USA > Missouri > Nodaway County > The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens > Part 24
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John M. Lamar, Sr., settled in the timber on the Nodaway River, about five miles north of where Dawson is now located. Mr. Lamar was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, on the 6th day of July, 1804, and died August 16, 1877. In 1841, he moved from Hendricks County, Indi- ana, to Platte County, this State, and in May, 1842, he came to Nodaway County, or to what is now known as Nodaway County, as that was before the county was formed. At that time there were only a few settlers in all the Nodaway River country. Mr. Lamar settled upon a beautiful piece of land.
In those days wild game was abundant and the Indians enjoyed themselves in killing deer, turkeys, etc., on the very spot where are now located some of the most beautiful farms to be seen in the county.
It was several years after he came here before many other immi- grants came in. At the time Mr. Lamar came, this portion of the county had not been surveyed, and it was denominated the " lost land," that is, returned to the Government as not being worth surveying. Those surveyors were probably sincere in so returning the land then. We, however, know now that they were greatly mistaken. It is, though, quite suggestive that a scope of country which was returned as not being worth surveying forty years ago is now a beautiful, well cultivated and productive region. Before the surveys were made all the right and title to lands were acquired by discovery, or by settling down upon them. Fortunately, the claims thus taken were so far apart that after the sur- veys were made no person's rights were infringed upon, and conse- quently there were no difficulties attendant upon the surveys. For several years after Mr. Lamar came to this county, Savannah was his post office, to which place it was forty-five miles. We would think it
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
rather far to go in this day when the mail facilities are so great. When Mr. Lamar came here St. Joseph was a hemp field.
Mr. Lamar was married twice. He has four children living, namely : Napoleon B. Lamar and Charles J. Lamar: Sarah mar- ried Thomas Lamar, and Rutela married John Hudson. Mr. Lamar reared a most exemplary family. He lived a long and useful live. He was a vigorous and interesting conversationalist, had a clear, retentive memory, and illustrated in a free and easy manner the incidents of the early days in this our now great county.
Napoleon B. Lamar was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, March 13, 1829. He came to this county with his father in the spring of 1842. Much that has been said in the sketch of his father will also apply to a sketch of his life. Napoleon relates many amusing incidents of the Indians. He frequently went to their camps in an early day here, and witnessed their fun and frolics. He knew some of the chiefs, among whom were Powsheik, of the Mosquacha tribe, and Black Turkey, of the Pottawatomies. He says that whenever the Indians were going to take a spree some of them would keep sober. Before beginning the spree all the bows and arrows and tomahawks were hid away. This was done that the Indians might not hurt each other when under the influence of whisky. Mr. Lamar relates an instance of an Indian spree in which one of their number was killed. It appears he was choked to death, as finger prints could be seen about his throat. When they buried him they set him up against a tree, and built a little pen around him, which they daubed over with clay until he was hidden from sight. They buried pipe and tobacco with him, that he might smoke on his way to the happy hunting grounds. A certain Indian, whom they called Malisha, was sus- pected as being the one who choked the Indian to death. Mr. Lamar says he heard that Malisha was tried for the crime, after the Indians had removed the camp to another place, but he never learned the result of the trial. He was tried in this way : Some herbs were given to him, and if they should have a certain effect he was guilty, and would be put to death, if the herbs did not produce that effect he was innocent, and his life would be spared.
In another case where a squaw died, she was buried with a kettle of soup, and a ladle was placed in it that she might use the soup on her dark journey to the happy hunting grounds. Mr. Lamar says the Indi- ans would not kill a wolf. They seemed to have a tradition that the wolf was the dog of their ancestors, and they protected him as if he was sacred to them.
Charles Lamar is two years younger than Napoleon. He came to this county with his father, and therefore all that has been said relative to early days here in the sketches of his father and brother will also apply to Charles. Charles Lamar married Kisah Hudson. They have
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
three children living-two sons and one daughter. Their daughter Dora is married to W. W. Ramsay, a member of the Maryville bar.
They are all exemplary citizens, and men who stand high in the community in which they live.
The following are additional names of old settlers :
John Bright came from Indiana, in 1842.
John M. Lamar came from Tennessee, in 1842.
Ransom Spencer came from Ohio, in 1842.
Hiram Bagly came from Kentucky, in 1842.
John Griffy came from Kentucky, in 1842. Franklin Parker came from Kentucky, in 1842. Amos Halsa came from Missouri, in 1843.
William Wyatt came from Indiana, in 1843.
William Hudson came from Ohio, in 1843. George Sizemore came from Kentucky, in 1843.
William Bates came from Kentucky, in 1843.
