Bates County, Missouri - The whole text, 1900 (part 2 of 5)

Tiie close of the war also left a number of desperadoes who had become so accustomed to plunder and rapiue that they sought to continue to ply their vocation after the close of hostilities. The new comers were considered as legitimate prey by these outlaws, and if one had a particularly fine horse, or was suspected of keepi ng money handy, he rarely missed ;iit -silly call from those most unwelcome neighbors. Tin* chiefs of those robl>or.s were the four Younger brothers. Cole, Jim. John and Hob, who marie their headquarters in St. Clair county, and were always surrounded by a band of followers. They operated from Texas to Minnesota where they made their last raid. It is probable that most of the pettv crimes laid at their doors were committed bv mere imitators of those noted outlaw chiefs, but they frequently rode through the country as late as the early Seventies, and never hesitated to appropriate anything they stood in need of or took a fancy to. but it was seldom that they committed any serious depredations near their home, as they endeavored to kvvp as m my friends as possible. It was seldom that anyone interfered with tliem. or attempted to follow or regain their property. One time some eight or ten men followed the trail of stolen horses into the hills of St. Clair county. Thev found the baud and demanded their surrender. This was met by a counter challenge and the posse wilted. It was always very difficult to iret any reliable knowledge of what passed, as those interested would never freely express themselves. At all events the friends of the members of the posse became alarmed at their absence, and a large party was raised to go to their rescue. Before they had proceeded far into the enemy's country they met the party headed homeward. They had been disarmed and detained over night, but hospitably treated.

John Younger was killed in a tight with detectives, in which several men lost their lives. Cole, Jim and Bob were captured in Minnesota. The latter died in prison, the others remain under life sentence. Their feeble imitators were soon either captured or scattered, and Bates County became once again a quiet, law abiding community.

Their cattle gained their living from the range almost the year round, and the fall of the nuts in the timber was depended on to fatten the hogs. There were no railroads to haul off the grain, and the home demand was limited. This allowed more time for sports, hunting, fishing, etc. Soon, however, the railroad and improved machinery changed all this. Where before no one had cared to own, fence and pay tuxes on large farms, the scramble for land began, the green sod was ruthlessly turned down, and the rumbling of machinery dnnvned the lowing of herds.

Soon tin* hunter, trapper and Usher found his occupation gone, and he must either join the busy throng in the harvest lields, or move on again to the outposts of civilization. Bootless task to sit and lament the passing of the good old days, they were gone, never to return to him or his posterity who remained iu the industrial kingdom of Bates.

The great prairies of the county which were looked upon as the mutual possessions and feeding grounds of the people in general, rapidly passed under private ownership, and the hated barbed wire established a barrier to the herds of the settler. This innovation was bitterly opposed, and the wire was repeatedly cut, but, unwelcome guest though it was, it had come to stay, and quite a number of the old residents were so disgusted by this turn of affairs that they look the first opportunity to sell out and remove to localities where the range still belonged exclusively to the people.

Even then prairies were used almost exclusively as pastures, it still being the general opinion that they were not adapted to grain raising. This notion, however, rapidly disappeared, and soon thousands of acres of rich farm lands added their products to swell the output of Bates County farms. At this time coal, although it was known to exist iu many localities, in fact, often cropping out of the hillsides, was hardly thought of as an important article for fuel, and not at all as an article of commerce. As long as the settlements were confined to the borders of the timber, firewood was too abundant and easily obtained to admit of any rival in that field.

With the inflow of homeseekers and capital from the older states the conditions described above began to pass away. The change was gradual at lirst and the pioneer settler was the one who first noticed the change, the full manning of which was not realized until later years. Bates County was to develop from a self supporting and self sustaining community to a great and busy producing and exporting commonwealth. Its fertile soil and abundance of mineral deposits could not always be reserved for the exclusive use of those who were fortunate enough to become her citizens. Her products were destined to go out to all parts of the country and build up a commercial interest of great magnitude and importance. But to accomplish this she must have the means of transporting these products to the markets of the world.

Although there hod been one spasmodic and apparently short lived effort to secure a railroad through the county before the war it amounted to nothing more than a survey and perhaps served to arouse some conjecture as to the probability of there sometime being a road built that would furnish an outlet for the products of Bates County, but the war came and for the time being destroyed all interest in such peaceful topics as possible railroads and for that matter destroyed everything that might have.been an inducement for the building of a road. And after the passing away of these unfavorable conditions and with the resultant return of peace came the desire for internal improvements and the promoters of numberless railroad projects began to air their schemes before the people.

The first of these and also the one which resulted finally in securing the first railroad ever operated in the county was a proposal from the Tebo & Neosho R. K., this resulted in the culling of a meeting in Butler September 10, 1866. which met. adjourned, and did nothing more: unless to this meeting we ascribe the cause of an effort made soon after to secure funds to induce this road to enter the southeast part of the county. This effort proving futile nothing more was done until 1M67 when propositions to build roads. provided they received a stipulated amount of financial aid from the people, were received, but all 7-ejected. This condition of things continued, until 1N>H before anything definite was accomplished. During this time. I.s(j7 to 1809, somewhere near ten or twelve different proposed roads had been discussed and efforts made to secure appropriations to aid in their building, but all had failed. In March 1*09 Prairie City township submitted a proposition to appropriate Jj\2.">. Ok) to the Tebo & Neosho roads, bonds to be issued wheu cars were running through said township. This proposition carried almost unanimously, and the road was constructed through the extreme south-east comer of 1 1 township, and the bonds demanded and biting refused, suit wis brought and judgement rendered against llie township. They look an appeal, but immediately after 1 1 1 « * decisiou of the lower court tiie road's representative repaired to Lhitler and demanded tin* bonds of the court, and 1 1 m ' y were given him. There has considerable litigation grown out of this action of the court.

Some ten or twelve more meetings, each held for the purpose of promoting some prospective railroad, were held during this year, but nothing of permanent benefit in this direction was accomplished until the following year. 1*70. of which we will speak further in another place.

At this tiuje the county had recovered from the effects of the war. The old farms were redeemed from their wild state and new ones settled all over the county. Homes rebuilt, school houses and churches being erected, nourishing towns springing up in various places, and all kinds of public enterprises for the development of the county receiving the support of the people; an ideal condition for the oj>ening of that era of unexampled development in all the lines of human progress which has, in a marked degree, blessed Bates County since that time to the present and gives promise of un-nu inhered fields yet t > be won.

who is fairly represented by the above cut, wa> horn in Blair county, Pa., March iS, 1S44. He was educated in 1 lie common and high schools of his county, and at Dickinson Seminary at Williamsport. He worked on a farm and taught school during the winters until 1869. He was admitted to the bar in Davenport, Iowa, in 1867. Located in Greenfield, Dade county, Mo., in 1869, and began the practice of hi> profession. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate by a fusion ot Democrats and Greenbackers, and served four years. He removed to Rich Hill, Bates county, in 1883, and about a year afterward came to Butler, where he has since resided. He was a Democratic elector in 1S84 and voted for Grover Cleveland for President. In 18S5 he was appointed a member of Missoiui Supreme Court Commission, and served about a year. He was elected Circuit Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit, composed of Bates, Henry and St. Clair counties in 1886, and served about four years, when he resigned to take his seat in the 52nd congress to which he had been elected at the general election of 1S90. He has since been re-elected to the 53d, 54th, 55th and 56th Congresses of the United States.

Congressman DeArmond has a commodious home in this city, and leads a quiet, home life when at home. He has a wife and four children, three sons and one daughter, who is the wife of Gen. H. C. Clark, present Prosecuting Attorney of Bates county.

The people of Bates and the 6th congressional district take reasonable pride in the success which has characterized Judge DeArmond's career on the bench and in congress, and he possesses the confidence of all our people to a marked degree. Quiet, unobtrusive - even distant and reserved - in his relations with the people; yet he is a genial companion and a cordial friend to those who know him best. He is a careful, hard student, and in all his speeches and writings the evidence of scholarship and classical acquirements are everywhere shown. In private conversation and in public speech he is one of the most accurate talkers in the country.

Development

By ls70, the beginning of the period of development, the county had regained the ground lost during the period of «-ivil strife and now begins her onward march in. the light and under reign of entirely new conditions, which inarch has in every way exceeded the greatest hopes of her friends and she now stands the p^ar of any c:>uuty in all the wide prairies of the West.

In fact INTO was in some particulars a red" letter year in the county's history, for the people having reorganized all of their affairs and begun to enjoy the fruits of peace and prosperity, tlx'ir attention was directed to the line coal fields of Bates County, and the consequent undeveloped wealth whieh lay hidden beneath her fertile prairie and timber lands, and also that in order that this untold wealth might l>e made available it was necessary to have means of transportation for carrying it to the markets of the world. Hence, in April ]s7i> a petition was circulated asking the county court to appropriate s4t><U mw » in hoods to the Memphis road, half to lx* paid when the road reached the northern limits of the county and the Otlver half when the cars were running to Sutler; also asking the court to order special elections to be held in Mt. Pleasant and Grand River townships, the former to appropriate si»<UMI>, and the latter -HUMK>, to the Lexington. Chillicothe & Gulf road. The Memphis petition was sent in with l.lMtl names attached and accompanied by a remonstrance bearing the signatures of 302 men. Both orders were made by the court, however, and the election in each township ordered the township lionds issued by large major - ites. In May lh70 a petition was presented to the court asking that body to rescind its order appropriating the £400.000 to the Memphis but the court took no action in the matter. But in June 1H70 at a meeting of the county court it did rescind this order on representations made to it that the Mem- phis road was not legally ineorp »rate.i. but these rcpres 'a tatious were afterwuitls shown to oe incorrect, and in 1*71 the Kansas City, and Memphis Company made formal applicatiou for the bonds, claiming thai they were still valid, and the court compromised by subscribing sliVi.Oin. This road was never completed, and the bonds were not issued.

