USA > Missouri > Pike County > The history of Pike County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 15
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THE FREEMAN BOY AND WOODEN WARE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was incorporated June 1, 1SS1. The incorporators were W. C. Freeman, A. C. Sheldon, H. S. Hart, and F. D. Flye. The nucleus of this business is to be found in the efforts of Mr. Freeman as early as 1878 when he commenced to manufacture in quite a small way, and in the same year he invented a wooden scoop, suitable for grocers' use, which subse- quently, July 16, 1878, and February 25, 1879, he had patented. These scoops grew into a ready sale. The fact that they were not steamed and bent was thought to make them superior to others in use, and the demand for them gradually became greater and greater, so that in 1881 the above com .. pany was organized for their manufacture, as also to carry on the box manu- facturing business. Mr. Freeman was made president of the company; A. C. Sheldon, secretary; H. S. Hart, treasurer; and Frank D. Flye, manager.
They at once increased their facilities for manufacturing by building a commodious factory on the bank of the river in the northern portion of the city. To the manufacture of scoops, boxes and shipping cases were added. This company now employs not less than twenty-five hands, and very soon a larger number will be required. Soon after the organization of the. com- pany, Mr. Freeman purchased Mr. Hart's interest, and since then H. I .. & W. O. Gray have bought out Mr. Sheldon. Under the new organization the officers are W. C. Freeman, president; H. L. Gray, secretary; W. O. Gray, treasurer; and Frank D. Flye, manager. The trade of the company is rapidly increasing and they contemplate, in the early spring, to very much enlarge their factory and thus prepare to meet the heavy and growing de- mand for their goods.
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THE CITY FOUNDRY.
This foundry was established in 1873 by W. C. Freeman and William E. Jackson, under the firm name of Freeman & Jackson. They first commenced operations in a small building on the corner of Fourth and Tennessee streets. In the following year Mr. Jackson retired from the firm, since which time Mr. Freeman has conducted the business alone. So successinl has been the venture that although the building has been inuch enlarged it is now inadequate to the business done, and additional room will very soon have to be supplied. There is found here all the machinery necessary for successfully conducting the foundry and machine business and the man- ufacture of steam engines, saw and grist mills, etc., constitute a part of the work of this establishment. From ten to twenty hands are constantly em- ployed according to the business in hand or the urgency required in turning out the work.
LOUISIANA FOUNDRY.
. This foundry was started as early as 1857, by Thomas F. Whitney, the present proprietor. It is located on the corner of Sixth and Kentucky streets, has a general ontfit for all kinds of work usually done at an estab- lishment of this character, and is principally devoted to hydraulic and en- gine work. Mr. Whitney, the proprietor of this foundry, is well known all over the country as a machinist of superior knowledge and skill, and much of his time is taken in putting in place the machinery of mills, factories, etc. His thorough acquaintance with his business and his general reputation as an honest and efficient workman has brought him much work from abroad, which has always given the best character of satisfaction to all his employ- ers. He.employs from ten to fifteen hands and is usually busy during the entire year. Like the foundry of Mr. Freeman this establishment is of in. calculable benefit to the city of Louisiana, with all her other factories, and is a source of great convenience and benefit to all the people of this portion of the county.
THE M'CUNE, PALMER & KNIGHT TOBACCO FACTORY.
Under its present management this factory dates back no further than ISSO, although the business has been condneted at the same place since 1866. In the latter year W. H. Glenn, John T. Overall, and Lewis J. Clark, commenced the manufacture of tobacco here and conducted the business until November 15, 1868, when the building was burned. It was, however, rebuilt in 1869, when Glenn and Overall remained in the firm, and John
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G. Myers became, by purchase, the suecessor of Mr. Clark. In 1872 Mr. Glenn drew out of the business, and in 1874 Mr. Overall also retired, leav- ing Mr. Myers the sole proprietor. In 1879 Stuart Carkeuer and David A. Stewart became associated with Mr. Myers, and in 1880 the entire busi- ness was sold to MeOhne, Palmer, and Knight. For two years this com- pany continued to operate the factory, manufacturing some superior brands of tobacco and finding for their goods a ready sale in the different mar- kets of the country. In January, 1883, this factory and the one lately conducted by L. Tinsley & Sons were consolidated under the name and style of L. Tinsley Tobacco Company, and now constitutes one of the strongest manufacturing interests to be found in the city. These parties have ample capital for the successful prosecution of their immense busi- ness, and several of the gentlemen connected with the factory are men of large experience in both the manufacture and sale of this character of goods. Immense capital is invested here, a great number of men, women, and children are employed, and a heavy demand made upon the box factory for the necessary packages in which to press and ship their goods. The factory is situated on the corner of South Carolina and Water streets, and was during the winter of 1882-3 very much enlarged, and new machin- ery of the finest quality and sufficient to meet the demands of the business was put in. With the additional machinery of the factory of L. Tinsley & Sons to draw from, as occasion may require, we very much doubt whether there is a company in all this portion of the state that has superior facili- ties for making goods of all grades and prices, adapted to the wants of every section of our immense country, than have the gentlemen who control the factory in question.
