Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 15: The Fire Department of St. Joseph, 1881

To the active, personal exertions of General W. R. Penick, is due the credit of first inaugurating a fire department in St. Joseph. June 23, i860, while a member of the City Council, he introduced an ordinance appropriating $25,000 for the purpose of procuring engines and equipping a fire company. This proposition was unanimously accepted by the Council, but, on being submitted to the people, was voted down. A subsequent attempt on the part of this enterprising citizen to raise the sum of $15,500 for the same purpose, met with a similar fate.

Though many approved the policy and admitted the urgent necessity of such an organization for the protection from fire, nothing was accomplished and scarcely anything attempted in the premises till April, 1864, at which period William R. Penick was elected Mayor of the city, and, in his message to the Council of that year, urgently recommended an . appropriation of $5,000 for the purchase of a steam fire engine. In view of this recommendation, the City Council, at a meeting held July 5, 1864, passed an ordinance to that effect.

At the same meeting, the Mayor was requested to soliqit subscriptions or donations of means for the purchase of hose and hook and ladder truck. To the efforts of this gentleman, the citizens promptly responded, and W. R. Penick having, as representing the firm of Penick & Loving, headed the list with a subscription of $100, was enabled to report, at the next meeting of the Council, the sum of $2,700 subscribed for the required purpose.

August 7, 1865, a committee of the Council recommended the organization, of Volunteer Fire Companies. The first to respond to this call was the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, which was, for many years after, the pride of St. Joseph, including in its ranks some of the best young men in the city.

October 13, 1865, Charles W. Davenport was appointed Chief Engineer of the fire department, but declined to act, for the reason that he was insurance agent, representing numerous companies. On the 31st of the same month, the Mayor appointed Dr. Robert Gunn to the position. He served as Chief Engineer till April, 1867, when Ed. R. Brandowwas elected to succeed him. He served two years, to April, 1870, when he. succeeded by R. J. S. Wise. In 1871, Harry Carter was elected Chief, serving one year. He was succeeded in April, 1872, by E. Wagner. A. Saltzman, in turn, succeeded him, at the end of his annual term, serving till April, 1874, at which period, W. B. McNutt was elected. He served six years, to April, 1880, when he was succeeded by Henry Gibson, who served till April, 1880, when W. B. McNutt was again elected to the responsible office of Chief Engineer of the fire department of the city of St. Joseph, a position for which he has proven himself eminently fitted.

In the years that have ensued since the organization of the first fire company in St. Joseph, there have been erected in the city, five engine' houses, supplied with two steam fire engines, valued respectively, at .$4,250 and $5,000; one hook and ladder truck, and two four-wheel hose carts and three two-wheel carts.

The present force includes eighteen men, paid by the city. These are at present (1881) under the direction of Chief W. B. McNutt, as above stated. Mr. McNutt is superintendent of the book bindery of C. P. Kingsbury, and a popular citizen. Dr. Robert Gunn, who has been superintendent of the bridge across the Missouri River at St. Joseph ever since its completion in May, 1873, has also long been especially active in promoting the interests of the fire department, and much of its present high state of efficiency is due to his untiring efforts. Mr. Edward R. Brandow was a member of the City Council when the hook and ladder house on Francis Street was built ; and to his efforts mainly is due the erection of that structure, which to-day constitutes an architectural ornament of the city.