Meanwhile, the bonds issued by Mt. Pleasant and Grand River townships to the L. C. & G. road were the subject of much contention and their ultimate disposition will be noticed in treating the financial affairs of the county.

All this agitation of railway matters in the five years. 1H65 to To, resulted in the actual completion of but one road, the M. K. & T. and only tapped tne extreme south-east corner of the county. While there was a road bed graded from the north line of the county through Butler and extending some distance south of that place, and in 1870 bonds were secured , on the strength of this work, this line was never finished and the grade never used. In 1*79 and NO the Missouri Pacific Company constructed a line south from Harrisonville, the Lexington & Southern Branch, which traversed the county * from north to south, passiug through the county seat and the great coal fields of Osage township. The Memphis road also built a branch which entered the extreme southern part of the county from the west, and traversed the southern coal fields.

A few years later a company headed by Gov. ('has. Poster of Ohio, which made large purchases of coal lands in Walnut township, and laid plans for a railway from St. Louis, Mo. to Emporia, Kan. Work commenced on this projected line, named The St. Louis & Emporia, in Bates County and was pushed westward about one-hundred miles. But the project was too large for the capital of its promoters, and the road w.is absorbed by the Gould interests, which made it a branch of the Missouri Pacific system, extending from Butler, which place it reaches by use of the L. «£ S. tracks, to Madison. Kan. This line first commenced operation in lHKi

In 1886-7 a road was surveyed from Kansas City south, ruuniug through Bates Couuty, north and south parallel to and a short distance from the state line. This was the line now known as the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf, and is in operation from Kansas City, Mo. to Port Arthur, La.

Geo. P. Huckeby

was born in the town of Rome, in Perry county, Indiana, May 7th, 1S41. His early life, like that of most boys brought up on a farm, was uneventful. He worked on the farm during the summer and went to school in the winter after the crops were "laid by." His school days were so well improved that at the age of seventeen he was admitted to the Freshman Class at Hanover College, Ind., and graduated at the age of 21. In July. iS6i,he enlisted in Co. D., 1st Indiana Vol. Cav., and served until the following January when he was discharged because of disability, the result of typhoid fever. His army service was mostly in Southeastern Missouri. He began the reading of law in the fall of 1863 and was admitted to the bar in New Albany, Ind., and began the practice of his profession in 1S65. He continued the practice until the fall of 1S79, when he removed to Butler, Bates county, Mo. His first business in this county being that of a school teacher. When the town of Rich Hill was founded in 1880, Mr. Huckeby removed to the new town and established the first newspaper. In May, 1S81, he was appointed Postmaster and held the office until October, 1885. At the close of his term he went into the law and real estate business, and spent one year (18S7) in the booming city of Wichita, Kansas. His success was not remarkable in Wichita, as the collapse caught him as it caught many more. After returning to Rich Hill he again took up the newspaper business and was quite active in the presidential campaign of iSSS. In the fall of 1S90 he was again appointed Postmaster and held the office until October, 1S94, and retired with the approval of all his fellow citizens as a faithful and obliging official. Since retiring from his second term as Postmaster he has been engaged in the practice of his profession and conducting a very safe and successful office business. Always interested in everything that tends to benefit mankind, Mr. Huckeby has taken great interest in all political, moral and social questions. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity ever since his majority. He is an active member of the Methodist church and has been ever since a mere youth. He is a good lawyer, a quiet, courteous gentleman, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

Coal has been known to exist in Bates County from the earliest days of her pioneer ]>eriod. but the development of this great and important natural product belongs entirely to this period of her history. As heretofore stated, in the early days there \v;is but little call for coal as an article of fuel from the settlers. as the wood the3* cleared from their fields furnished an ever ready and ever sufficient supply for the open fireplaces then in vogue. But the blacksmith needed a more constant and intense heat than could be obtained from the combustion of wood, so he went out to the hillside to where the vein cropped out of the ground, and easily secured as much coal as he needed for his forge. Later on, as tin* settlers began to go out on the prairies to make their hom«s. it required an immense amount of labor to supply the fireplace with wood hauled from the timber, and they naturally turned to the coal that in many localities could be secured in such quantities as needed, by simply scraping off a light covering of soil and slate. Theo the coal-grate was set in the fireplace, and the oj>en coal fire took the place of the blazing back-log of the old time fireplace. But, as a general rule, the housewife did not take kindly to the change. The coal smoke and gas would not all find its way up the spacious chimney, and when it got contrary and went the wrong way. it was much more disagreeable than were the fumes from the burning wood which, the old-timers solemnly avered, was --good for the health." of the victim who was compelled to inhale it. Still later the coal stove began to make its appearance, and the use of coal as fuel became more and more general.

With the disappearance of the old-time fireplace coal became an important article of fuel, and it was soon found to exist in greater or less abundance in nearly all parts of the countv. When this became known, and the value of the product us an article of commerce began to \m realized, the necessity of railway connection with the outside world became apparent. But before the adveul of 1 1 »« * railway a considerable industry had sprung up iu the mining and hauling of coal to meet the local demand. Many men and teams found employment in stripping the soil off the shallow coal beds, and hauling the product to the consumers. In the fall of the year, or in fact all through the winter season, during the seventies, the road from the coal fields south of the river to Butler would bo lined with teams hauling the heavily loaded wagons.

But the real development of the coal industry dates back to 1880 - twenty years - aud its advent brought a new era. Cities sprang up as if by magic, the population of the county increased rapidly, and all branches of industry were enlivened. With the advent of an army of laborers, the demand for farm products was greatly increased, and the farmer soon felt the benefit of the increased consumption.

The mercantile business was also greatly stimulated and the coal industry has done much toward making our county the great and busj* commonwealth it today is.

Coal is mined in over half of the twenty-four townships in the county, and exists in small quantities iu the others. In the eastern tier of townships it is mined for local traffic, in Kockville, Hudson and Deepwater townships. In the central part of the county, Mt. Pleasant, Summit and Charlotte townships furnish coal in limited quantities, but with fuller development will probably greatly increase their output. The southern coal field reaches into the entire tier of townships, the most productive part lying in Osage. "Walnut aud New Home townships are underlaid with from one to three coal veins, and the possibilities of this field are not yet realized, while on the west line aud farther north, Homer and West Point townships present coal veins of varying depth and thickness which have as yet ouly beeu partially developed..

Future prospect i nt; may add greatly to the area of our coal field and to the annual yield of our mines. This is particularly probable in the case of Walnut, New Home, Homer and Mt. Pleasant townships, where coal measures have beeu found far below the veins which are now being worked.

The only tield iu the county that has been extensively worked is that south of the Marais des Cygues River. Following the ail vent of the railway in lt*fcO a number of companies located at Rich Hill and opened up and worked their mines on an extensive scale. The irreajer }*art of the out put was shipped out of the county, but smelters were located there and they, with various other enterprises, consumed no small amount of ..coal at home. The supply for the local demand was in a great measure left to the small ojx»rators, who usually worked the strip pits, and sold their output to the teamsters, who in turn sold to the consumers. For twenty years these mines have sent train-load after train -load of coal out of the county, and the supply s<>ems almost inexhaiistahle. But a comparatively small area has yet l>een worked, and each year new mines are being: opened and oporated. For a number of years past the state mine inspector lias tabulated the output of the larger mines, but it must be remembered that a great amount of coal is every year taken out which never finds its way into anv report. But Hates County is now the second county in the state in the annual coal yield, and she has in the }>ast stood at the head of the list for several years. According to the mine inspector's report the highest yearly output was in ]8M>. when it reached 730,000 tons. While in 1>'.»4 it dropped to less than ;>;M,OtM tons. Daring the last three years the output has again rapidly increased until Ihis year it is estimated at about 6*. Hi, 000 tons.

Making allowance for the numerons small mines whose yield does not show in these estimates it is probable that for the p;ist twenty years the average output of coal iu the en1 tire county has been near 500.000 tons, making a grand total often millions of tons, which at the average mine price of sl.OO per ton would represent a value of &10,tMO,000. This estimate is merely intended to convey to the mind of the reader some idea of the industry which has grown up in our county in the past twenty years.

At present our coal mines give employment to about one thousand men. some of whom only devote a portion of their time to this work. About §300,000 per year is paid out for laU»r. The coal industry has. in the last twenty years, built uj) a large and prosperous city of over six thousand inhabit- atit°«, Uich Hill, and contributed largely tJ> 1 1 development of tl»i» towns of Hume. Foster. Amoret atid Amsterdam, all which ship out coal to the markets. The Lexington & Southern and the Memphis railways haul tin* output of the great mines of Osaire. Prairie and Howard townshiiKS. The St. Louis & Emporia carries the product of the Walnut townshij) mines, while the Kansas City. Pittsburg A" Golf {Kisses through the coal land of Howard. Walnut. Homer and West Point townships.