THE SAM REID TOBACCO COMPANY.
In 1878 Mr. Samuel Reid began the manufacture of smoking tobacco, and conducted the business alone until 1879, when A. J. McCune and W. N. Tinsley became associated with him under the firm name of Samuel Reid & Co. In 1882 the present company organized as the Sam Reid Tobacco Manufacturing Company, with the following officers: A. J. Mc- Cune, president; Fred Dant, of Muscatine, Iowa, vice-president; W. N. Tinsley, secretary; and Samuel Reid, general manager. The above-named parties constitute all the stockholders. In 1881 the company purchased the large stone building known as the Alexander mill, situated on the west side of Third and between Georgia and Tennessee streets, and supplied it with the latest and best machinery for the manufacture of smoking tobacco.
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They had capacity for about three thousand pounds per day, and were usu- ally kept running almost to the extent of their capacity in order to supply a large and growing trade. Their goods had become justly popular, especially the well known and favorite "Joe Bowers " brand, and they found ready sale in the states of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas, while occasional shipments were made to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and also to the extreme sonthern states, as Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. On the night of the 2d of January, 1883, this fac- tory burned, and the company sustained a severe loss, but it is understood that the insurance, $21,500, will be used to supply other machinery, and that in a comparatively short time the factory will again be numbered with the leading industries of the city.
HASSLER BRO'S VINEGAR WORKS.
These works were established in 1876, by S. C. and W. J. Hassler. They are located on the northwest corner of Second and Tennessee streets. Be- sides manufacturing about three thousand barrels of pure apple vinegar annually, this firm also produces considerable quantities of " refined cider," which, like their vinegar, is easily sold in the best markets of the country. They are also fruit and produce brokers, and ship thousands of barrels of apples and great quantities of other fruits to the cities of the north, as well as supplying portions of Illinois and Kansas with the splendid fruit of Pike county.
CIGAR FACTORY -- SEIBERT & CO.
This factory for the manufacture of cigars was first organized in 1860 by George Marzolf and John Seibert, under the firm name of Marzolf & Sei- bert. For seventeen years they continued to do business under the above name, but in 1877 the firm name was changed to Seibert & Co., Mr. Marzolf being a silent partner. This factory employs seventeen hands constantly, and manufactures annually about seven hundred and fifty thousand cigars, many of which are used by the citizens of Louisiana. The factory is on the corner of Main and Georgia streets.
THE ADDISON TINSLEY TOBACCO MANUFACTURING CO.
