Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 15: Public and Private Charities, 1904

History of State Hospital for Insane, No. 2 - The County Paupers and How They Have Been Maintained Since the Earliest Days - City Hospital - St. Mary's Orphan Asylum - Memorial Home and the Home for Little Wanderers - Home for Ex-Slaves - The Associated Charities, the Charity Board and the Free Kindergarten.

State Hospital for Insane, No. 2. - The most important public charity in Buchanan County, and one of the most important in the entire West, is the State Hospital for Insane, No. 2, located a short distance beyond the eastern limits of St. Joseph. Up to March, 1872, Missouri had but one insane asylum, that located at Fulton. The necessity for additional accommodations for the afflicted had long been and the Legislature, on March 19, 1872, appropriated $200,000 for a "Northwestern or Southwestern Lunatic Asylum," at the same time providing for a board of commissioners to carry the act into effect. These commissioners were William H. McHenry, St. Louis; Zach J. Mitchell, Lafayette County; Joseph K. Rickey, Calloway; Louis Hax, St. Joseph, and William Gilmore, Springfield. On June 14th of the same year, the commissioners, after a tour of inspection, located the asylum in Buchanan County, purchasing 120 acres of land from H. R. W. Hartwig and O. M. Loomis for $28,800. Thomas Walsh, of St. Louis, was appointed architect, and in the following September N. H, Fitzgibbons, of St. Louis, was

There were two north and south wings, of 1 15^ feet each, and the entire edifice was four stories in height, with a mansard roof, and there was a bell tower in the center 115 feet high. The building was of stock brick, trimmed with Milwaukee brick and cut stone.

.Mxiut September i, 1874, the asylum was opened with 60 patients. The first board of managers was : Allen H. Vories, R. L. Mc- Donald, J. C. Roberts, Dr. E. A. Donelan, Elijah H. Norton, Dr. J. M. Malin and John C. Evans, who vere appointed by the Governor for four years. Mr. Vories was the first president of the board and Dr. Malin the first secretary. Dr. George C. Catlett, of St. Joseph, was the first superintendent and his assistant was Dr. A. P. Busey, who is now the first assistant.

This building, which stood for over five years, was destroyed by fire January 25, 1879, at about i o'clock in the afternoon. The alarm was given, but the fiames spread so rapidly that the attendants had a difficult task in res- cuing the inmates. The building- was improperly and inconveniently designed as to stairways, and the managers had vainly besought the Legislature to remedy this important defect. The loss was total, there being not a cent of insurance. Luckily there was no loss of life. The patients were brought to the city and quartered at the Court House, where the males remained for three months, while the females were taken to a building on Louis street used as a railroad hospital. Afterward the males were removed to temporary quarters on the asylum grounds and the females were placed in a house nearby.

The people of St. Joseph took immediate steps looking to the rebuilding of the asylum, and also for the relief of the distressed. It so happened that the Legislature was in session at the time of the disaster, and every energy was bent toward securing the necessary appropriation. A commission of architects and builders examined the walls and reported that these could be used to the extent of threefourths of the entire building and estimated that the sum of $75,000 would cover the expense of rebuilding. There were other claimants, however, for the institution. Legislative committees visited different localities, with much waste of time and money, but the result was favorable to St. Joseph, and, in May of 1879, the Legislature appropriated $75,000. The work of rebuilding began at once, the architect being S. V. Shipman, of Chicago, and the contractors Lehman & Olson, also of Chicago. The work was superintended by Louis S. Stigers, of St. Joseph.

April I, 1880, the patients were removed to the new building. Since then many improvements ha\'e been made. Several wings ha^-e been added to the main house, and hospitals, a laundry and other buildings have been erected.

Dr. Catlett was the superintendent until his* death, which occurred in May of 1886. He was succeeded by Dr. R. E. Smith, who served four years and was succeeded August 1 1 , 1890, by Dr. C. R. Woodson, the present superintendent.

County Poor Farm. - Buchanan County provides better for its paupers than for its prisoners. The county farm, situated northeast of the city, about two miles from the corporate limits, is quite a modern institution, there being quarters for indigent sane, indigent insane, a hospital, proper separation of sexes, medical attention and other comforts.