During the past year of JS!H* there has been great activity manifested in the coal fields, aud new mines are constantly being opened and add their portion to swell the total yield. The coming years bid fair to ont do the record of the past in the coal industry of Bates County.

Othku Mrcebalsl

Hates Counly furnishes an abundance of building sione of good quality, also tire-clay from which good brick have been made. Petroleum has l>cen found in several different parts of the county, but only one well, mi Wot l>.H>nc township, has been put down. It has for many years yielded from one to three barrels of oil per day. This oil, on account of its lubricating qualities, finds ready market at a profitable price. It establishes the fact that petroleum exists in paying quantity in the county, and leaves another iinjiortant industry to be developed.

Natural gas has been found in considerable quantities in many different localities. A nuiul>er of strong flows have been accidentally discovered in the south part of the county. While in West Boone township, in the north-west, it is now being used in a few instances for lighting and heating dwellings. There is also, great possibilities for the future in this field.

Very promising traces of lead and zinc ore have been found in various parts of the county, notably in Walnut, Mt. Pleasant, Deepwater and West Boone townships, aud it remains for the future to unfold the extent and value of these various deposits. It is l>Ossibl«. in fact, wry probable, tltat the next few years will tiiul other mineral interests disputing the sway of King Coal iu l£at«^ County's mining industries, and adding to her pix>inincuce as a rich and prosperous commonwealth

We have in preceedittg jute's followed tin* somewhat checkered career of tin* county seal from its foundation, through its early and prosperous career, through its reconstruction and rebuilding, and iu the beginuing of the present period find it once again a busy, prosperous little town, "The Qmt'ii of the Prairies" of Bates County. She was beginning to consider lierself a city, liaving secured a large two-story brick school building, thoroughly equii>]>ed with modern appliances, and a commodious aud substantia] brick court house, which compared favoraby with the public buildings of older and inorc ]>opu'ous counties. She liad many good business houses, and some creditable residences. She had industries, I>ut nil railroad. Such |tarts of tin- material f«»r Iht building* a> could not in- supplied from lier surroundings Ii;k1 to Im' hauled long distaw^^ fmui sotne more favored town. The merchandise for her Sinn's and goods for lier shops had to be freighted from points on tin- railway. She whs compelled |o depend on tlie siow **star mules" for her mails, and on the cumbersome stage roach for transportation facilities. She could not put mi cusmopolptan air* and U' ;i really big town until she could Ik »;ist of railway connections with tin* outside world. H»r goods wc»re freighted from Applctou City, in St. Clair c<»iinty. twenty miles to the south-east. Harrisonvillc, the county seat of Cass cwniy, thirty miles north, and La Cygne, Kansas, the same distance to the north west; the gre a tor j»;irt. however, from the first named place.

This freighting grew to beau iui]M»rtant industry in which a large number of men iind teams were employed. In the ten years from 1870 to 1X80, thousands «>f loads of goods. representing a monetary value of millions of dollars, were freighted over the long and hilly roads bctw<*cu ApjilefcNi City and Butler.

Yet. in the face of all disadvantages. Bntler continued to prosper and grow. The surrounding couutry was rapidly filled up with industrious farmers and Im*t trade increased correspondingly. Ucr m:>st direct mail route was from Harrisonville. hut she also received mails from Appleton City, and f rom La Cygne, Kansas. Substantial church buildings were erected by the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian denominations, the two former brick and the latter frame. A row of business houses surrounded the punlic square, and the town made good and substantial progress during the seventies.

In Ihho came the railway, and then in 'Hi electric lights. which at that time were considered strictly eosiiMipolitan. But the railway which they had striven for so long a time, also brought competitors for Butler. Towns sprung up which encroached on her territory. There is always the thorn as well as the rose to be dealt with. But her enterprise was not the sort to be satisfied with a few good things. A few years later she obtained a complete system of water- works, a plentiful and pure supply being obtained from the Miami River, four miles west of town. She built a second school building ;»nd a large academy, and later on, the first large school house was torn down and replaced by one of the finest and most completely e«piipp»*d school buildings in the West. Six* also has a building for her colored pupils, and is building a fourth large building in order to supply the everincreassing demand for school mom. She has. since 1H80, erected five tine churches, having right such buildings at jjresent. Nearly all her business "nouses have been replaced by modern brick and stone buildings. She has three banks. live weekly and one daily newspapers, several of the largest and most substantial business tirins in the Southwest, and in any handsome and costly residences, and an estimated population of 5000 people.

RICH HILL. The original town now known ;is Old Rich Hill was founded in 1K07, and had grown into a place of considerable importance by 1*80, when the building of the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific through the county caused the removal of the greater part of the town to the present site of Rich Hill, which has since grown to be the largest city in the county - originally deriving its prosperity from the enormous coal de]K>sits. it has widened its resources and branched out into numerous other enterprises and is still growing with every prospect of no immediate cessation. It has a population of about BOO.). Sue public schools, one college, numerous churches and excellent railroad facilities.

Its smelters are also a source of great revenue to the city and from its coal supply, we predict that at no far distant day it will rank high as a manufacturing city.

ADRIAN. Adrian is situated on the L. & S. railway, in Deer Creek township, the corporation extending to the north line of Mound township. It was founded in 1880, the year tin* railroad commenced operations, by a company composed principally of Butler men. Situated in a fine agricultural section it has enjoyed a steady and substantial growth. The census of 1K90 showed a population ot C13: it now has upward of 1000 inhabitants. It has a splendid new school building, employs six teachers and has school nine months in the year. Its post-office was advanced to the Presidential class in 1*90. It has substantial business houses, a bank, a mill, a weekly newspaper, several church buildings, and many handsome residences. In size and business done, it ranlcs third in the county.

HUME. The town of Hume was stalled in l*su. and is situated in the west part of Howard township, in the southwest corner of the county, on the Memphis branch railway. It is surrounded by a rolling prairie country, which is all under cultivation and very productive. It also has quite an extensive coal interest. It now has two railroads, tin* K. C. P. «v G. having been built through tin* town ten years after its founding. It has as good shipping facilities as any town in the county. It had in 1WK> a population of 4*0. which has been very considerably increased since that time. It lias numerous stores, a bauk, a creamery, an excellent weekly newspaper, a good two-story brick school building, goml schoojs. churches, etc.

ROCKVILLE. Rockville is a thriving little villigeof some 000 souls, situate in the south-east part of the county on the M. K. & T. K. K.. in Rockville township. It was founded in 18(58, and now has an elegant new and commodious brick school building, and a tine school, employing four teachers, several churches, many fine business houses well stocked with merchandise, and situated as it is in a tine agricultural and stock raising part of the county has a bright future before it.

FOSTER. Foster was boru on a boom. First called Walnut, it was re-christened in honor of Gov. Foster, of Ohio, who was at the head of the company which laid out the town in 1884. Lots were sold rapidly and at a high price. Many buildings were erected, and Foster was to rival, if not surpass, the mining town of Rich Hill. But the company failed to carry through its original plans, and her coal tieids have not been extensively developed. After the collapse of the boom Foster did not make much progress for some years, but she is now enjoying a healthy growth, and awaits the development of her coal tieids which will place her again to the

W. F. Hemstreet was born in Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1833, and removed to La Salle County, 111., in 1859, and in 1861, to McLean Count)', 111. He lived there until the fall of 1871, and came to Cass County, Mo., in 1872, and settled on a farm near where Drexel is now. In 1887 he came to Butler where he has since resided.

He has been engaged in the grocery business; and in the Elevator with Bryant & McDaniel; and in the spring of 1893 was elected Justice of the Peace and member of the township board for Mt. Pleasant, which offices he still fills to the general satisfaction of the people. In 1S92 he was elected Police Judge of the City of Butler.

Judge Hemstreet is an active member of the Christian church, and has been one of the elders for many years. He lost his first wife in 1888, leaving three children, two sons and one daughter, all of whom are married and reside in this vicinity. His mother is still living in Chicago, now 92 years of age, but enjoying good health. She lives with her daughter, Mrs. Gardner.

Judge Hemstreet married his present wife about a year ago, a most estimable woman, and they live in a commodious home on South High street in the enjoyment of the confidence and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.

front. She lias a dozen stores, a bank, four churches aud a large school building and excellent schools. Foster had a population of 7)13 in !*!>;>. and has probably a little more than hold her own in that respect.

AMORET. Anioivt was located in the western part of HomiT township in 18#H. by the company which obtained control of the Kansas City, Pittsburg & Gulf railway project. and was extensively advertised and pushed to the front by the same agency. The. company made it division headquarters for a time, until the road was pushed farther south. It has ;i fijM* location, enjoys a good local trade and is making a substantial growth. The railway company owns a large tract of land adjacent to the town, which they have set to fruit trees. The town has several mercantile firms, a mill, a creamery and a num»x»r of other industries. It also has a weekly newspaper, a two roomed frame school building aud one church imilding.