The business out of which has grown the above-named colossal manufac- turing company was first established in the year 1862 by E. C. Bright and Addison Tinsley, under the firm name of Bright & Tinsley, and for two years was very successfully conducted by these . gentlemen. In 1864
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Mr. Bright sold out his interest, and the style of the firm was then changed to A. & L. Tinsley, but at the end of one year E. C. Bright again became a partner, when the name of the company was changed to Tinsley, Bright & Co. The above co-partnership continued for the space of eighteen months, when both L. Tinsley and Mr. Bright retired from the firm and were suc- ceeded by William M. Vanhorn and JIngh Allen, and the firm name changed to Tinsley, Vanhorn & Co. These parties continued business to- gether until the fall of 1867, when their factory was burned, together with two others of the same character-those of Glenn, Overall & Co., and J. N. Henderson & Co, the fire originating in the last named establishment. For ten months Addison Tinsley was not engaged in business, but on the 20th day of September, 1868, be commenced again, and under his own name, and continued alone for twenty-eight months, when his son-in-law, A. J. McCune, was admitted to a partnership with him and the name of the firm became A. Tinsley & Co. In 1870 or 1871 W. N. Tinsley was taken into the firm, the style of the same undergoing no change, and they continued business, with the three partners named, until January 1, 1883. At this time a stock company was formed under the name and style of the Addison Tinsley Tobacco Manufacturing Company, and at the same time the firm admitted A. M. Tinsley as a partner or stockholder. In 1877 A. Tinsley & Co. bought the interest of E. C. Bright in the factory which had been conducted by L. Tinsley and Bright, under the firin name of Tinsley & Bright, since their withdrawal from the old firm of Tinsley, Bright & Co., and continued to operate with L. Tinsley at his factory under the name of A. Tinsley & Co. for the period of six years, when they, A. Tinsley & Co., withdrew and left factory No. 39 in the possession and under the manage- ment of L. Tinsley & Sons. During this time A. Tinsley & Co. were also running their factory (No. 5) proper, and their connection with L. Tinsley was only with the view of enlarging their general business. At this time they confine their operations to one factory, and with a very commodious building, the best machinery, and a long and valuable experience in the de- tails of the business, they are enabled to manufacture goods of a very su- perior quality and in quantities to meet the demand of their extensive trade. They retain all their old and popular brands, such as " Addison Tiusley's Fine Diamond, Square and Compass, Missouri Leaf, Royal Twist, Pre- minm Natural Leaf, Hard Pressed Natural Leaf, Tinsley's Best, and Fine X." This factory now produces from 500,000 to 600,000 pounds annually, and it is sold from one ocean to the other, while in city. town, and hamlet, these well known goods can be found and purchased. Missouri once used
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about seven-eighths of the product of this factory, but its fame has gone be- yond the limits of our commonwealth, and Texas uow leads all the states in the amount of its purchases and sales of these superior brands. About the largest manufacturing interest of the city, it is of incalculable advantage to the material interest of Lonisiana.
LOUISIANA PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
It was not until 1870 that the public schools of Louisiana attained to any prominence among the educational interests of the county. Prior to that time the private school, of a higher or lower grade, had been made to meet the wants of the children. In the year named, however, a magnificent pub- lie school building, three stories high and containing twelve spacious rooms, was erected at a cost of $20,000, and a full and competent corps of teachers was employed. The first session begun September 12. 1870, with Prof. Watson Foster as superintendent and with a full attendance of the youth of the city. From some cause the full expectations of the citizens were not met, and Prof. George L. Osborne, now of the Warrensburg Normal, became Mr. Foster's snecessor. Prof. Osborne remained in charge for several years, and during his administration the school was very successfully condneted and gained a reputation second to no school of like character in this portion of the state. Prof. White succeeded Osborne, and was followed in turn by Prof. H. M. Hamill, who taught for several years, when Prof. J. J. Nelson, the present efficient superintendent, was elected. Since the time at which Prof. Osborne assumed control, under whose very able management the citi- zens appear to think it attained its highest excellence, the school has been so well officered and so successfully conducted that it is now generally con- ceded to be the best institution of learning within the limits of Pike county. For a number of years the attendance has ranged from seven hundred and fifty to nine hundred pupils, and twelve regular teachers have usually been employed. Among those who have taught here and who have more than a local reputation, may be mentioned the names of Mrs. C. N. Hoss, now at Marshall, Missouri; Mrs. Gough, now superintendent of the Unionville schools; Mrs. Sisson and Miss Mollie Templeton. Misses Mary Harris and Ada Turner, both of whom now ocenpy good positions in the schools of Omaha, Nebraska, were also onee connected with the faculty of the school of Louisiana. Dr. Shannon, late superintendent of publie instruction of the state, is at this time the principal of the high school, and is doing work of the most substantial and satisfactory character. The curriculum is similar to that of eastern academies or of our best western local 'colleges, and
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sufficiently comprehensive to prepare the pupil for admission into some of the universities of the country. The school building is well furnished with comfortable seats, teachers' desks, snitable and abundant blackboards, with some charts, maps, etc., and apparatus of such a character as to at least par- tially meet the wants of both teacher and pupil. The school has a library of over two thousand carefully selected volumes, which is being increased from year to year, and which, under the supervision of the superintendent, is free to the pupils. The people of Louisiana are justly proud of their school and are liberal in its support. imposing upon themselves a voluntary tax, sufficient, with the little aid received from the state, to condnet the school for not less than eight months of each year. The school is at this time, notwithstanding some recent irregularities in the high school, the probable result of previous bad discipline, said to be in a very flourishing condition, and with an attendance in excess of that of any previous year.
