Adair County, Missouri - Chapter 17: Kirksville, 1911 (part 2 of 2)

On March 15, 1890, there occurred one of the most extensive finin the history of the town. About three o'clock in the morning the night watchman discovered that B. F. Lamkin's store on the south side was on fire. The night was bitterly cold and people responded slowly to the fire alarm. The fire engine exhausted four wells, but nothing could stop the fire from making its way eastward to the end of the block. One building west of the Lamkin store was also burned. Lamkin's dry goods stock was completely destroyed, and much damage was done to Heiny's book stock, Browning's millinery stock, Hannah <fc Six's grocery stock, Dutcher's jewelry stock. Grove's drug stock, and Caskey's dry goods stock. The First National Bank building, which stood at the ea.>t end of the block, was destroyed, but the vault was secure, and Mr. Baird was able to open up for business in a nearby room that morning almost on time. The Journal and the Democrat occupied quarters in this block, and both papers lost their files and entire stock. Only thm* buildings were left standing, the Savings Bank building and the two buildings just east of it. The total loss was about $100,000, with insurance amounting to al>out $55,000.

On December 30, 1890, occurred the only fire which, as far as is known, was accompanied by loss of life. The fire originated in P. M. Smith's hardware store on the northwest corner of the square where the Kirksville National Bank now stands. The fire spread eastward across the street and burned the Masonic building and one other building to the east and two to the north. After the fire had gotten a good start in the Masonic building the fire wall fell on the Hart and Pickler buildings to the east; the first was crushed like an egg-shell, and the other was greatly damaged. At the time this happened several people were in the Hart building helping to remove the stock. Volney Hart, son of Wm. Hart, the proprietor, was killed instantly, and Fred Sweet, N. P Smith, Wm. Price, Wm. Hart and Mrs. Rose Bunker were hurt, some of them very seriously. The loss amounted to about $75,000, witli insurance about $45,000. The county had at that time many of the county offices on the second floor of the Masonic building, but no records were lost. The county offices were immediately reopened in the Spencer block south of the Baird bank building. The post office was in one of the buildings that were burned, but its contents were removed to a place of safety.

On December 12, 1893, the old North Missouri Hotel was burned to the ground, together with two or three other frame buildings. Nearly all the contents of these buildings were saved, as the fire made slow progress. The hotel was one of the oldest buildings in Kirksville at that time. It had been built some time before the war by Robert A. Garrett for hotel purposes, and was called the Garrett House for some time.

On December 19, 1907, the Wabash depot was completely destroyed. Thi* building was a frame building, and had been built in 1895 after the old one which had stood on the west side of the track, hail been partially burned on June 1 of that year.

On April 16, 1911, the ax handle factory building, situated in the north part of town, was burned to the ground. It was being used at the time by Horton & Lorton as a feed barn. Several head of stock were burned, among which were seven horses and two cows. As the building had long been a rendezvous for tramps and other irresponsive parties, it is belived that the fire was started by the carelessness of >'»ine intruder.

The destructive fires were more numerous on the square in the seventies and eighties than since then because the buildings were chiefly frame, and when a fire got started it usually kept on going until a whole row was consumed. Moreover, there was then very little in the way of fin* protection. A volunteer fire company was organized in the early Unties, and various schemes were carried out to equip the men in it properly. But the fire engine, which was a hand affair, was able to do effective work as long as the water in the four wells at the corners of the square held out. The present water works system was not installed until 1894. Even after the water system was put in fire protection long remained inadequate because of the lack of a paid fire company. The volunteer company did all it could with the equipment it had, but on many an occasion the company would be slow in assembling and much time would l>e lost in getting a team to take the apparatus to the scene of the fire. In 1910, through the efforts of the Business Men's League, a fire team and a complete fire outfit were purchased, a fire chief employed

In the early days the building* around the square were all foam and it would he safe to say that ninety per cent of them were hurm-il at one time or another. As they were burned brick building- winerected in their stead, and in the case of brick buildings that were bum«j still better ones were usually erected. Fires have been, as a nde. bier* inn- in disguise. The last frame building around the square - where the Kirksville Trust Company building now stands.

these was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Smith in 1882. and Ml known as the Kirksville Mercantile College. A few words concerninc this institution will be of interest.