AMSTERDAM. This town was laid out by the Ainsterdaui Town Co.. C. A. Emerson manager, in the west part of West Point township, on the K. C. P. & G. R. R. in 1*91. The post-office was at first called Burrows, after the first postmaster, and the station sported another cognomen. The railroad company had no interest in the land, and it was not started with a boom. Its growth has been slow, but steady. It is one of the best shipping ]>ointson the road. It is sur* rotmded by a fine farm and stock raising country, and coal is mined on three sides of the1 town. It has over a dozen business firms, a bank, a weekly newspaj>er, a substantial two story brick school building and two churches.

MERWIN. Also on the K. C. P. & G. railway, in West 13 >oue township, near the Kansas line, was located at the time of the building of the road on the land owned by L. S. Richardson. The town has enjoyed a substantial growth ami lively trade. It has a number of good brick business houses and good stores, a two-story frame school building, two church buildings, a bank, a creamery and a weekly newspaper. It also has a fine college building, the school being under the successful management of Professors Bunyard, Smith and Reynolds.

JOHNSTOWN. Johustown. the metropolis of Sprucetownship, is one of the oldest towns in tin* county, and lias I m »« ' 1 1 treated as such heretofore. One' the metropolis of the county, it has long since fallen from thai high position, and is now only :i little inland vill tge, with only the memories of its former greatness, i>ut yet controls ;i large amount of local trade, notwithstanding its many misfortunes. Surrounded as it is by a noble, generous and enterprising people, it will ever live, at least in the memory of the writer a.; that sjx>t around which cluster the remembrance of the hopes, aspirations and disappointments of his youth and early manhood.

OTHER TOWNS AND POST-OFFICES. Spruce is an inland village of Deepwater township: was founded in 1**7). It now has three general stores, drugstore, blacksmith shop, school house and two- churches. Plcasantgap, i-n Pleasant (Jap township, now transacts considerable local business. Papinsville has survived many hardships and is now a lively village. Aaron, founded four of live years since near the west line of Mingo township, has a post-oftise and general store. Maysburg, also iu Mingo township, stalled in 1*7*, now has several business firms. Prairie City, iu Prairie township, in early days an aspirant for railway advantage's, is now composed of post-office and several stores. Virginia, located in Charlotte tr>wa?hip, has a post office, two churches and several stores. Lone Oak is a post-office and trading l>oint in Pleasant Gap township. Ballard, a small village, with post-office, in north-western part of Spruce township. Altona, in Grand River township, established just bef ore' the war. Sprague, in the east part of Howard township, has two hundred citizens and several business firms. Hurdett, in East Boone township, is an old town of considerable local importance. Dana occupies the site of old West Poiut. Vinton, also in West Point township. Elkhart is the local trading point of Elkhart township. Mulberry, in Homer, still transacts considerable business. Worland is a village iu Walnut township. New Home. Cornlaud and Nyhart are in New Home township: Peru, in Ltme Oak: Reynard, in Hudson, and Sliobe. iu New Home township. Passaic, railway station in Mound, and Culver, on line between Shawnee and Spruce. The above named places all have post-offices.

was born in Holland. Eric County, N. Y.. in the year 1S35, and spent his early life largely in the private and public schools where he resided. At the age of seventeen he studied two years under a normal instructor and then began teaching in the rural schools of Western New York. He afterwards took a full course in the celebrated Fredonia Academy, graduating in 1S57, and resumed teaching. Taught village schools as principal till coming to Missouri in 1S67, when he began teaching in public schools. Was elected County School Superintendent in 1868, and engaged largely in organizing new school districts, some sixty in number, during his term of office. Was Principal of the Butler Public Schools for three years, instituting the first graded system of the same. Resigning on account of ill health, he spent several months in Colorado. On his return, he entered the Butler Academy then in its infancy, where he taught twelve consecutive years with Rev. Powelson and Prof. J. W. -Savior. Those prosperous days of the school will long be remembered by both teachers and pupils. Was elected superintendent of the Appleton City Schools in 1SS9 and taught a successful term of one year and began his second term under favorable conditions save that of health, which failed. forcing him to resign. For a time his recovery was deemed impossible, but what was regarded at the time as a great calamity has proved a great physical benefit, for his recovery gave him a new lease of life, and the present time finds him still engaged in his chosen profession, with the same earnestness, zeal and vigor of twenty years ago, and has probably taught more years in Southwest Missouri than any other person. Has kept up with the times, nor has years of faithful work in the school room lessened his ardor in the cause of education. He is strong and vigorous both in body and mind, and as capable of efficient service as a man of twenty-five. He is a close student, and a scholarly gentleman, and no teacher with whom we are acquainted stands closer to the army of young men and women who have sat at his feet in the class room than he does. This fact alone is a monument to his fidelity and enduring work.

Bates County in l^fi." was in a state of desolation. But four* school houses survived the ravages of the war; one at Pleasant (Jap ami is now their district school house, one on South Doepwater. known as the Radford School House, aud is now in a dilapidated condition: one near Johnstown; and one on the head of Elk Fork on the Evans' farm. The two last were used for school houses a short time only. School houses were rendezvous for bushwhackers and scouts during tiie war and when they were forced to abandon them they usually set tire to them, and in that way they were burned up. Taere were only five of the old teachers who returned to the county after the war, viz: A. E. Page. 11. J. Reed. William Requa, Mrs. Sarah Requa and Miss Josephine Uartlctt. David McGaughey was a];j)oiuted county superinteudent of public schools for the county at the May term of tiie count v court, in ]*<>->. and the next day after his appoint men t George Lainpkiu and Mrs. E. Burkleo. his sister. were granted certificates to tench. Mr. Lampkin commenced teaching at Pleasant Gap the next Monday and taught there for one year. Miss Requa taught school in the Radford school house that summer and fall and George Hill at Johnstown. A temp >rary s^*!io >1 house wa> built at Butler in the summer of lv<">(>. and the first school was taught by Processor Cavendish, a graduate of Ashbury University, Kansas, in the fall and winter of l and 18(57. At that time there were but five or six schools in the county. The first new school house built in the county after the war was the Elswick school house aud the next was in the Parks neighborhood, all in Charlotte township.

David McGaughey was elected superintendent of public schools November, lf.IKi, for two years. The fall of that year aud the following winter most of the county was reorganized into school districts. The former boundaries of school districts were totally obliterated and lost, and in the hurry to have schools >tart«Nl as soon as two or three families settled i.i a township they organized it into a school district and built a school house. Soou these districts had to be divided and subdivided. Iu many to\vnshi]>s the first school house* had to be moved to accomodate the districts. In some townshi]>s the teachers fuuc' had increased enormously which g ive a irrvat impetus to onr schools and iuduced many goxl tsachers to come to the county. The teachers" salary was good. During 1N57 and 1N58 some forty or fifty new school houses were built a:id had good schools in them. During these two years the superintendent introduced the system of visiting tlie district school*, holding < xaiuinations and lecturing ujk>u educational topics which was appreciated By scholars and parents and was very successfully carried out by his successor. InXoveuiber. IStks Proffessor L. B. Allisou was elected ouaty superintendent for two years. The capital school fund survived the war in the best state of preservation of anything in the county. The principal had inostlv all been loaned out and s**cured by deeds of trust. The notes and de*-ds wer? all saved and accumulated interest for four or five years, only a few notes for s7> ) and under were worthless. Tile sale of the school lands before the war amounted to about g<G.tVM which has been augmented to about §100JfcK) from the sale of lands. The rapid rise iu the value of lauds had a iro<xl effect upon our school fund, making the school fund of Bates Ccnnty the second best of any county in the state.

The number of school districts increased rapidly during the superintendency of Prof. L. B. Allison, as his annual report to the state superintendent for the year 1*70 will abundantly pro vein the year l*H*il* Bates County ranked fourth in the amount expended for the building of school houses, and in 1*70 she stood second, expending that year the sum of si 4. 170.71.

The first teachers' institute ever held in the county was organized in Butler at the First Presbyterian Church ou the 24th day of May. Wu>. Nearly fifty teachers were in attendance, and a remarkablv interesting sessiou of five davs was held under the leadership of the county superintendent, who had devot<*d much time in the East to institute work.

The result of tiis teachers' meeting was immediate iu it:: effect ujxm the schools, for the teachers, with hardly an exception, endeavored to put in practice the methods of instruction presented to them, and a marked change for the better was plainly visible.

A second session of three days, beginning on the 1st day of September following, was held in the same place as the first, and the institute was favored with the aid of the state superintendent of public instruction and his assistants. Profs. T. A. Parker and Edwin '.'lark: also Prof. Jasper A. Smith. Nearly every teacher in the county was present and manifest ed a lively interest in the proceedings.

A rapid advancement iu the status of the common schools of the county and the awakening of the people in their behalf, induced the superintendent to call the third meeting of the Bates County Teachers Institute, in April 1*70. to Papinsville. then the second town in the county. The teachers were warmly welcomed by the citizens of the town and were invited to share their hospitalities. About forty teachers x were enrolled during the session, and several of the citizens

A change in the school law made by the state legislature during the winter of 1*70. making more liberal provisions in the increase of the number of days for official work, enabled the superintendent to visit and examine into the condition of every school in the county, also to consult with school officers and secure uniformity, both in the schools and the proper school district reports.