Monroe Cottrell came from Kentucky in 1843- John Rose came from Kentucky, in 1845. Aaron Wallace came from Tennessee, in 1845. Joseph Wallace came from Tenessee, in 1845. Howard Reynolds came from Tennessee, in 1845- James Roberts came from Kentucky, in 1845. James Livingood came from Kentucky, in 1845. Nickol Owens came from Kentucky, in 1845. Elisha Walters came from Indiana, in 1845. Jesse Roberts came from Kentucky, in 1845. John Severs came from Tennessee, in 1850. Daniel Severs came from Tennessee, in 1850. William Severs came from Tennessee, in 1850. James Wade came from Tennessee, in 1850.
Mansel Graves came from Kentucky, in 1850.
James W. Adams came from Ohio, in 1850.
DAWSON.
The village of Dawson is located two and a half miles a little north- west of Burlington Junction, on section 5, township 65, range 37, Lin- coln Township. D. N. McCrea and W. M. Walker owned the land originally on which Dawson is situated. It was named in honor of Col. Lafe Dawson, of Maryville. The citizens call the town Dawson, but the railroad company call the railroad station Dawsonville. The post office is called Dawson. The village is located in a beautiful grove on a fine roll of land north of the Wabash Railroad which runs through the edge of the town. It has a population of about 150 inhabitants. The
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
town was surveyed and platted December 20th, 1879, by E. A. Garvey, civil engineer of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company, who laid out the town. The land owners, in consideration of having the town surveyed and platted, gave one-third of the lots to the surveyor and parties connected with the railroad. All the lots sold have been bought at private sale. The first train of cars reached Dawson, Septem- ber 2d, 1879. Mr. Burnett erected the first building for general mer- chandise in December, 1879, and January Ist, 1880, sold the first goods in the town. He received his goods before there was any depot, and landed them from the cars on the ground. He had charge of the first post office in Dawson for one year. Isaac Weddel erected the second building which was used as a blacksmith shop. The next building was removed from Lamar Station by Alonzo Reese for a drug store. J. F. Wallace removed the fourth building in the town, and occupied it, opening a stock of general merchandise. The next building was a dwelling which was removed from Lamar Station also, by Alonzo Reese. Soon afterward A. S. Thompson put up a building and opened a board- ing house. A general law office was soon built for the justice of the peace, D. V. McCrea, Esq. J. M. Wallace & Son soon completed another building and opened a stock of groceries and hardware. Bilby, Wood & Co., soon afterward erected a store for general merchandise. A considerable number of dwellings have been since erected.
Dawson is a good point for business. It is located a mile west of the Nodaway River, near the junction of the river with Mill Creek, which receives almost the entire rainfall of all Lincoln Township. The Nodaway Valley is made up of the best alluvial lands in Northwest Mis- souri, and the multiplied productions of this valley must pour out over the railways into the markets of the world. The lands lying round about Dawson especially possess a deep alluvial soil of great fertility, which will produce abundantly all the cereals and grasses of this lati- tude. West of the Nodaway River, along the river valley, and as we approach the Missouri River, are found the finest groves in the north- western portion of the State.
Dawson possesses many natural advantages, and must increase in population and importance in a business point of view. In the last two years, 250,000 bushels of grain, mostly corn, have been shipped from Dawson, and in the last eighteen months 200 car loads of cattle and hogs have been shipped.
On the Nodaway River, seven-eighths of a mile east of Dawson, is a fine water-mill with two run of burrs, owned by H. Burnett, which has been of great service to the town and the people of that vicinity. A dam of eight feet utilizes all the power of the river at that point, and there is an abundance of water for milling purposes at all seasons of the
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
year. Dawson is supplied with good well water, which is found in abun- dance at a depth of from eighteen to thirty feet.
There has been a public school near where Dawson now stands for twenty-five years. When the town was located Miss Anna Hackett was the teacher. The number of pupils in attendance is about 120. The people contemplate erecting a new school house in another year.
The first marriage in Dawson occurred August 10, 1880, when Mr. Mitchell H. Bailey and Miss Louisa A. Massengale were united in the bands of wedlock by 'Squire D. V. McCrea. The second marriage in Dawson occurred September 19, 1880, at which auspicious time Mr. Arthur McDonnull and Miss Hattie J. Bowman were united in the holy bands of matrimony by 'Squire D. V. McCrea.
March 3, 1881, was the date of the first birth in Dawson, a son to Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Daugherty.
Andrew J. Maines was the first person who died in Dawson, on September 26, 1881.
DAWSON DIRECTORY.
Burnett, H., general merchandise.