Mr. Smith was reared in Southeastern Missouri amid poverty an much privation. He was never able to attend sehool until he wa> twenty-four years old; when he attended his first school he had married two years. In 1879 he and his wife went to Keokuk, l"« > where she attended the Business College there, while he worked M I janitor at that institution. In 1880 she graduated, and they cam- I Kirksville. where Mrs. Smith hoped to get up a class in penmanshij They met much disappointment and had to endure much hardship Mr. Smith did all sorts of chores and odd jobs about town, and mean- while tried to secure students in penmanship for his wife. Finally one -tudent was obtained, and then others began to come on his recommendation. As the class grew, arrangements were made for suitable atvommodations for a writing school. In April, 1881, a brick building near the center of the town was leased and the school moved into it. The school was then called the Writing Institute, and was under the management of Mr. Smith. This grew so rapidly that still larger quarters were necessary and a commercial department was added to the writing or penmanship department. During the year 1881, 132 persons enrolled in the commercial department, and the name of the institution was changed to Kirksville Mercantile College.

In March, 1882, Mr. Smith began soliciting for funds to erect a suitable building for his institution. He succeeded in selling about one hundred life scholardhips at $25 each, whereupon he proceeded to erect the building. He purchased a lot at the corner of Washington and Normal streets, for which he paid $700 down and gave his note for the balance. On April 21, 1883, the cornerstone of this new building was laid by the Masonic lodges. In November of that year the building was completed. It was a three story brick, 50 by 80 feet in size, and included departments for plain and ornamental penmanship, bookkeeping and actual business, with a capacity for 500 students. The hall on the upper floor was designed for the use of lectures and entertainments of various sorts and had a seating capacity of about 1)00. This building has in the last ten years been remodeled and is now known as rhe Harrington Theatre, and is used exclusively for theatrical performances and public gatherings of various kinds.

During 1883 the College matriculated 424 persons, and sold 183 Hie memberships in the penmanship department and 53 in the bookkeeping department, for $40 each.

In March, 1892, a stock company with a capital of $20,000 was organized to conduct the College. The shares sold for $100 apiece very readily, one hundred and thirty being sold on the first day. The Board of Directors was composed of W. J. Smith, W. D. Sigler, J.C. Curothers, F. M. Harrington, C. E. Darrow, H. M. Tinglev, and B. F. Heiny. W. J. Smith was President, and B. F. Heiny, treasurer. In February, 1894, Mr. Smith bought out the stockholders and became sole proprietor, and in May of that year he sold out to J. N. Dewell and -I. M. Mumma.

By April, 1895 the College had run down so that it was practically suspended. A number of citizens of Kirksville took the matter in hand and put new life into it. An effort was made to sell two hundred schol- arships at $50 each on condition that Mr. Smith would resume the financial management of the school and honor all scholarships. The effort met with sufficient success so that the College was reopened in September, 1895. It was, however, suspended permanently in 189b Prof. Smith then studied osteopathy and later left Kirksville.

Kirksville has had several other Business Schools or Colleges besides this one. The most flourishing was Burke's Business College. All of them, however, were small as compared with the one organized by Prof. Smith. They had quarters in the second story rooms around the square, as a usual thing.

In 1908 the State Nonnal School at Kirksville inaugurated a commercial department under Prof. Mark Burrows. The department i.» primarily, however, for the training of teachers of commercial courses in the high schools of the state rather than to fit young men and women directly for commercial positions.

State Teachers Association. - The Missouri State Teacher-' Association has held two of its annual meetings in Kirksville. The first one was held in December, 1872. It was planned to hold tln> meeting in the new Normal School building, but owing to the fact that the building had not been completed by that time, the meeting wa» held in the Masonic hall. The second meeting in Kirksville was held in December, 1880. The sessions were held in the Presbyterian church. The attendance was not as large as was expected.

Wagner Conservatory. - The Wagner Conservatory of Music and Languages was organized in 1893 by Prof. E. M. Goldberg. wln» had formerly been connected with the music department of Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri. He has been conducting work in music and languages ever since in Kirksville. At times Prof. Goldberg has had assistants, but he has generally been the sole instructor.

Literary Societies. - Forty years or more ago, every community maintained a singing school or a literary society. These were the means of furnishing entertainment as well as instruction. Kirksville was well supplied with these institutions. There are many persons who recall the singing school conducted by Rev. J. 8. Boyd in the Presbyterian church during the winter of 1870-71, and also the Literary Society which was organized by J. M. (ireenwood, J. T. Smith, J. A. Pickler, and J. \V. Halliburton. For occasional diversion spelling matches would be held, and during the seventies these matches were held as a usual thing, in the Normal School building.