The first brick school house in the county was erected in Butler. Work began on the same in the fall of 1869, though not completed till the latter part of the next year. Located at the head of Ohio Street, on the west side of town, where the present enlarged building now stands. Its original cost was about £8,000, and was among the first school buildings that were furnished with the patent seat and desk.

Many fine school buildings were erected in various parts of the comity during the year of 1*70, and the two years fol- 1 j\\ing and most of them were furnished with patent school j i furniture.

in their newly formed settlements. Two teachers institutes were held, both in Butler, which were well attended and profitably conducted. James Harper succeeded Mr. Wilson in January. 1^73, and was the last among the superintendents who visited among the schools, by reason of a change in the school law.

Educational matters in Bates County are at present in a highly prosperous condition. The great majority of districts having commodious and comfortable buildings seated and furnished with modern appliances, yards fenced, and many of them set to trees, the latter having been largely secured through the more general observance of Arbor Day. and the greater interest taken in beautifying our school surroundings. Parents are awakening to the fact that the place where their children must spend nearly half of their early life, and that during the formative period, should be made as attractive as possible to secure the best results. We have not yet attained all that is needed in this direction, but some progress has been made and it will continue to sweep onward, always gathering impetus as it moves, until in the not far distant future, we shall have reached our goal.

Under the present school law of Missouri, Bates County's school interests are in the hands of a County School Commissioner, whose principal duties are the issuing of special certificates when the Institute is not in session, acting with Institute Board as ex-ofhcio member of '.hat l>ody. and the hearing of cases under the school law coming under his jurisdiction. He is usually employed as an instructor in our Institutes also, hut this is not an official duty as Commissioner.

The standard of our schools is rapidly advancing, as many of our teachers are more fully awakened to the responsibilities of their position. Every teacher in the county now attends the institute. The number of first grade teachers has increased more largely than those of tin? lower grades, which is partly due to the fact that many of our school offi< ers are looking more to the qualifications of -teachers, and are becoming convinced that "cheap teachers are dear at any price."

The indebtedness of most districts having been liquidated, school taxes are not so burdensome as formerly, consequently a large number of districts are now able to have from seven to eight months of school each year, thereby saving teachers the trouble of "hunting a new school" at the end of each four months term. This is mutually beneficial to both school and teacher, for the too frequent change of teachers is a serious hindrance to the prosperity of our schools.

In the last fifteen years many advances, both legislative and pedagogical, have been made toward the betterment of our schools, and we have undoubtedly received some benefit from each of them. The Institute law, while we believe*it open to improvement, has been the instrument of bringing the teachers together in greater numbers and elevating their professional pride and increasing, in a marked degree, their proficiency as a class, since in these institutes the inexperienced are able to gather much beneficial assistance from the more experienced.

And the Text-Book law. while yet iu a very crude state, perhaps, and subject to much criticism whether deserved or not. has been of invaluable aid to our schools by at least securing uniformity' in our texts, aud with this help any teacher should be far enough beyond mere text book knowledge to expand as necessary, when the text book shall be exhausted.

These things, together with the recognized standing of the teacher as a professional mau, have broadened his horizon, caused him to push upward and onward toward the, as yet, unattained summits of the mountains of universal knowledge, and so working untold benefits to our children for, "As the Teacher, so is the School."

The province of the historian being a truthful and unbiased rendering of facts rather than an indulgence in rhetorical figures, we here give a few statistics which will the better show the progress made from 1870 to 1898 in Bates County's schools.

Comparative Table

* Owing to our inability to secure the exact number of school houses from any reliable record at this time, we only approximate it from what we have at hand.

N. A. Wade

He was a member of Co. E, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and served two years. He participated in the battles of the Atlanta campaign and at Nashville and Franklin.

He taught school before and after the war, and was Principal of the St. Clairsville (Ohio) High School just previous to coming to Missouri. Read law when he could spare the lime from school duties arid was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1S68.

Came to Butler, Mo.. October 23, 1868, and practiced law until January 1st, 1871, when he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk and Recorder. In July, 1871, he and J. Scudder, the latter of whom subsequently became President of the Adrian Bank, after he had sold his interest to the former, January 1, 1882, and since deceased, purchased the Bates County Democrat, and the former has been editor of same and is now. He started the Daily which he is conducting, in June. 1SS9.

He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention of 1876 at St. Louis which nominated Samuel J. Tilden. Was Postmaster in Butler during President Cleveland's first administration. Is holding the position of Inspector of Oils for Bates county during absence of Lieut. Wade in the Philippines. Was united in marriage to Mrs. M. J. Weed, whose maiden name had been Mary J. Dimmetr, daughter of Wm. Dimmett of Bloomington, Ills., a native of Maryland, in December, 1871. They have one son, Lieut. Ben R. Wade, formerly assistant editor of the Democrat, now 2d lieutenant in the 32d U. S. Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Philippines. They had one daughter, who died quite young.

Newspaper Directory

The newspapers published iu the county prior to the Civil War. were The Bates Couuty Standard, at Butler, by W. L. Perry, 1658 to 00: The Western Times, also at the county seat, by W. P. Green. 18GOand61: The Banner, at West Point, by T. H. Sterens, ISoS* to 61. All collapsed in the early sta«res of the war, and noue were resurrected after the elose of hostilities.

The first paper established after the close of the war was The Bates County Record, at Butler, in 1866, and it has been published continuously since that time. The Bates County Democrat was started by Feeley <£ Rosser, in 1869, passed under the control of Wade »£ Scudder, in 1871, and the entire control was assumed by X. A. Wade in 1882, under whose control it has continued to flourish. The Butler Weekly Tim«*s was established iu 1*78, by Newsom & Lanhorn, in

The Rich Hill Gazette was established at Rich Hill in 1880, by Hurkeby <$: Eld rid. ire, who were in 1881 succeeded by Eldridge & Cobb. In the samp year, also at Rich Hill, The Mining Review was launched by Thos. Irish, and in 1881 The Western Enterprise was started at the same place by Wiseman <v. Magill. The Adrian Advertiser was established at the new town of Adrian, by E. T. Kirkpatrick, in 1881*. The Bates County Republican was Inunched at the county seat, also in 18*:!. It enjoyed a short and somewhat checker»nl career, and was edited in turn by John Brand, Edgar Beach aud Robert Grierson. Mr. Beach died soon after assuming control of the paper.

In her early days Poster had several newspaper veutures, and in the last few years has had two different claimants for her supj>ort, but is now without a local paper. The Adrian Register was started in 1886 aud published for about two years.

The Amoret Chief, by T. J. Trickett; The Bates County Globe, at Hume, by Palmer Bros., had a short career: The Bates Couuty Populist, at Rich Hill, by A. P. Hackett; and The Leader, at Rockville.

Although we find an occasional wreck along the wayside of the newspaper past in Bates County, it has on the whole proven to be an exceptionally good field for the newspaper men, as can readily be seen from the number of local papers which it supports. Almost every town of sufficient size to aspire to any considerable prominence as a trading point, supports its local paper. And in turn we can say that the couuty owes much to the earnest and untiring efforts ou the part of her press to promote every worthy enterprise and lead the way iu every advance.

The Bates County Record, the oldest paper now published in the county, was established at Butler a third of a century since. O. D. Austin «fe Son are publishers, the senior member of the firm haviug been in control of the paper since its early days. It is republican in politics, and has led the party in every campaign since the war. Its senior editor has twice held the posit ion of postmaster at Butler, is prominent in Masonic and Grand Army circles and has at all times been regarded as one of the leading citizens of the county. His son. E. S. Austin, has been counected with some of the leading papers of the state, and is an "up todate" journalist. The Record has a large circulation, distributed to all parts of t lie county.

The Bates County Democrat has been under the control of that veteran newspaper man, Col. N. A. "Wade, for thirty yeans, is democratic in politics, and its editor is one of the party leaders of the state. He was jxxstmastcr of Butler under Cleveland's first term, and now holds the position of Coal Oil Inspector for Bates County. His son, Ben. R. Wade, who has until recently been connected with hiin, is now a lieutenant in the 3i!d U. S. Volunteer Infantry Regiment doing duty in the Philippines. The Democrat has a very large circulation. X. A. Wade & Co. also publish The Butler Daily Democrat, which is issued from the office of The Bates County Democrat. It receives a good local patronage.

The Butler Weekly Times holds third place in respect to age. but is one of the leading papers of the county. It is now published by J. D. Allen & Co., is democratic in politics and receives its share of the party's honors and emoluments. Mr. Allen was postmaster at Butler from 1893 to 1897, the third in succession of newspaper men to hold that position. He also stands very high iu the councils of his party, and has been honored by ap]x>intments to other high stations. Ti»e Times is a model couuty paper, and enjoys good support.

The Local News was established at Butler, in 1888, by R. .1. Trickett. who sold out to B. R. L. Poston, and the name of tin* paper was changed to Weekly Uuiou. In May, 1890, the plant was purchased by the Weekly Union Company, an incorporated concern, and M. V. Carroll was employed by the board as editor. He continued with the paper till July 1893, when he was succeeded by G. P. Garland. He edited the Union until March 1st, 1894, when W. O. Atkeson was employed as editor, and has continued with it to the present time. In November. 1 893 the concern was incorporated under the law with a capital stock of §2,000. On June, 1, 189a, the name of the Union was changed to The Butler Free Press.

its present name. It is a vigorous, fearless, peoples party paper, ably edited, and enjoys a wide circulation and lar«re influence in local affairs.