The first pauper mentioned in the history of Buchanan Countv was Henrv Fulks, who petitioned the County Court for relief in October of 1840, stating that rheumatism had deprived him of the use of his hands. At that time there was no county farm and the court made an order granting him $15 per month for three months. This method of providing for the indigent, of whom there were few in those days, was pursued until 1850, when Elias Richardson, a farmer, residing near One Hundred and Two River, was authorized to maintain the paupers at the rate of $5 per month each, the countv providing clothing and medical attendance. Richardson kept the paupers for two years. Judge Cornelius Roberts, of Bloomington township, then kept the paupers until 1857. receiving $80 per annum for each. The county then purchased from Leroy Bean a tract of 140 acres, two miles southwest of Sparta, for $3,500. This farm was maintained until 1868. John Peter w^as superintendent until 1861, when he was succeeded by

Henry Utz. who served three years and was succeeded by George Peter, who served until December, 1865. He in turn was succeeded by Isham Wood, who held the place until January, 1868, when he purchased the farm for $4,200. The superintendents received as compensation the use (^f the farm and from $75 to $80 per annum for each pauper, the county providing" clothing and medical attendance.

The paupers were next l^rought to the city and kept for three years by Dr. \Villiam Bertram, who had been appointed superintendent of the poor and county physician, by the County Court. Dr. Bertram was succeeded in January, 1871, by Dr. A. S. Long, who held the place until September, 1871. The County Court purchased, August 16. 1871. a quarter section from Matilda S. and Martin Hughes, paying $11,000 for the same, and. as soon as possible, had the paupers removed. Dr. Bertram and Dr. Long received as compensation 50 cents per day for each pauper, the county furnishing everything l^ut the food.

In September of 1871, the new institution was opened, with seven male and six female inmates. John Spellman was appointed superintendent at a salary of $100 per month, the county providing for the inmates, and Dr. A. S. Long was retained as physician. There was a good, room}' frame house on the farm, which had been erected by Kit Todd before the war and intended for use as a summer resort, a railroad from St. Joseph to Savannah having been built through the farm.

In 1873, '^ frame building was erected for the insane. These unfortunates had been kept at the State Insane Asylum at Fulton, but were returned owing to the crowded condition of that institution. They were cared for in the temporary quarters until the completion of Asylum No. 2. ^^'hen that institution burned, January, 1879, they were again placed in the temporary quarters. The necessity of a permanent institution for the county insane was so pressing that, in August, 1880, the judges appropriated $10,000 for this ])urpose. A building with modern equipments and with a capacity of 150 patients was completed in February of i88r. In this building the incurably insane are kept. The county still maintains a number of patients at Asylum No. 2 considered curable.

Improvements were made at \arious times as the necessities arose until to-day the county has an asylum for indigent and insane that is both adequate and c<»mfortable.

City Hospital. - While St. Joseph has cared for her charity patients ever since she has been a city of prominence, her City Hospital, like the Buchanan County jail, is not a thing to be proud of. It answers the purpose and that is about all. Located on the high 1)luffs, on West Robidoux street, there is but little to commend it, save the air, of which there is an abundance, such as it is.

There is no record of a City Hospital prior to 1861. In that year the city acquired the site of the present hospital, upon which stood an old-fashioned building, which had been used during the pioneer days as a combination storehouse and dwelling. ' This building is still in existence.

The main hc^spital building is 40 feet square, two stories high, built of brick. This building marks the struggles for an adequate City Hospital that has been going on during the past 30 years. In 1875 the Council set aside the dog tax for hospital improvement and extension purposes. \\'ith the proceeds of this revenue a one-story brick building. 20 by 40 feet, was erected in 1878. In 1880 a second section, of similar dimensions, was joined to the first. In 1890-91 a second story was placed over the ground work and other improvements, such as water, lighting-, etc., were added. This building served as a hospital until early in 1902, when it was converted into a pest house during an epidemic of smallpox. The city made a contract with the St. Joseph Hospital (in charge of the Sisters of Charity) for the maintenance of charity patients, which is still in force. The indigent sick who have resided in the city more than one year are by law put upon the county, and the County Court also has a contract with the city for the care of such patients as are not chronic, the chronics being sent to the county farm.

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum. - This was an asylum fur orphaned boys only, conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and which depended entirely upon charity for its existence. It was established by Mother Clements, a lady of great energy and business tact, in 1879, at Corby Chapel, northwest of the city. In 1880, the late Francis Browne donated a substantial house and 40 acres of ground, desirably located, al)()ut three miles from the eastern city limits. The institution wis al)andoned in the fall of 1900. for lack of support. The property is still in the possession of the Sisterhood of St. Joseph and there is a lingering hope that some day the or])lKmage may be reopened.