Bilby, Wood & Co., general merchandise.
McCrea, D. V., justice of the peace.
McCrea, D. V., lumber dealer.
Moore, Enos, railroad agent.
Pease, William, carpenter.
Reese & Rosebraugh, druggists.
Wallace, J. M. & Son, hardware and groceries.
Wallace & Walker, general merchandise.
Weddel, Isaac, blacksmith.
Woodward, Dr. J. H., physician.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized July 23, 1881, by Rev. H. J. Latour. The following are the names of the original members : H. Burnett, Mrs. M. A. Burnett, J. A. Chadwick, Mrs. Melissie Chadwick, Mrs. Elizabeth Massengale, C. E. Short, Mrs. L. A. Short, J. F. Wallace, Joseph Wal- lace, Charles Wallace, Mrs. Adeline Wallace, Mrs. Nancy Walker, James Randall, L. B. Edwards, J. W. Short, Mrs. R. C. Short, Mrs. Elizabeth Heckerthorn, Mrs. Jane Thacker, Mrs. Francis Fox, Mrs. Bessie Burnett and Mrs. Amanda Wallace. Rev. A. M. Wallace is the present pastor. He has three other appointments, where he labors. Mr. Wallace has done a large amount of missionary labor in the Nodaway Valley in organizing churches and Sabbath Schools. The church at Dawson is
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
the direct result of his labors in this field. The present membership of the church numbers twenty-one. There is a good Sabbath School during the summer season.
ELMO.
Elmo, a village of about two hundred inhabitants, is situated on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, nineteen and one-fourth miles, by rail, northwest of Maryville. The land on which the town of Elmo is located was originally owned by Isaac Hesser and the State Bank of Missouri. The land was bought by the Wabash Railroad Company, and the Western Improvement Company formed, who laid out the town in December, 1879. The land was surveyed by the railroad company. There was a public sale of lots in October, 1880. The depot was the first building erected on the town site. There were also two grain offices built. Mr. J. Lamme put up a building about this time for a saloon. W. C. Ecker erected the next building for a hotel, and opened and con- ducted it for about two years. F. J. Scott soon afterward put up a build- ing for a restaurant and store. The next building was erected by J. R. Nelson, who opened a stock of general merchandise, selling the first goods in the new town. C. J. Lamar put up a store building soon after- ward, and opened a stock of general merchandise. About this time there was a section house erected. S. Collins then built a residence, the first one in town, and commenced living in it in the spring of 1880. Wm. Moss erected the next building for a restaurant, which he opened, but soon sold out. About this time Lamar & Severs put up a building and opened a stock of general merchandise. Tibbetts & Phillips very soon erected a drug store, and then each member of the firm built a residence. At this time C. J. Lamar moved a residence from Lamar Station. Then James Brown built a blacksmith shop, and William Bales put up a residence. Several other buildings followed, whose sequence it is difficult to trace. The Masonic lodge building was soon afterward removed from Lamar Station.
The first marriage in the town occurred September 17, 1880, when Mr. J. A. Maloney was married to Miss R. A. Manley, by 'Squire H. F. Barker.
The first birth was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Livengood.
The first death was that of Morris Kane, who was knocked off from a hand-car by an engine backing against it after dark.
The school house is at present located a mile and a-half from town, but a good school house will be erected in the village next summer.
The Methodists hold service on Sunday in the hall of Lamar & Son. Scott's Addition to the town was laid off in September, 1881.
Elmo is finely situated on a roll of land a little north of the rail- road, surrounded by a beautiful grove. The town possesses considerable
16
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
business in all the lines of trade, and the business of the place will evi- dently grow in importance from year to year. One hundred thousand bushels of grain have been shipped from Elmo in the last six months.
ELMO DIRECTORY.
Bales, William, blacksmith.
Collins, Dr. S., livery stable.
Collins, S., physician.
Colvin & Murphy, lumber, wagons and implements.
Eggleston, J. P. & Co., hardware and furniture.
Funston, O., carpenter.
Greenwood, John, meat market.
Hudson, James, boarding house.
Joy, F. & Co., general merchandise.
Joy, H. S., meat market.
Lamar & Severs, general merchandise.
Lamar, C. J. & Son, general merchandise.
Lawless, James, plasterer.
Manley, L. R., painter and jeweler.
Martin, Dr. T. L., physician.
Nelson, J. R., general merchandise.
Russell, Ed., saloon and billiard hall.
Scott, T. J., manager elevator.
Scott & Atherton, general merchandise.
Spencer & Taylor, milliners.
Stratton, N. J., elevator.
Tibbetts & Bradley, druggists.