The Bates County Republican, established at the county seat. July. 1M»!». by Chambers & Coheuour, soon afterwards passed under control of J. F. Cnauibers, is a receut appli cant for the support of Bates County's citizens. It is au outspoken advocate of Republicanism, and under the management of its energetic young publisher, is making substantial progress and* has gained a wide circulation.

The Mining Review, at Rich Hill, is now published by "Walters & Carr. It is a Democratic paper, ably edited and well supported, its circulation extending over the entire county, and enjoys the distinction of b^ing the largest in size of any paper iu the county. Its publishers also issue a daily edition which receives merited support aud is a financial success.

The Rich Hill Tribune is now on its tenth year, and under the control of J. C. Oldham and R. E. Pichard, editors aud publishers, it is Republican in politics and its seuior editor is secretary of the Republican County Committee. It, however, devotes much space to local news and is a very popular paper, especially in the south part of the county.

The Western Enterprise, also at Rich Hill is published by Col. Wiseman, is Democratic iu politics, is ably edited and secures its full share of the support of its town and its party.

The Critic was launched at Rich Hill in 1*9*, by Warreu Bros. It is edited by Fred D. "Warren, aud is an advocate of Modern Socialism. Its editor is a graduate of a journalistic Art school, and enlivens his articles by timely aud characteristic cartoons." The Critic is securing a large circulation in the state.

The paper that made its first salutatory in the city of Adrian was the Adrian Advertiser, E. T. Kirkpatrick. editor and proprietor. Published Saturday, September M. I*HL\ Politically the Advertiser was strictly Democratic. The paper proved profitable both to the public and publisher. In 1885 and '86 the Advertiser changed hands and M. H. Sly became editor until 1888, when it again changed, and was published on Thursday, with E. T, Kirkpatrick editor. In January 1889, the town company had charge of it. and changed

J. Frank Chambers

The subject of this sketch was born in eastern Bates county, Mo., January 26, 1868; lived on his father's farm, assisting on same and going to school in the winter, until he was twenty years old, then he entered Butler College where he attended school two years. From this school he went to the Ft. Scott Normal College which he attended one year. He then taught school two years and afterwards farmed and taught school, and was also engaged in the mercantile business at Spruce, and at Butler. In 1894 he was married to Miss Callie M. Patrick. To them have been born four children.

Mr. Chambers has always taken great interest in politics, being a Republican. In 1898 the Republicans of Bates honored him with the nomination for Circuit Clerk and h'e came nearest to election of any one on the county ticket. June 30, 1899, Mr. Chambers, together with W. C. Cohenour, edited, published and sent out the first copy of the Bates County Republican, which Mr. Chambers is now editing and publishing, he having purchased the interest of Mr. Cohenour. By good management and hard work he has built up one of the leading Republican papers of Southwest Missouri. While Mr. Chambers is yet a young man he is quite well known in and outside of Bates county. He has a bright future before him.

the name to The Journal. The company put M. O. Smith in charge. lu a short time it was sold to McBride & Hutchinson. In 1890 was sold to Hogan & Co. In 1891 it went to Hogan & Dawell. At the expiration of two months Dowell bought Hogan out. J. E. Do well was then editor and proprietor until lHir2. when he sold a half interest to L. R. Purkey. It is now published by Dowell & Purkey, is an excellent local paper and enjoys a good patronage.

Tin* Rockville Keflex was established in 1893 by Santford Hardy, who is still its editor and publisher. It has "enjoyed" some opi*)sition in the local field, but has steadfastly supported it- town and locality, and In turn earned the hearty support of the citizens of that locality.

Tiie Border Telephone, established at Hume in 1890, is published by Moore & Son, and edited by Lewis Moore, one of the bright young newspaper men of the state. It is "A live, progressive, independent local paper, devoted to spreading the news, and earning a few dollars in cash," as its headline announces, all of which it certainly accomplishes.

The Border Breezes has been published at Amsterdam since 1894, by S. L. Tathwell, and has received the loj*al support of its town and commuuity.

The Merwin Mirror was also established in 1894. and is owned by A. J. Oaks, an experienced publisher. It is a good local paper and enjoys the hearty support of its patrons.

Crimes And Casualties

To detail the crimes which have been committed iu Bales C-ountv since, the war is an undertaking that is limited bv the ability to secure facts. There were many, aye too many, to give details in fact. Bates County is not greater in crime than other counties in the state. In fact, taking the jx>pulation in proportion to the other counties in the state, we have been particularly fortunate in this respect. We have had bad crimes committed here. We have made a record that would be a credit to any law-abiding community. There are not a great many evidences of a vicious community. What has happened to mar the pages of the county's history were minor crimes, when compared to the bloody records of other communities.

Bates County ha> led in the g<xxl work rather than the bad. A history of her churches - her ]>eople - her institutions of all kinds would prove more attractive aud the subject would be productive of greater results. We are a lawabiding otn in unity in all definitions of the term. We have grown from a wilderness to a community of prosperous people without any really jrreat crime to ]x>int back to with shame. People have had their difference and they have settled them with the knife and pistol, but this method has not been popular. A study of the eourt records will show that most of them have been arbitrated by a third person or left to twelve good men iu the jury box. This fashion was established early in the county's history and it seems to have hung on like an octopus. This, of course, has settled many disputes that might have otherwise l>een settled with the aid of some deadly weapon.

There are no "middle"' or ':dark ages" in the history of Bates Count}*. Each year the county has added something to its advantage in education or wealth. The few crimes that have been committed are the results of fiery tempers "Or

--fiery waters.*' Probably the latter as an example of education cannot be*extoIled! to the skies. It is what the white man bronght with him and it seems to stick. Morally the county has a splendid record.

In the pioneer days Bates County people experienced considerable trouble with bandits of a character produced as a result of l>order war fare. Horse thieves were plentiful until an "anti" organization played sad havoc in their ranks.

Th«*re were some of the old copper-beadism still to be found within the confines of the county at the close of the war and it was some time before the troubles were adjusted, or eradicated entirely.

There were few crimes that are worthy of record as being anything out of thp ordinary. On Auirust 3. 18C7, Aug. Peipmierof Hudson township, shot himself. He was insane and had just been returned from the asylum at Pulton. November the 2nd. sheriff. John Atkinson was robbed of £15,031 This money belonged to the county and was a part of the taxes* which he had collected. Jail birds found out where he kept it and one night one of them by the name of John Walt escaped with the inonej". He was captured and showed where he had hidden the money, or most of it near the jail.

Joseph Wix and Jndire Meyers came near being assassinated at Pleasant Gap iu March, I8&S. Neither was hurt but a number of shots were fired. This bushwhacker warfare broke out in several portions of the county, but there were rarely any serious results.

In 1^77 Adam Giles (colored) found a dead body on Mound Branch. The remains were not identified. The store of Brooks & Mai us. at Pleasant Gap was entered by burglars and goods stolen.

One of the peculiar shooting escapades that occurred in the county was that of Adam Howald, shot by Mrs. Kohrback in Charlotte township, in October, 1878. Mrs. Rohrback heard a noise in her chicken coop and proceeded to that point, stuck the inuzzel of the gun through the door and fired. Howald was a neighbor.

Road agents held up the La Cygne stage a mile west of Butler in 1^70. The Greenwade brothers were convicted of the crime and sent to the pen. They have both served out their sentences. * lu l^sj John F. Stanley, attorney in Butler, was shot and kilhtl by Marshal Morgan, who had arrested Stanley earlier in the -evening on the charge of drunkenness. He sought the marshal >and pulled a pistol and after tiring two shots, which were* returned by the marshal, sank to. the ground. He died a few days later and the city marshal was exhoneratetl.

What probably was one of the most noted crimes ever committed in the county was the murder of his wife by John T. Lelx> in December 1SW3. Lebo resided at Foster. One morning his wife was found iu a well near the house, dead. At first it was thought she had committed suicide. Lata r. suspiciou fastened its**If on the husband. He was arrested and after a long trial convicted. He was sentenced by Judge Gantl to be hanged Aug. ±!.

His sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. I saw him in ls»»> in the (Missouri) penitentiary. He was frail and emaciat^nl. He was a model prisoner and has never given up hoj>e of l>eing released. . He has probably served as iong a sentence as anyone in the -*]>en" at this time. U» *». in all about seventeen years.

The year Issjl seems to have lxM>n a most deplorable one for Rites County. In that year J. W. McVeigh, a luml>erman at Butler, was killed by Harlan Turner: the famous double killing of City Marshal Morgan and John P. Willis occurred then: D. D. Quackenbnsli committed suicide in Elkhart township, and Frank Wright, a farmer living near Adrian, killed Jesse Christoleer.

The killing of Mc Veigli was a particularly sad one. The two quarreled while under the iutlueuce of liquor. Turner pulled a pistol and killed him. This occurred in a saloon conducted by John P. Willis. Turner was prosecuted, but eventually he was released and is now residing in Kentucky.