One of the last old-fashioned singing schools organized in the county WM that one by Prof. J. R. Howey at Brashear in 1880. He came there from Ohio and decided then to locate there permanently.

There have been many literary and social organizations in Kirksville. but in all probability the one that has proved most effective in itl various activities has been the Sojourner's Club. This was organized in the fall of 1897. At that time there were several hundred patients in Kirksville, many with literary taste and social cravings. Mrs. J. B. Foraker of Ohio, who was temporarily residing in Kirksville with an invalid son, conceived the idea of inviting the patients as well as the town women, to her home one afternoon of each week, furnishing them with literary entertainment. After several weeks these meetings were adjudged indispensable, ami the Club was formally organized.

While the motto, "Be not unmindful of strangers," is still the motto of the Club, and its original object to furnish social introduction, fellowship and hospitality to strangers is still adhered to. many other lines of work have been taken up. A library was started soon after the Club was organized, which has grown into a free library open to the public from nine a. m. until noon each day.

A year or two later a Home Economics Department was created with the object of bettering the conditions in the home, by increasing the knowledge in cookery and the household sciences. Twice each month a meeting is held for the purpose of study and practical demonstration* along these lines.

The Civic Improvement League was the second Department organized with the object of improving the civic conditions of Kirksville. For several years those in charge of the Department were satisfied with giving prizes for the best flower beds, the neatest back yards and alleys, and creating a sentiment in favor of Civic Improvement. But

Early in the history of the Club, the promise of two rooni> in ih- Court House to be used as rest rooms for farmers' wives, was grant-, by the County Court. They were furnished by the Club and oi>"nn| to the farmers' wives in June. 1902. They have since l>een sujmtym and maintained by the Club.

In the spring of 1900 the deplorable condition of Forest Cemcitr, was brought up and discussed at one of the regular meeting-. Mai remedies were suggested and a Cemetery Association was temporari organized that afternoon. Two weeks later at a meeting called by tl President of the Club, the present Cemetery Association grew out the temporary one and began its work as an independent OfgJUlitttiai

In the fall of the same year the matter of organizing a Board > t Charities was taken up. The President and a Committee from the Club sent request to the ministers and to all the clubs in town askins them to send a representative to a meeting at the Court House for t!i pur|>ose of organizing a permanent Board. The Associated Bonn! Charities of Kirksville is the result.

Aside from the practical work, each year a program in literatur or history has been planned and carried out. In 1910 the Club begJUJ working to raise money towards building a Club House and Lihrar. Building. A lot has been given to the Club for this purpose by Mr and Mrs. Warren Hamilton. The Club holds its weekly meeting- in rooms in the A. S. O. building, which the authorities have kindly put at its disposal ever since its permanent organization.

Prune Ami skmknts. -In the early days the various halls anmml the square were used for whatever amusements that were furni-i, by local or foreign talent. The first building containing a good thpatr* was Smith's Business College. This was opened in December, IKVi In 10(H) the college building was remodeled by F. M. Harrington. w!» had acquired possession of it. and was made a more adequate theatrt than ever before.

The town has for years afforded a lecture course which offered ;* series of lectures ami entertainments during the winter months. .V far back as any mention has been found of such a course, it has alw.ivbeen held in connection with the Normal School in some way or otht-r For a long time it appears that the faculty of that institution undertook to manage the course, hut in 1809 the management had passed into the hands of the Y. M. C. A.'s of the Normal School and the A. S. "

The Spring Festival of Music was inaugurated by the Music Department of the Normal School in 1909. Some account of this was given in the chapter on that institution of learning.

The Kirksville Chautauqua Association was organized in 1900 by a number of enterprising and public spirited citizens of the town. The purpose was to establish in Kirksville a course of Chautauqua lectures and entertainments of various kinds during the month of August. Arrangements were made from 1906 to 1909 inclusive, for the use of what was known then as De France Park, a whole block of land between Mulanix and Florence streets and between Jefferson and Pierce streets. A big tent was set up on this block and used for the various events on the general program. In 1910 the De France Park began to be built up. and the Chautauqua Association was allowed to use the Normal School campus. Some very prominent national characters have ap- |K>ared upon the Kirksville Chautauqua platform. President John R. Kirk has been the President of the Board ever since its organization, and John R. Howey has been its Superintendent. Every year until last year, the course has paid for itself. But in 1910 the expenses exceeded the income by several hundred dollars. Another course will he given in 1911, but it will depend on how well it is patronized this Mimmer as to whether it will be maintained hereafter or not.

