Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 17: Public Bvildings and Federal Service, 1904

Chapter 17: Public Bvildings and Federal Service

Buchanan County's Three Court Houses - The Court House Fire in March of 1885 - First Market House and City Hall and the Present Structure - Patee and Other Markets - City Workhouse and Central Police Station - County Jails of the Past and the Present Institution - Federal Building - Post Office - Railway Mail Service - Internal Revenue Office - Port of Entry - Federal Court.

Tlic Three Court Houses. - The first Court House of Buchanan County was made of logs and stood at Sparta. It is yet in existence, being used as a granary upon the McCauley farm, which embraces the site of Sparta. The courts, County and Circuit, met at the house of Richard Hih and at the house of Joseph Robidoux, as related before, up to the summer of 1841. In January of that year the County Court ordered that a building l)e erected on lot i, block I, in the town of Sparta,. This was a log house, containing two rooms - one 18 by 20, the other 16 by 18. The contract was let to Guilford Moultray, and the building was finished by the following July. This house served more than one purpose, for, aside from being the "palace of justice," it was also the academy of learning, the temple of worship, the forum of the people, and the opera house. It was lighted by day through two T2-light windows in each room l)elow, while the second floor, a half-story, was lighted by a 6-light window in

On November 9, 1842, the County Court appropriated the sum of $6,000 to erect such a Court House and Jail, to be l)uilt at Sparta, as the necessities of the community demanded. But Sparta never saw this pretentious structure. \Mien the new court house was ])ro\ided for, the question of moving the county seat to Blacksnake Hills then took formidable shape. As a result of the agitation, Sparta lost and the $6,000 was invested in St. Joseph. The block occupied by the present Court House was the original site. It was a high hill that had been donated l)y Robidoux, and its apex was fully 50 feet above the present grade of Jules street. A brick house, of which Louis S. Stigers and N. J. TayltM- were the architects and builders, was erected on this hill fronting south. It was a two-story building, the dimensions being 50 by 74 feet, including a portico, and the people were quite proud of it. In 1871 this structure was condemned as unsafe, after

25 years of service, and in October of that year it was vacated. The county offices were for a time located in the parsonage of what had been the first Cathohc Church in the city, on the east side of Fifth street, between Fehx and Francis streets. In the summer of 1873 the Circuit

The Second Court House

The next Court House, of which the present one forms a part, was begun in 1873. Its architect was P. F. Meagher and its builder was John DeClue. The cost w^as $173,000. The corner-stone was laid August 25, 1873, the Masonic rite being performed by Capt. Joseph S. Browne, acting grand master of the State. It was a momentous event and the people entered into the spirit thereof with pride and enthusiasm ; and well they might, for they were laying the corner-stone of the grandest county building in the West at that time. The plan, so far as external appearances go, is preserved in the present Court House. It had a frontage of 235 feet on Jules street, with a depth of 205 feet. It was of brick with cut-stone foundation and trimmings. The building was completed in August, 1876, though some of the county officers occupied rooms as they were finished, as early as January of that year.

On the morning of March 28, 1885. this mag'nificent building was severely damaged by fire, and much Aaluable pul)lic property was destroyed. The origin of the conflagration is enshrouded in mystery. The building was heated bv stoves at that time, and it is a generally accepted theory that from some neglect or accident the fire was transferred from either a stove or an ash receptacle to the floor. Shortly after 3 o'clock on the morning in question, William H. Mitchell, a compositor cm the Gascttc, was going north on Fourth street, home from his work. When near Robidoux street he looked back toward the Court House, his attention having been attracted by a crackling noise, and he saw smoke and flames issuing from a window on the north side of the first floor of the west wing'. He gave the cry, which was taken up by persons within hearing distance. An effort to reach the Fire Department by telephone failed and there was an unusual delay in getting the alarm to all of the stations. So fierce was the fire, and such tremendous progress did it make, that before the first apparatus arrived the dome had collapsed and crashed into the burning mass. The only thing left for the department to do was the salvation of the main walls, and this was accomplished by hard and heroic work.