The murder of City Marshal Morgan by J. P. Willis, and Willis* death will always remain the capital crime in Bates County affairs. Morgan had arrested Willis, who was at that time acting as a Deputy U. S. Marshal. He (Willis) was a hard drinker and it was because of his offensivenesson the streets that he was arrested. He was released a short time after but he swore he would i>e revenged. He proceeded to I rest of Morgan. He came to Bo tier on the night traiu iu company with a traveling man, Price, who he had deputized. The two went to Morgan's house and called to him to come out. He stepped to the door and as lie did so Willis tired twice at him. The marshal had his pistol aud he fired at Willis. The balls from both pistols took effect and both men died within a few hours. Price was arrested and thrown iu jail. At that time I was sent to the jail with a special delivery letter for him. On going into the jail I was astounded to find at lest a doz..m men with Winchesters guarding him. It was only with the greatest exertion that cool headed citi- . ;:.*ns prevailed on the people to allow the law to take its course. Price afterward was released.

The murder of Jesse Christoleer by Frank Wright occasioued much comment. Wright's daughter had been married and a party of neighbor boys gave them a chaivori. Wright, who had been angered by their actious, shot into the crowd killing Christoleer. Wright was released after a short trial and a few months later was mysteriously assassinated. His murderer was never apprehended.

Luther Park, son of Jefferson Park, in the Virginia neighborhood, shot his brother. He was afterward declared insane. In February 1895 G. A. Heath, a saloon mau at Butler, was killed by Ben Fee, his bartender. Fee was acquitted.

Sumner Holcomb and night- watch Aleshire had a difficulty and the former killed the latter. After several trials Mr. Holcomb was acquitted and he is now a resident of Kansas. It was not long after that Aleshire's eldest son had a dispute with Philip Mensinger, Geru^in baker, at Butler and he was stabbed with a bread knife. Mensinger was acquitted.

D. C. Edwards.jr. is now charged with the killing of Martin S. Shafer and his trial remains to be heard. Buck Mc- Ginuess is now in jail charged with Burcherdiug's murder. The outcome is uncertain. E. S. Austin.

Omo hot. dry summer, a quarter of a century ago. when the withering winds sweeping over the great western plains had literally burnt up all vegetation and loft only boundless expanse of glittering sand: a host of hungry, disgusted insects, commonly known as Colorado locusts, or grasshoppers, rose up in a mighty cloud and. guided by instinct, chance or providence, took an eastward course Herein Bates County we had also suffered quite severely from the drouth, but there was still pasturage for our stock and the corn tields were yet given. Late one afternoon the sun, which had been shining out of an almost cloudless sky for weeks, jjradu;iliy became dimmed by what appeared to 1m» a cloud rising from the west. The Cloud mounted higher and higher, but instead of completely obscuring the suu as all expected, it only dimmed its light, leaving it still visible, but of a strange and wildly wierd appearance which attracted the attention and caused much apprehension. All seemed to feel thatsome great trouble or eatastrophy was settling down over us but no one had the slightest idea of the nature of the visitation. Presently an occasional insect would hit one in the face, and soon the unusual number of grasshopj>ers attracted attention, but most people were too troubled to note that they were different from the native ''hopper.*"

Soon the sprinkle increased to a shower, and then it literally rained grasshoppers. They kept lighting for several days, and it is simply impossible to convey to those who were not here at the time any conception of the innumerable throng of these hungry pests which dropjied down upon us. Prairies and meadows were soon as clear of grass as if they had been swept with a tierce conflagration. Souie sought to save their corn by cutting and shocking it. but they covered the shocks and ate in and through them. They ate the leaves from the trees aud hedges. They appeared to have unappeasable appetites and digestive organs equal to any emergency. In the spring we planted and then sowed and the hoppers they hatched out and ate and ate. The last days of May found scarcely a green thing in the county. The Governor set a day on which all were to pray for deliverance from the plague. The people gathered in churches and school houses, and prayed, and the hopi>ers gathered on fences, logs. etc. and started for their native plains.

The subject ot" this sketch is the second child and only son of Wesley and Margarette Kipp, and was born in LaFayette, Ind.. January if>, iS6<>. Wesley Kipp was born in Schaghticoke, N. Y. , January n, 1S32. Moved to LaFayette, Ind.. in 1S4S, and was there connected with the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway until 1868 when he moved to Sedalia, Mo. During his residence in Sedalia he ran several hack lines south and one through Bates County to Fort Scott, Kan., when Bates County was in her infancy and prior to the building of the M., K. & T. railway. He is now a resident of Butler. Elmer D. was educated in the Sedalia public schools, at Hooper Institute and Holden College. His business career began as an employe in the general offices of the Missouri Pacific railway at Sedalia in 1SS0. He came to Butler. July 20, 1883, and engaged in the furniture business. In 1S84 he sold out and accepted a clerkship in the Butler National Bank. After a few months service there he accepted a position in the Bates County National Bank and remained with that institution until the Farmers' Bank was established in 1S88. He was elected cashier of the Farmers' Bank, and has been continuously re-elected every year since. He has seen this bank grow from a small beginning to a place in the front rank among banking institutions in Southwest Missouri. He is a methodical tireless worker, and takes pardonable pride in the great success and businness standing of the Farmers' Bank. Always a republican in politics, he does not allow that fact to affect or influence his business relations. As a citizen he is progressive and liberal, always "ready with energy and means to further any public enterprise for the general welfare. He is a 32nd degree Mason, Oddfellow, M. W. of A. and is Past Em. Com., Past High Priest and the present W. M. of Butler Lodge No. 254. hence his wide influence for good. He was married in 1891 to Mary Myrtle McBride of Butler, to which union one child was born, it dying in infancy.

Old Settlers- Society Of Bates County Organization

For some veins it had been thought that an organization of the Old Settlers of Bates County into a society, would be a good and enjoyable thing. Therefore a call was prepared and made for a meeting of Old Settlers, to be held in the court room at Butler, on Saturday afternoon, May :22nd, 1*H7, at which time a large number of Old Settlers met for organization.

Proceedings Op Meeting

L. B. Allison was called to the chair, and Calvin F. Boxley chosen secretary. The president stated the object of the meeting briefly, and on motion by A. H. Lamb, it was ordered that all persons who had resided in Bates County continuously for twenty-five yenrs last past, be requested to register as charter members of The Old Settlers' Society of Hates County. Missouri, with a view to permanent organization. Tellers were appointed by the Chair and the names of Old Settlers present were signed to the roll as charter members.

On motion of William Page the following committee on permanent organization was appointed by the Chair, to-wit: John B. Newberry. Clark AVix. O. D. Austin. Henry Moudy and Caiviu F. Boxley. The meeting then'adjoumed subject to the call of the above committee. Calvin F. Boxley. L. B. Allison,

VCk. the undersigned citizens whose names appear upon the roll of membership, having the greatest respect fur the memories of the p;ist. as well for the participants in the various processes, and stirring events whereby the mighty changes have been wrought in this beautiful and fi rlile countv of ours, mauifesl bv comparison of same surrounding a quarter of a century ;;>:;>. with the immediate present; and believing that it is only by cultivating inquiry concerning the numerous incident > <>r real life yet stored in the minds of the few remaining one-, of the pione ?r period, that those valuable mementoes of the p s ~t can be preserved from oblivion and further d siring to cultivate more friendly andfraternal relations between those who have endured the hardships, and enjoyed the pleasure incident to pioneer life and early citizenship in our beloved county, to the end that we may enjoy mutual b 'ueiits therefrom: Dj hereby organize and establish a fraternal society to i>e known as the Old Settlers' Society of Bates County, Missouri.

1st. The only qualification uecessary for membership is that the applicant shall have resided in Bates County for a period of twenty -five years next before making application to become a member.

2nd. No membership fee shall be charged, but all monies necessary to conduct the business of the Association shall be raised by donation at its annual meetings, and by subs xiption.

3rd. Any person, male or female, qualified as above, may become members of the Society, !>y subscribing thereto and having their names placed upon the roll of membership .by the secretary.

4th. Tin* officers of the Association shall consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary and Marshall, who shall be elected from its members at each annual mooting, and shall hold their respective offic es until their successors are elected: Said officers when elected shall constitute a Board of Directors and Management, with full power to act for said Society in all tilings pertaining to its welfare.

action of its lawful business, at such place in Kates Comity as shall be determined on. by vote :it each annual meeting'. Provided, however, that the first annual meeting shall be held at Butler on 'the i\"t!i day of September, lv,.*7.

Gtli. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at each annual meeting, and iu case of his absence it shall be the duty of one of -the Vice Presidents to preside.

7th. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep accurate minutes of the proce< dings of each annual meeting, to receive all monies donated or subscribed for the benefit of the Society, and account therefor, at each annual meeting, to keep ;i record of the dc ath of each member reported to him. and report same :'.t the lirst annual meeting thereafter.

Kth. It shall be the duty of the marshal! to attend at each annual meeting, and to use all legal means t.> maintain good order, to 1 ? i « ' end that said meetings may be harmonious and free from disturbance and violation of the rules of the Society.