Memorial Home. - The Ladies' Union Benevolent Association is a charitable organization that has accomplished a world of good in a i)ractical Christian manner since its organization in 1874. TweiUy-fonr years ago this society was organized in a (|uiet. u.nostentatious way, by the Protestant Evangelical churches of St. Joseph. The society at the time of its organization had no funds nor a home in which to shelter the unfortunates, but it was composed of a band of earnest women who were willing to work. By soliciting contributions, by giving entertainments and by various other means, a little monev was secured, a frame house at the corner of Antoine and Levee streets was rented, and the work begun. From that time to this the association has performed a charitable work that has commanded the respect and aid of the Christian and business elements of the city.

In 1880 money was raised by private subscription to i^urchase what was then known as the Armstrong Beattie homestead, at Main and Pouline streets, which property has ever since remained in the possession of the association. The sum of $3,985 was raised by subscription to purchase the Beattie place, and since that time until the new building was erected, in 1895, it was twice remodeled and enlarged, at considerable expense, to accommodate the homeless and distressed.

This institution was for manv vears known as the Home for the Friendless, but October 1, 1895, it was converted into the Memorial Home for Aged People, both male and female. Since the property was purchased, 18 years ago. the old family residence has been supplanted by an entirely new structure, no part of the original building remaining.

In 1896 the new building was remodeled and enlarged just before it was converted into a home for aged people. It is a solid, substantial brick building, heated by steam, supplied with gas and water and other modern conveniences, and is comfortable in every respect. This institution is supported largely by "The Hoagland Endowment Fund," created by the late George T. Hoagland in honor of his wife, and consisting of $25,000. This endowment is, however, not sufficient to entirely support the institution, and the pul)Hc contributes the remainder. In April of IQ04, Mr. Hoagiand's widow added $5,000 to the endowment.

Home for Little JVanderCi's. - The Home for Little Wanderers, located at 28th and Colhoun streets, in the extreme eartern portion of the city, is also controlled by the Ladies' Union Benevolent Association. This home was erected at a cost of $25,000, including the site. The home was a gift to the association from Charles W. Noyes, of the local shoe manufacturing firm of Noyes, Norman & Company. Mr. Noyes spent most of liis life in St. Joseph and this section, but now resides in Boston. The Home for Little Wanderers is a love tribute to the memory of his daughter, who died in early womanhood.

The gift was made in 1892, accompanied by an endowment of real estate on North Third street valued at $65,000. The building is of pressed brick, three stories, steam-heated, modern in every respect, and has a capacity of 100 inmates. The ground consists of eight and one-half acres and the site is commanding and healthful. From the income of the endowment made by Mr. Noyes the home is supported entirely. Children of both sexes, from two years up to nine, are taken here and well cared for.

Home for Ex-Slaves. - The idea of a home for dependent ex-slaves originated in Charles S. Baker, an intelligent young negro. By persistent solicitation both at home and abroad he and those of his race who were interested with him in the work secured enough money to build a structure at 17 street and Highland avenue. This was under roof, but was destroyed by a hurricane in September of 1894. For a time the future of the project- seemed gloomy, but

Dr. P. J. Kirschner came generously to the rescue. In December of 1887 he donated onehalf of the purchase price of a tract of two> acres, with a substantial brick house, at 24th street and Mitchell avenue, and gave the promoters long and easy terms on the balance^ which amounted to $1,500. ) The project failed after an experiment covering a period of two years.

Other Charities. - The poor were always well cared for in St. Joseph. Up to the fall of 1 897 distress was relieved by the County Court and by the mayor. At various times organizations have existed for, the purpose of systematizing the charity work and preventing impositions. For several years there has existed the Associated Charities, representing a consolidation of the various societies. The Associated Charitjes kept a list of needy ami relieved those found worthy.

In 1897 a State law was passed authorizing the formation of a Charity Board. This board is composed of members appointed by the County Court and by the mayor, and its business is the distribution of funds supplied by the city and county for charity. A secretary is employed, whose duty it is to investigate all applications and prevent imposition. Simon Stern has filled the place of secretary since the board came into existence.

The Associated Charities maintain a sewing room, where needy Vvomen are fursished employment. Besides these there are charitable organizations in nearly every church parish in the city, and there is also a free kindergarten, maintained by the Mother's Association. This, is a day nursery where working women can leave little children while they go out to employment.