Tibbetts, Mrs., milliner.
Williams, A. H., jeweler.
Woodard, I. B., harness maker.
KENNEDY LODGE NO. 329, A. F. & A. M.
Kennedy Lodge was chartered at Lamar Station, October 13, 1870, but was removed to Elmo, December 1, 1880. The names of the charter members are as follows : E. George, John M. Lamar, I. N. Castillo, S. J. Russell, John Hudson, D. V. McCrea, J. R. Nelson, Sidney Smith, Thomas Fields, Alexander Gray, W. S. Lamme, William Longmyers and C. J. Lamar. The names of the present officers are as follows : C. B. Thummell, W. M .; E. George, S. W .; E. M. Bailey, J. W .; Thomas Fields, Treasurer ; L. P. Colvin, Secretary ; H. C. Burnett, S. D .; J. R. Nelson, J. D .; J. M. Wallace, S. S .; Thomas Tudder, J. S .; John Hudson, Tyler.
The present membership numbers forty. The lodge own their own hall, and are in a fine condition.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
ITS BOUNDARY-PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLERS-SKIDMORE-BUSINESS DIREC -- TORY-CHURCHES.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
Several reasons led to the organization of Monroe Township, chief among which was the inconvenience the farmers suffered in voting at distant precincts. These led the people to petition, in 1881, for the organization of another township to be formed out of territory originally belonging to the townships of Green and Hughes.
At the February term, Nodaway County Court, February 12, 1881, occurs the following order, establishing the bounds of Monroe Township :
Ordered by the court, That a municipal township be established out of parts of Green and Hughes Townships, to be known and designated as Monroe Township, in said county, to be composed of the following territory, to wit :
Commencing at the southwest corner of section No. 15, township No. 63, range No. 38, thence east with section line eleven miles to the southeast corner of section 17, in township No. 63, range No. 36, thence north with section line four miles, to the northeast corner of section 32, township 64, range 36, thence west with section line eleven miles, to the southwest corner of section 34, township 64, range 38, thence south four miles south of line dividing Atchison and Nodaway Counties, to the place of beginning.
It is further ordered by the court, that Skidmore be designated as voting place for said township.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
Monroe Township lies as a parallelogram, eleven miles from east to west and four miles from north to south. The general features of the township are similar to those of Green Township, out of which it was- formed in part. The eastern portion of the township rises gradually from the river, with a slight inclination toward the north, and the west- ern portion rises gently from the river toward the west. Nodaway
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
'River runs through the township from the north to south, dividing it nearly in the middle. Florida Creek empties into the river from the northeast, and Hickory Creek and Hutchinson's Branch from the west. The township is composed of rich prairie lands, with some timber along the Nodaway River and its affluents. The land is rather rolling in its character, especially as we approach the streams. Monroe Township has one mill privilege, which has been improved, near where Skidmore is now located.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Among the earliest settlers in the territory now belonging to Mon- roe Township, was William Bunten, who came in 1840, and opened a farm one and one-fourth miles northeast of the place where Skidmore is now located.
About the same time Wm. Dotson came and settled on a claim two miles northeast of the present site of Skidmore.
James Curl soon afterward opened a farm where Skidmore now stands. He was a large stockraiser.
Richard Miller bought the claim of Dotson, and James Fulkerson bought the claim of Bunten.
In 1847, Wm. V. Smith purchased the claim of Fulkerson.
In 1845, Peter Noffsinger came and settled on a tract of land adjoin- ing the town site on the northeast.
Monroe Cotrel' settled on a claim two miles southeast of where Skidmore now stands, but afterward sold to William Broyles, and he sold to Robert Bagley, who lives on the same place now.
Joseph Huntsucker took a claim in 1845 about three miles northeast of Skidmore. He sold out to Thomas Davis, and Mrs. Davis still lives on the same place.
About 1850, Hugh D. McDonald entered forty acres of what was known as part of Burr Oak Grove. He sold out to Thomas Hayes, in 1853, whose two sons, James T. Hayes and John G. Hayes, and his two sons-in-law, John S. Grigsby and Alonzo Coston, settled in and around the grove. Burr Oak Grove is located four miles west of Skidmore and one-half mile north. The grove contains about 320 acres of land, and lies at the head of Burr Oak Branch, which runs into the Nodaway River.
Hickory Grove is located one mile south and two miles west of Skidmore, and contains about half a section of land. It lies about mid- way on Hickory Creek, which flows into the Nodaway River.
William Bunten settled in 1840. James Curl, 1842.
William Dotson settled in 1840. Richard Miller, 1844.
James Fulkerson, 1844.