S>th. The object of the annual meeting of this Society is to bring its members together once each year, for social converse and personal enj lyment, and to establish, cultivate and maintain that fraternal feeling one toward another, that should ever exi ^t among those who have lived neighbors for so many years. Therefore no member of this Society shall b.' permitted at such annual meetings to publicly discuss fiuy p riitical, reiigiou ;, or other subject iu manner calculated to injure the feelings or mar the enjoyment of other members there present. The name of any member violating this rule shall be stricken from the roil of membership.

loth. It shall be the duty of each member to conform to the rules of the Society herein set out. and t,> use every reasonable effort to make its annual meetings successful and enjoyable, and we its members pledge ourselves so to do.

11th. The above rules may b i chauged or amended by a majority vote of the ineaib ts present at any annual meeting. On motion the foregoing rules and regulations were adopted without opposition.

Cn notion it \v;is cider* d that a call be made by the committee for the first annual meeting of the Society to be held at Butler, on Saturday. September 25th, 1^97.

all necessary arrangements for tlie fir>t annual meeting of the Society on September 25th, 1>»7, to-wit: Calvin F. Koxley. 0. D. Austin. Aaron Hart, R. S. Catron and Charles It. Radford. Thereupon tho oomiuittoo adjourned. O. D. Austin, John 15. Newberry,

Call For First Annual Meeting

County. Missouri, and all others who have resided in said county for twenty-live years last past who desire to b»> enrolled as members of said society: You are most cordially invited to meet with us at Buth*r. on Saturday, tile 1'ath day of September, 1897, at 10 o'clock in the forono;>n of >aid day. iu our first annual meeting, for the purple of electing officers, and selecting the place where, and ths tim.* when, tin* second annual meeting of said society shall be hold. Aftor which, the meeting will engage iu a social picnic governed by the rules of the Society.

Ail are requested to bring baskets well tilled with good things necessary for the sustenance of life: as well, bring any relic of the pioneer period you may have in your jh>>- session, and all jokes and reminiscences of early times in old Bates, that you may have stored in your minds, and turn them loose on that day. Let joy be uuconfined to the end that we may have the most enjoyable meeting ever held in the West; one long to be remembered and refered to. John B. Xewbekky, Clark Win, O. D. Austin, Henry Moudy, Calvin F. Donley, was born near Vinton, Gallia County, Ohio, on April 26, 1S41. His father was John E. Holcomb and his mother Mary, a daughter of Capt. Phineas Matthews, after whom the subject of this sketch was named. Phineas enjoyed the advantages of the good public schools of Ohio and was a student of a neighboring academy until he entered the Ohio University at Athens in 1S61, where he remained until 1863, only excepting the time he served as private soldier in the 60th Ohio Infantry in 1862. This regiment was a part of the command that surrendered to the confederate army under Jackson at the battle of Harper's Ferry September, 1S62, and "was disbanded the following December at Camp Douglas, Chicago, owing to the termination of its enlistment. He then resumed his studies in the Ohio University, where he remained during the year 1863, when he commenced the study of law under the the direction of his uncle, A. T. Holcomb. He taught at intervals in the public schools and the academy where he had formerly been a student. He also engaged in teaching for nearly a year near Carlisle, Ky. This was in 1S64 and 1865. The following winter of '65 and '66 he spent in the Ann Arbor Law School. In 1S67 he was admitted to the Ohio bar at Jackson and shortly after moved to Missouri. He arrived in St. Louis in April, 1867, where he was admitted to practice law by the Supreme Court then in session. Hon. David Wagner, presiding judge, gave him his certificate of admission. He went to Greenfield, Mo., and remained there a year practicing law, coming to Butler in June, 1868, where he has ever since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He served as county attorney from the year 1869 to 1872, and was appointed postmaster by President Grant, which position he held from 1876 to 18S0.

He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1894 on the Populist ticket, but was largely supported by both Republicans and Democrats. This position he filled acceptably for two years. Always taking a deep interest in public instruction and in the general advancement of learning and morality, he has done the public good service in that direction. He served the city upon the school board, and as alderman for a number of years; also was one of the Board of Regents of the Warren sburg Normal School for over six years. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church since 1878, and is now an elder in that church, Married to Miss Mary L. Henry in 1876, and he and his wife enjoy a comfortable and pleasant home in Butler.

Pursuant to call on Saturday, tho twenty-fifrli day of Sept ember, 1897, tho Old Settlers' Society met at the court house square in tho city of Butler, in their first annual moetiug. The weather could not have boon more propitious had it been specially ordered by tho committee of arrangement. There was a slight shower the evening before, just enough to lay the dust and cool the atmosphere, but during the night it had cleared, and on the morning of the meeting old Sol arose in all his majesty, casting mild rays of sunshine over all things, animate and inanimate. By 9 o'clock the multitude began pouring in from all points of the compass; and before 11 o'clock there were not less than 5000 people present. At 10 o'clock, after music and song the meeting was called to order by Capt. John B. Newberry, president of the Society. Rev. Galbrcath: by request, invoked the Divine blessing upon the proceedings of the meeting, and the people assembled.

An address of welcome was made by G. "VY. Clardy, mayor of Butler, and was happily responded to by Rev. William Jones on behalf of the Society.

In the afternoon, short but interesting speeches were made by tho following citizens of tho county, to- wit: lion. David A. De Armond. A. H. Lamb, I. N. Lamou, Clark WLs, Henry Spear, Win. Page. H. B. Francis and P. H. Holcomb.

AH proceedings of the meeting were interspereed with music aud song. The Butler Cornet Band out-did itself in the way of music chosen, and the rendition of the same.

comic "Joe Bowers" as rendered by the Club was simply immense, and certainly was a feature of the entertainment, enjoyed by all. May the shadows of the members of the Club never grow less and may the hair of the Butcher, and Sallie's baby never undergo the Blooding Process.

During the whole day the secretary and assistant were kept busy registering the Old Settlers and at the close of the exercises, there appeared on the roll of membership 537 names. Many of our Old Settlers who had not met for year-; met on this pleasant occasion, and clasped their hands in friendship, spending the diy in social converse concerning events long past and forgotten but for this meeting. Many old acquaintances were renewed, and many new ones inade. Nothing of a political nature was permitted to be discussal, and not a single offensive or discourteous word was spoken during the day.

Tiie display of old relics was an interesting feature of the meeting. Especial interest centered in the hammer used by Mr. Noah in building the ''ark." Toe hatchet with which George Washington cut down his father's cherry tree: the indian club, raised by "Big Brave Indian Me" to cut short the breathing apparatus of C.iptain John Soiith. and from which he was rescued by the kind intercession of the beautiful Miss Pocahontas, and many others of less historical interest among which may be mentioned the following: A latin book, :J34 years old. «>xhibited by Rolx'rt J. Smith: a ^Yi]liain Henrv Harrison badgewom in the campaign of J f»JO. William Crawford; a hand-made «,ruu, 75 years old. A. B. MeFarland: Dictionary of 1815, pocket-book made in 1>37 and smoothingiron 01 years old. Mrs. Amanda Browning Durst; cap. tifty years old, M. J. Beainan; a bible made in 1812 and a copybook 80 years old, S. F. Rodgers; an arithmetic made in 1745, M. S. Clay; home-spun counterpane, !»0 years old. Mrs. J. North; a "little brown jug," having been in use for 5N years, J. H. Thomas; bullrt moulds made in 1820, J. S. YVoodfin: book bound in skin of a deer, which was killed in Bat«*s County 50 years ago, Austin Requa; spectacles worn by Dr. Colby, of Harmony Mission. 00 years ago. J. S. "Wood tin: tea kettle llo years old, C. L Robards; pepper-box, 102 years Old, candle-stick, 100 years old, common gourd, in use and 125 years old, snuff-box found on battle field during Revolu-

It is to im» 1k>]h.h1 that the members of the society will gather all the old relies obtainable and place them on exhibition at our annual meetings.

Prize to first white female child born in Bates County. A silk umbrella to Mrs. Sarah J. R«»qua. Jnd prize. A silver cup to Mrs. James R. Simj»son.

Prize to fir.^t couple married in Bates County, present and living together. Two fine nuking chairs, awarded *.o Mr. and Mrs. John Evans of Shawnee township, who were married November 1'7. 1*47. and have lived there ever since.

There being such a rush at the secretary's oflice during the day it is thought the dates given by some contestants for prizes wen' somewhat mixed, but all were satisfied that if any mistakes were made it was not intentionally done, and will lx> corrected at the next annual meeting, when other and more valuable prizes will be given and greater -pains takeu to secure correct dates, but in the main, the awards were most satisfactory to those present.

The thanks of the Society are due and hero tendered to the Press of Bates County for the free use of their columns. ;md to all our citizens who hav«» in any manner contributed to aid us in the success of this meeting. Too much praise cannot be awarded by us to Sheriff E. C. Mudd, for putting the court house square in such splendid condition, and for the use of the grand jury room for headquarters for the Society during the day.

At (> o'clock the meeting was adjourned by President Newberry, and all repaired to their homes, feeling thai they had the most thoroughly enjoyable day of their lives. Not a drunken person was soon on the ground, and nothing happened to mar the complete enjoyment of the day. All hope for many happy returns of our annual meeting.