COLORED SCHOOL.
There is in the city a school for colored children which is said to be largely attended and very fairly conducted. The house is commodious, the furniture and other prerequisites ample, and the teachers well qualified for the discharge of the duties of their several stations. J. M. Fisher, a colored man of considerable scholastic attainments, is at the head of the school, and under his successful control, it is said to be unusually prosperous.
M'CUNE COLLEGE.
This institution was first organized as Pardee College in 1868, and was for several years under the control of Rev. John McAfee, and was conducted under the auspices of the Old School Presbyterians. The enterprise was not a success, and the building which they had purchased, on the corner of Seventh and South Carolina streets, was sold to the Baptists in 1871, and Rev. J. T. Williams was employed to conduct the school. Under the new management it succeeded but little better than before. and the denomina- tion failing to properly sustain the school, those most largely interested thought it prudent to sell the property, which was accordingly done in IS$1, when A. J. MeCune, one of the stockholders under the Baptist regime, be- came the purchaser, and the school now took his name, being called MeCune College. At the time of the change the school was incorporated, with A. J. McCune as president, W. M. White, secretary, and A. Slaughter, treas- urer. The other corporate members are the ministers of the Baptist Church of the county, together with some of the influential lay members of the same denomination. There are three or four teachers connected with the
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academic department of the school, besides several who perform the per- functory duties of superintendent, matron, etc. The school is still regarded as a Baptist institution, and has received from the members of this denomi- nation a large majority of what pupils now attend it. Mr. A. Slaughter, the treasurer of the board, is at this time acting as principal of the school.
O. S. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church was not organized in Louisiana nntil October 1, 1831. Pre- vious to this time the few members then resident in the city met and wor- shiped with the congregation at Buffalo church, some four miles south of Louisiana. At the date above mentioned, Rev. W. P. Cochran, who lived at West Ely, north of Hannibal, rode on horseback from his home to Louis- iana and preached to the membership of five who had been organized into a church. Of these five there was but one inale member, John D. Wood. The Methodists now tendered the Presbyterians the use of their house which was gratefully accepted and occupied until the time when their present church, situated on South Carolina street, was built. The first stated supply was the Rev. I. M. Paxson, under whose ministry the church was really organized. He preached for six months, until September, 1852, when Rev. G. W. Ash sneceeded him, and officiated until October, 1854. Rev. David Irwin followed Mr. Ash and remained until October, 1857, when Rev. Eli B. Smith was installed as pastor in April, 1838, and served the church until 1861, when Rev. George Van became the pastor and preached until 1864, when the stated supply was Rev. S. W. Mitchell for one year. A short time after this Rev. John A. McAfee was installed as pastor and filled the pulpit until July, 1870, when Rev. Eli B. Smith was recalled as pastor and continued in charge until his death in 1872. The pastors since that time have been H. K. McComb, from January, 1873, until April, 1877; Rev. S. Il. Williams, from May, 1877, to April, 1881; and the present pastor, Rev. D. K. Campbell, who commenced his labors here in March, 1882. The first ruling elder of this church was John D. Knox. The organization now is Rev. D. K. Campbell, pastor; William Armstrong, Dr. H. B. Butts, A. MeMoore, Edward Hesser, Dr. J. T. Bell, and George Reid, ruling elders; Stuart Carkener, Samuel Reid, and Ebenezer Oaks, deacons; Dr. II. B. Butts, clerk of the session; and Stuart Carkener, superintendent of the sab- bath-school. The present membership numbers abont seventy-five com- municants. From a small beginning this church has grown into a strong Christian organization and now has among its members some of the most influential and deserving citizens of the town.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. 1
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized March 26, 1853, with the following constitut- ing members. Charles Bacon and wife, John J. Gibson and wife, W. D. Henry and wife. A. D. Landrum and wife, Geo. W. Peay and wife, J. H. Fry and wife, Josiah Haynes and wife, John Todd and wife, John R. Wise and wife, J. E. Inlow and wife, David Emerson and wife, Thomas Smith and wife, Foster Hill and wife, William L. Carr, Mary F. Morton, Eliza Barker, Lillitha Gibson, Cyntha Watson. Ann Meyers, Martha Pugh, Mary Benning, and Martha Milroy. Geo. W. Peay and Josiah Haynes were elected the first deacons and Mr. Peay was also chosen to act as clerk, which position he held from 1853 until 1867, a period of fourteen years. The first regular pastor was Rev. Jas. F. Smith, who was called in December, 1853.