Monroe Cotrell, 1844.
Joseph Huntsucker, 1845.
Peter Noffsinger, 1845. William V. Smith, 1847.
William Broyles, 1847.
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
Thomas Davis, 1847.
John Owens, 1850.
Irving Hall, 1850.
Adam Terhune, 1850.
M. Skidmore, 1865.
Hugh D. McDonald, 1850.
Thomas Hayes, 1853.
James T. Hayes.
John G. Hayes.
John S. Grigsby.
Alonzo Coston.
I. D. Wheeler, 1856.
Noah Mast.
Robert Bagby, 1857.
Judge William V. Smith, 1847.
Thomas Mayhew, 1858.
Patteson Hughes, 1857'
Wesley Clark, 1850.
Martin Skidmore, 1861.
BURR OAK M. E. CHURCH.
This church was organized about the year 1860. The present membership is seventy. Rev. William H. Van Gundy is the pastor. The church edifice is worth $1,500. The Sabbath School is in good condition, and the church is prosperous.
SKIDMORE.
The town of Skidmore is situated eleven miles south of Burlington Junction, exactly in the geographical center of Monroe Township, about half a mile east of the Nodaway River. A beautiful little valley or depression runs through the town from north to south, giving it perfect drainage, along which passes the railroad, the town being thus freed, in great measure, from the noise, dust and smoke of passing trains. The land on each side of this little depression rises in fine rolls, on which lies the village of Skidmore, one of the finest towns in the Nodaway Valley. The land on which the town of Skidmore is situated was originally owned by Mr. M. Skidmore, who gave the Nodaway Valley Railroad Company over twenty acres of land for railroad purposes. It was a free gift, Mr. Skidmore not entering into any stipulation that the railroad company should locate a station at that point. The railroad was built in 1880, and completed the 15th day of August of that year. There was no town company formed, but Mr. Skidmore laid off the town early in July, ISSO, and there was a public sale of lots July 28, 1880. Mr. W. S. Earls, of Savannah, bought the first three lots, Nos. 6, 7 and 8, block 6, at $50 each. We notice that the streets are christened from the names of trees. We observe Oak, Walnut, Chestnut, Maple, Ash, Linden and Elm Streets.
Mr. Blodgett, of the Nodaway Valley Road, was the surveyor of the town. The first building, a grocery store, was erected by H. H. Joy, who moved a stock of groceries from Union Valley, and com- menced 1 usiness about September 1, 1880.
Several parties began building at this time. Asher & Gibson com- menced a building for general merchandise ; Dike & Motter commenced
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HISTORY OF NODAWAY COUNTY.
a general store, and Marklin, Earles & Co. put up two buildings, one for hardware and furniture, and the other for general merchandise. T. S. Marlin erected a building for hardware ; William McGinnis put up a harness shop, and Dr. D. M. Hutt built a drug store. Dr. Charles Impey erected another drug store. A blacksmith shop was built by J. V. Parrish, and W. Clark also built a blacksmith shop. A carpenter shop was then erected by F. VanAnsdale. About this time quite a number of buildings were in process of construction. 'Squire Finney put up a hotel and livery stable, and Nathan Burkhead built a restaurant. How- ell Bros. established a lumber yard.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first church edifice built in Skidmore. It was completed in July, 1881. The Methodist Episcopal Church South erected their church edifice, and completed it October I, IS81. The people of Skidmore are alive to the interests of education, and have nearly completed a good school house, at a cost of $1,700, which is constructed in accordance with modern principles of school architecture.
The first birth in Skidmore was a son to Mr. and Mrs. George Man- chester, on November 11, 1880.
The first death was a son of Mr. H. H. Joy, which occured in November, 1880.
The first marriage in the town of Skidmore was celebrated at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Joseph V. Parrish, on Thursday evening, June 23, 1881, when Mr. Hamilton Deffinbaugh was married to Miss Ary Bell Parrish, by 'Squire Thomas L. Howden.
The directors of the school at Skidmore are Wm. Ashler, Chairman ; E. F. Day and John Picket. The school is in good condition. Calvert R. White is the principal.
A Masonic Hall has been built, but no organization has been effected.
Skidmore is situated in the fertile valley of the Nodaway River, and is surrounded by one of the finest and most beautiful sections of land in the state. Located in the exact center of Monroe Township, with good railroad facilities, it must necessarily grow in commercial importance and in population. Every line of business is well repre- sented. Large amounts of live stock and grain are being shipped. As an illustration of the business of the new town, Markland, Earls & Co. sold $27,500 worth of goods during the year ending October 15, 1881. Other firms are equally prosperous.
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