Old Settlers' Reunions. - There have been at least three Old Sutlers' Reunions in the county. The first was held at the Fair Grounds in Kirksville on October 4, 1889. The meeting was called to order by Rev. W. L. Fletcher, one of Adair County's oldest settlers. The openins address was made by Judge Wesley Halliburton of Milan, on the Early Pioneers. After dinner reminiscences were related by Dr. Wm. (iates. Rev. Wm. Jones, Rev. W. L. Fletcher, Washington Conner, and Elder Russell. The reunion was made somewhat noteworthy by the presence of Mr. Garland Moore, of Morrow township, aged 108 years. It was largely through the efforts of Mr. R. M. Ringo that he was gotten out.

In August, 1890, the second reunion was held at the same place as the year before, and a larger crowd seems to have been in attendance. Among the speakers were Rev. W. L. Fletcher. Rev. J. B. Mitchell, Hrof. W. P. Nason, Rev. Josiah Wright, Elder U. M. Browder, and Mr. Miller of Schuyler County. It was reported that three of the speakers selected in 1889 to speak in 1890 - Halliburton, Burkhart, and Gilstrap - had died before the reunion came off.

held on September 22. 1890, at Collett's Grove, six miles west of Kirk^ ville. It was quite appropriate that the reunion should be held at this place, as it was in that vicinity that the first permanent white settlement was made in this county. The bad weather kept a large munUr from attending, but several hundred people gathered as it was. TV usual speeches and reminiscences were given by Rev. Fletcher. W. T Baird, John Shibley, Sr., and D. A. Ely. During the day it wa> frequently remarked that the reunion was being held on the same sp,r where, in 1840, a big Whig barbecue had been held.

Missouri National Guards. - Company K, Second Missouri National Guards, was organized at Kirksville in September, 1880, by J. H. Kinnear. The organization came as a sort of aftermath to a big soldiers1 reunion held in August of that year. During the reunion th? organization of a company of National Guards was discussed, ami "- result was that a goodly number of veterans were enrolled. The fir-' commissioned officers were, J. H. Kinnear, Captain; John A. Richardson, first lieutenant: William McCarty. second Lieutenant ; J. M Davis, first sergeant. The next year Captain Kinnear wa» promited to be lieutenant colonel of the regiment, whereupon John A. Richardson was elected captain, with J. M. Davis, first lieutenant, and Char!'- A. Ross, second lieutenant. In 1883 Captain Richardson left the county and J. M. Davis was elected captain. The company comprised sixty men and officers. It was disbanded in 1880.

In 1882 this company was called upon to assist the sheriff of th* county in arresting the band of men who had robbed the Brookfieki (Mo.) Hank on June 7, 1882. These robbers had taken refuge in a house on the Hooper farm in Walnut township of this county, twelve miles southwest of Kirksville, on the Chariton River. The sheriff. John Shaver, suspected that they had taken refuge there and sent out I lot of detectives in the guise of fishermen, who discovered signs of the robbers l>oing at the place. They reported to Kirksville as soon tS possible; whereupon Sheriff Sharer took fifteen men of Company K t" assist him in arresting the band. Several of the men who were draft- ! to go now tell how they dropped out of ranks the night they advanced toward the robbers' rendezvous, and stayed hidden in the woods until the robbers were arrested and taken away.

( 'ompnny C was organized during the Spanish-American War. in the spring of 1808. J. R. Musick was captain, J. E. Rieger and Manville Carothers lieutenants. It became a part of the 0th Regiment mustered for the invasion and occupation of Cuba, but the company at Hrooklield W8S Bent in its stead.

The present company was organized on January 0, 1900, with J. E. Rieger captain, Manville Carothers first lieutenant, and Harry Laughlin second lieutenant. Other lieutenants since that time were Ewing, Heiny, Gates, Geo. Reiger, Williamson, and Elston, the two latter lxung the present ones. Rieger was succeeded as captain in 1909 after ten years' service, by Leo M. Ewing, the present commander, when Rieger was elected Major of the Foutrh Regiment.

The present company receives from the State of Missouri armory rent, light, fuel, and water, together with rent of a target range. The equipment of guns and clothing is received from the U. S. Government. When at camp or on duty in the field, the men receive the same pay as do the corresponding grades in the regular army.