Services were for a while held in private houses, but after a little time John D. Wood offered the use of his school-building which was accepted and the congregation met and worshiped here until they built their house, or at least until the basement was ready for use which was in May, 1854. Their church-house is a substantial brick structure, situated on the corner of Seventh and Georgia streets. The church was completed and ded- icated late in the summer of 1854. In 1864 there was a division in the church growing out of dissensions occasioned by the war, and a part of the congre- gation withdrew and formed what was known as the Second Baptist Church of Louisiana. In December, 1869, the Second Baptist Church dissolved and its members were again received back into the congregation of the first church. During the long interval since its organization this charch has had a good many pastors, the names of whom we submit below: Rev. J. F. Smith, from 1853 to 1854; Rev. M. M. Modisett from 1854 to 1857; Rev. Smith again, from 1837 to 1859; Rev. J. T. Williams, from 1859 to 1860; Rev. H. M. King, from August, 1860, to March, 1862; Rev. J. B. Fuller, from March, 1862, to April, 1864. The church now had no pastor until 1867, when Rev. A. F. Randall ocenpied the pulpit for a few months, and in May, 1868, Rev. R. Gibson accepted a call and served until Angust, 1871. Rev. James Biggs was in charge from 1872 till 1875, J. T. Williams from October, 1875, until June, 1879, when Rev. Win. Tipton, served from January, 1880, until January, 1882, and now the Rev. Mr. Kemper is the preacher in charge. The present deacons are D. J. Milroy, J. E. Rowley, A. J. McCune, and A. Slaughter. The church has a present membership of 143 communicants and is also a working and spiritually minded body of Christians.
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CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Louisiana congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in February, 1855, by Revs. James W. Campbell and E. D. Pear- sou. By an order of Salt River Presbytery, October, 1831, Rev. E. D. Pearson was sent to Louisiana to organize a congregation and to build a church house. For twelve months prior to this time Rev. James W. Campbell had been preaching to the few Cumberland Presbyterians in the town one sabbath in each month, and had ocenpied for this purpose the pulpit of the M. E. Church South. The organization as effected by Revs. Campbell and Pearson consisted of but nine members. David MeAlister, James W. Smith, and John M. Russell were elected the ruling elders of the congregation. In a protracted meeting held during the month of February, 1855, twenty-five or thirty new members were added to the church. In the summer of 1855 the church honse was erected, and dedicated at the meeting of the synod in the October following, Rev. J. B. Mitchell, then president of McGee College, preaching the dedicatory sermon. Rev. E. D. Pearson contin- ued to preach to the church until June, 1861. Rev. J. W. Campbell now sup- plied the church with preaching for several months and until the time of the employment of Rev. W. D. Mahan, who continued to serve the church as pas- tor for the period of more than three years. In the spring of 1867 Rev. E. D. Pearson was again employed as the pastor and has been continued until the present time, having served the church for more than twenty-one years. The congregation has had but three ministers filling its pulpit as their pastors during the twenty-eight years of its organized existence. This con- gregation has had its seasons of trial as all others have doubtless experienced. Its growth has been gradual and permanent. From the time of its organi- zation it has elected thirteen ruling elders. It now has five acting as eld- ers. It has received into the communion of the church four hundred and eighty persons, and has a present membership of one hundred and thirty- five. Within the time of its existence this church has lost eighty mem- bers by the hand of death. It has maintained preaching, sabbath-school, and prayer-meeting regularly, and has been blessed with many seasons of revival.
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