Aside from the county offices, the building was occupied for various other purposes. On the first floor were the offices of the recorder of deeds, the county C(j1 lector, the prosecuting attorney, the county clerk, the County Court, the Probate Court, assessor and public administrator. There were also the law offices of B. R. \^inevar(l, Ryan & Stewart, M. G. Moran,

A. D. Kirke, \'ories & \'ories, Moss & Shortridge, Judge Sutherland and Pitts & Porter. The Latter Day Saints occupied a large room for purposes of worship and several rooms were used for sleeping purposes. On the second floor was the Circuit Court room and judge's office, circuit clerk's office, sheriff's office, Col. John Doniphan's law office, jury rooms, etc. What is now the Criminal Court room was used as a lecture room by the North-^ western Medical College, and where the grand jury room and assembly room now are was a large concert hall, used by the Mendelsohn Society.

Tlie li^sses sustained by the lawyers and roomers were se\ere, many ^-aluable books and manuscrii)ts being consumed. The county lost nearly all the i)roperty that was not in vaults. The recorder's office, which is a vault in itself, Avas unharmed, and those records of the county clerk, circuit clerk. Probate Court and collector, which were in the \aults, were left intact.

Twenty-eight prisoners were incarcerated in the County Jail, and these were escorted without delav by Sheriff Carey and a posse of citizens to the City Hall, where they were guarded until the following day, when they were returned to their old cjuarters, the Jail not having been damaged.

There was an insurance of $95,500 on the Court House, the adjustment of which began as soon as possible. Quarters for the county officers were proxided at once. The Circuit Court, circuit clerk, sheriff and prosecuting attorney were located in the Tootle Building at Sixth and Francis streets, and the odiers. except the recorder, occupied a building at the corner of Second and Charles streets that had been used as general offices by the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council P>luffs Railroad Company.

After considerable parleying with the insurance adjusters, an agreement was reached whereby the companies restored the structure. R. K. Allen was aw^arded the contract, and Judge Bernard Patton was employed by the County Court to superintentl the work. The end of the year 1885 saw- the Court House restored and better equipped, so far as heat, iigliting and either conveniences go, than before the fire.

Market Houses and City Hall. - When Joseph Robidoux platted the original town he dedicated half a block, bounded by Second, b'rancis and Edmond streets, for a Market House. The space was occupied by sheds and shanties until 1853, "^vhen the first Market house was built. This was a brick structure, al)out 50 b}' 50 feet in dimension. The lower floor was occupied as a market, and all vendors of fresh meat were compelled to locate therein. Grocers were prohibited from dealing in vegetables and huckstering was forbidden until after market hours. I'his made the market a busv place, and the merchants located on the sc[uare enjoyed the best patronage. The upper floor of the original building, at the south end. was occupied by city officials. It w"as first reached by an outside stairway on the south side. l)ut when an addition was built on the north a co\ered stairway was provided.

Early in the "seventies" the building showed signs of decay and the owners of property on the scjuare began to agitate a new Market House. How"e\er, there was no money in the treasur\- for such purpose. Finally, in 1873, a phui was developed which brought about the desired result. The sum of $50,000 was subscribed, for which the city issued certificates of indebtedness bearing 6 per cent, interest. These were redeemable for city taxes at the rate of one-fifth of the face per year.

The First Market House And City Hall

The present City Hall and Market House is the result of this subscription. The building Avas begun in the fall of 1873 and finished in July of 1874. The plans were by Boettner & Stigers and the work by R. K. Allen, at a cost of $50,000. It was the most pretentious building of its kind in the West at that time. The upper floor was a public hall and was formally opened by St. Patrick's Benevolent Society with a grand ball on July 18. 1874. It served as such until 1888. The two upper floors were then remodeled and the engineer, city clerk and boiler inspector were quartered on the third floor, where a commodious council chamber was also provided.

Patee ]\[arket House was built in 1859 upon a square dedicated in Patee's Addition. There was never much of a market there, except for hay. wood and country produce. At

There was formerly a live stock market located at Se\enth and iMessanie streets, where the Central Police Station now stands, where there was also a pul)lic weighmaster. This was abandoned in 1890.