In 1910 the company was called out by Governor Hadley to assist in suppressing a strike at Illasco, Mo. During the rioting the company was fired upon by the strikers, the men of the company returning the fire with vigor, and as a result, the strike was declared off the next day.

The present strength of the company is fifty-eight men and two officers, all conditioned and equipped, and fit for service in defense of the Government.

Business Men's Associations. - From time to time the business men of Kirksville have banded themselves together to protect their interests and l>oom the town. In 1891 there was organized the Young Men's Business Association. Its twofold purpose was to stimulate enterprise and compile statistics concerning Kirksville. W. F. Sholly was President and Chas. V. Miller Secretary.

The present business organization, known as the Kirksville Commercial Club, was organized in 1902. It has been very active in its efforts to develop the town. It was instrumental in bringing the shoe factory to town and in encouraging other enterprises. It is the first organization of its kind to have quarters of its own in which meetings are held.

Mexican War Veterans' Lea<;i e. - The Mexican War Veterans' U*ague was organized at Kirksville during a soldiers' reunion on September lfi, 1885. Z. F. Rawson, Fourth U. S. Artillery, was made President, and John J. Kennedy, Second Illinois Infantry, Secretary. The "ther memlKTs were: R. D. Emerson, Third Ohio Infantry; Jas. G. Gordon, Indiana and Illinois Infantry; Geo. David Moore, Third Ohio r.

Infantry; Frank Metier, First Pennsylvania Infantry: John It. Pam-\ Fourth Illinois Infantry; 1). ('. Lord, Fiftli Indiana Infantry; Jam<- Berry, Fourth U. S. Artillery; E. E. Mann, U. S. Battleship Mississippi: Michael King, .Second Illinois Infantry; Oliver Gerry. Fiv Missouri Infantry; Matt. Wise, Third Indiana Infantry; John Krone; First T. S. Infantry: Sol. Moyer, Sixth U. S. Infantry; P. J. Sublette Third Illinois Infantry, T. M. Easley, Illinois Cavalry; H. M. York Third Louisiana Infantry. Other Mexican veterans in the county « did not join the League were: A. O. Braddigan, King C'ollett, E«l*-.;i Parcels, William Capps, Thomas Story. Sylvester Reilly, IS veteran, died prior to any effort to organize a League.

It is not known how long this League was maintained. LMwu Parcells is still living in Kirksville at a very advanced age. It i> known whether there are any other survivors of this war or not in ihr county.

in the county in the efforts of Culm to free herself from Spanish rul> On Octol>er 20. 1S(.»"), a mass meeting was held in Kirksville for the |>ose of giving expression to the feelings and sentiments of the peop' on the matter. S|>ceches were made hy Mayor Noonan. Senator n - her, J. R. Musick, President W. IX Dohson. Ceo. M. Mcduire. T. I Sublette and others. Resolutions were adopted urging the I'nitci States Government to do all it could to assist Cuba in her efforts.

When war was declared in April, 181)8 against Spain, a company was organized and made itself ready for service. But as has l>een »ai in another section of this chapter, the company at Brookficld was callci out instead of the one at Kirksville.

Notwithstanding the disappointment that many felt over the failure of the Kirksville Company to be called out, great satisfaction wataken by every one in the county in the success of one Adair County i»\ in this war. Shortly after the war broke out the New York Heral; offered §100 to the first man who would plant the stars and stri|x- 00 Cuban soil. The money was won by Ensign Arthur Willard of Kirkville, who was then on the gunboat Machias. While the Wilmington the Winslow, and the Hudson was firing on the batteries at CaitknK the Machias was making a wreck of the barracks at Diana Cay. Whit the Spaniards scampered away, Ensign Willard ami three men went ashore and planted the American flag on the ruins.

The Medical Profession. - The first resident physician in the county of whom there is any record, was Dr. Abram Still, father of Dr. A. T. Still, who was both preacher and physician.

In 1854 Dr. W. M. Gates, an eclectic physician, came to Adair County. It is stated that at that time there was only one regular graduate of an allopathic medical school practicing in the county, and that was Dr. James Goode. Shortly after the coming of Dr. Gates, there came Drs. Shoop, Patton, and Lowe. Dr. A. P. Willard was a practicing physician here before the war, and is perhaps the only surviving physician from that period now in the county.

