in the cause of true religion. Those who have officiated as ministers of this church were W. W. Walden and A. Phister, and the present member- ship is thirty-nine. One of the most pleasant features of this church is their weekly prayer-meetings which are often fully attended, many persons going who are not members. All, however, are invited, both to attend and take

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

part in the exercises of the meeting. They also have a Sunday-school con- nected with the church with a full attendance. Some forty names are en- rolled, with every promise that the lessons here given to the rising children and youths who attend will not prove a labor in vain, but lessons that will bring them sweet consolation and hope in their onward struggle through life. The superintendent is William M. Botts, who is sincerely devoted to his work.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first Congregational Church of Meadville was organized August 28, 1870. It is situated in the eastern part of the town, on section six, town- ship fifty-seven, range twenty one, being in the foot of the letter L, the shape of the town. In 1874, they erected a substantial church building, and hand- somely finished and furnished the same at a cost of $1,600, and when com- pleted, which it was at the close of the year, it was dedicated. The Rev. Dr. Cochran preached a very interesting and impressive dedication sermon.

The original members of this church were W. R. Spofford, Eliza A. Spof- ford, H. Hall, Mrs. H. Hall, John McNeil, Mary P. McNeil, Ada A. Mc- Neil, Margaret G. Cooley, Mrs. Eliza M. Black, and Miss Harriet R. Black. The pastors have been Revs. I. Carlton, Samuel Ollerenshaw, J. J. Weage, and J. V. Willis. The present membership numbers forty eight, and the church is in a good condition, with promises of increased usefulness.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

They have a large and flourishing Sunday-school in connection with the church, which is under the superintendency of L. N. Goodale, who takes great interest in the school, and has proven an earnest and successful worker in the cause. There is an enrolled list of pupils attending the school of sixty, with an average attendance of about forty. There is every reason to believe that the school will continue to grow and flourish, and that the seed planted by faithful work will bring forth rich fruit in coming years.

A. O. U. W.

This lodge known as Meadville Lodge No. 33, was instituted November 13, 1877, by M. W. Newton, and started out under very favorable auspices, and is at this day in a flourishing condition.

Its charter members were J. H. Dunn, R. B. Crafton, O. N. Wilder, H. H. Hill, H. Weir, B. L. Barbee, L. H. Rogers, G. H. McKay, R. P. Waters, E. D. Harvey, G. W. Goldman, J. T. Hull, W. W. Sturges, A. D. Black, D. N. Levey, T. McMullin, J. M. Thompson, J. G. Lay, W. H. Hinton, J. A. Howe, W. G. Maynard, J. G. Hoyt, J. H. Botts, L. Madden, and G. H. Ward, being twenty-five members in all. The choice of officers fell upon the following named charter members, who were duly installed: E. D. Har-

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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.

vey, P. M. W .; J. A. Howe, M. W .; B. L. Barbee, G. F .; G. W. Goldman,. O .; W. W. Sturges, recorder; J. H. Botts, F .; J. H. Dunn, Rec .; L. Mad- den, G .; W. G. Maynard, I. W .; and J. G. Lay, O. W; Messrs. Black, Hin- ton and Harvey, were elected trustees.

The hall they use was erected in 1872, costing the proprietor about $2,000 It is a frame structure and very well adapted for lodge purposes. There have been but two members of the lodge lost by death, and the present member- ship is thirty. William Pengelly and W. S. McGinnis were the ones that died.

The present officers are R. B. Crafton, P. M. W .; D. H. Sevey, M. W .; P. Ausmens, G. F .; L. H. Rogers, O .; Abram Marks, Rec .; W. W. Stur- ges, receiver; G. W. Goldman, F .; L. Madden, G .; S. Gilmore, I. W .; E. D. Harvey, O. W. Trustees, Abraham Marks and James Phillips. The. lodge is well sustained, and is pretty certain to increase in number and in- fluence as the town grows.

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The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information, Part 72

Author: Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean Number of Pages: 906

Author:
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo., Birdsall & Dean
Number of Pages: 906