The court records prior to the war show a number of fines assessed against physicians for practicing without licenses. Among them were William Lough, W. F. G. Lansdale, Franklin Neff, Jas. C. Goode, and W. A. Cochrane, who were fined each $50 in April, 1850.

The physicians of the county who registered under the act of 1873, up to as late as 1888 at least, were as follows: F. A. Grove, J. M. Swetnam. A. P. Willard, E. A. Burns, W. G. Pierce, JepthaS. Miller, George R. Combs, W. H. Brown, R. M. Fowler, George A. Shirley, John Burton, A. H. John, R. H. Browne, Philip Snyder, S. L. FJlis, F. T. Mellinger, Jacob F. Gall, H. G. Kernodle, J. H. Wesscher, M. L. Bunnelle, J. B. Weaver, W. H. Allred, S. R. Sage, John Ziegler, Jas. Myers, W. M. Patton. W. R. Hopkins, S. J. McPherson, J. M. Ledford, A. T. Still, C V. Payton, T. H. Boscow, Benj. Guffey, J. H. Williams, W. M. Gates, Moses Fry, Benj. N. Bond, J. F. Caslow, J. W. Lee, A.S. Pierce, Thos. P. Wiseman, Wm. B. Mead, W. L. Taylor, R. L. Galbreath, H.Hereford, S. D. Weir, F. J. Withington, John Moran, J. Jackson Crider, Emlen Lewis, J. B. Carter, H. M. Stone, Geo. D. Coe, Samuel Shevely,John W. McMenanny, J. W. Martin, G. A. Goben, S. W. Saunders, U. P. Patchen, W. S. Hall, E. H. Dorland, W. F. Perkins, H. S. Strickland, J. \Y. Herrell, John A. Pulliam, F. M. Nickell, Jas. A. Houser, J. E. Dunbar, W. F. Morrow, G. A. Sparling, J. S. Cater, W. T. Mefford, ('. S. Boscow, Seth Clark, H. I. Shull, H. K. Cunningham, W. S. Hall, Syrena Andrews, F. M. Barnes, John Shibley, Jas. F. Snyder, Joshua Beach, A. P. Davis, and H. W. Heryford.

The physicians in Kirksville in 1880 were: Goben & Morrow, opposite Post Office; G. A. Sparling, National Bank Building; F. A. Grove, south side; H. Strickland, south side; John Burton, west side; A. P. Willard, north side; A. T. Still, southeast of square; C. D. Henry, northeast of square; Mrs. L. Ingham; T. H. Boscow, east of square; Miss S. Andrews, north of square.

Besides the me<lical physicians there are the osteopathic physicians on the staff of the American School of "Osteopathy, and one <*r two osteopaths who are not connected with the school.

The town has two hospitals, the Osteopathic Hospital and the Grim Hospital. The former ha* been in operation five or six years, the latter for only a year or two. The new Grim Hospital building in the southern part of town, has just been completed.

The Adair County Medical Association has been in existence ever since 1884 at least. Its officers in 1884 were A. P. Willard, President and W. F. Morrow. Secretary.

Adair County Bar. - During 1841, the year in which Adair County wa.s formed, the following persons were enrolled before the court am! authorized to practice law: B. F. Tarr, Addison Reese, Jus. S. (ire.-ti Clear Orley, Jas. H. Birch, John A. Myers, John YY. Myers, Win. Hall. Josiah Fish, and Wesley Halliburton. Whether there were oth-rwho had been enrolled in advance of these is not known. In 1845 Win R. Jones, and in 1847 Abram McKenny and E. B. Cone were- admitted

During the war it was thought necessary to compel the lawytrto take an oath of allegiance. The Kirksville bar took this oath i m May 19. 1802. The oath was as follows: "We and each of us do »!- emnly swear that we will support the Constitution of the I'nited Str - and of Missouri, and that we will not take up arms against the Govcniernment of the I'nited States nor against the Provisional Governmon' of Missouri, and that we will not give aid or comfort to the enemy ->: either during the present civil war. So help us God." The sigin rwere: E. V. Wilson. W. S. Griggs, Ceo. W. Foster. Geo. W. Sharp. J. M. Robertson. B. G. Barrow, J. H. Myers, A. L. Cilstrap, I. B. Dodson, and R. J. Kberman. Of these it seems that G. W. Sharp is the only one now living. He did not practice law very long, but went into tinministry.