In 1874 an eft'ort was made to establish a public market on North Sixth street, and the citv erected a frame building in the center of the street, south of the City Brewery. This was not a success, howe\-er. and the building was torn down in 1884.

old Court House. They were in charge of the street commissioner and were generally worked on the highways by him. In 1855 the first Workhouse was established in a two-story stone building upon the site of the present institution. In 1884 the stone building was torn down and the Workhouse of today erected.

Up to 1855 the street commissioner fed and cared for the prisoners. The first superintendent of the Workhouse was Anton H. Dalhoff, who served 1885-88. He was succeeded by Peter Reiplinger, 1890; the next superintendent was Charles Johnson, who served 1890-94, and was succeeded by William H. - Dersch, 1894-96. In 1896-98, Bert Martin was superintendent, and he was succeeded by Andrew Arnell, who was succeeded by Henry Raidt, who served until April, 1904, when he was succeeded by Gottlieb Bandel.

The i)risoners were worked upon the streets up to 1 89 1, when this practice was abolished. There are sheds in the enclosure about the workhouse where the prisoners are employed at breaking rock, which is used by the engineer's department in the repair of streets. The superintendent of the Workhouse receives a salary of $600 per animm and 15 cents per meal for

Ceulral Police Station. - A holdover cell was provided in the Workhouse for city prisoners held for trial, during the early days and up to 1891. It was necessary to walk or cart them to police headc|uarters at the City Hall, where the}' were searched and booked ; thence they were marched or carted through the streets to the Workhouse to be detained until the following morning, when they were marched back to the City Hall for trial. Those who were sentenced to the W^orkhouse were returned to that institution after court. One of the first steps of the Board of Police Commissioners, when the department had been reorganized under the metropolitan system, was in the direction of a Central Police Station. In 1890 the Council appropriated $10,000 for the present central station, located on the site of the old hay scales at Seventh and Messanie streets. With this money the walls and roof was built. In the following year the Council appropriated $10,000 additional, and the building was completed and occupied in November, 1891. It is one of the most substantial and best appointed buildings of its kind in the West.

County Jail. - The people of Buchanan County have no cause to be either proud or satisfied with the County Jail. It is an anticjuated, unsafe, unsanitary pile, that would be considered about the "proper thing" in Spain, where they are retrogressive and cruel.

The first Jail was at Sparta, and was built of logs. It was a small affair and stood in the public square of the first county seat. The structure survixed the town, but was afterwards destroyed Ijy fire. It was used as a hold-over. Prisoners of importance were taken to Liberty jail pending trial. When the first Court House was built in St. Joseph, a brick Jail and residence for the jailor was also constructed. This did service until the night of January 21, 1850, when it was destroyed by fire. Another was built, which was replaced by the present institution in 1859. At that time the new Jail was considered strictly modern; but the architect who designed it had fearful and wonderful ideas of ventilation and sanitation. It is a house within a house, the inner structure being of brick and cement, and the outer of brick and stone. The inner room contains two tiers of cells, ventilated only through grated doors, each having a capacity of four prisoners, though six have been crowded in. Until a few years ago the bnilding- was heated by stoves, each cell having a small box stove, wood being the fnel. Aronnd the cell house there is a corridor, now heated by steam and lighted and ventilated by windows. Formerly there were no sanitary arrangements, bnt now there is sewerage, with water, etc., in the corridor. Quarters for female prisoners were, up to a year ago. in the upper tier of cells, and there was a woeful absence of humanity and decency in the arrangement. At the present time the female prisoners are kept on the second floor, in quarters formerly occupied by the sheriff for a residence.

The Jail has long been a farce and grand juries have condemned it regularly for 35 years. Escapes have been so numerous that they are no longer regarded as news by the reporters. Criminals ridicule it and hold it in contempt. Humanity protests and appeals to the people, but th.e people do not respond with sufficient force to be of effect. Such was the case in November of 1896, and upon three occasions since then, when a proposition for a new Jail was voted down at the general election ; and the grim old pile remains, notwithstanding the condemnation of grand juries, building inspectors and humanitarians. And it were idle to speculate upon its future.

Federal Building. - The first appropriation made for a Federal Building in St. Joseph was made by Congress August 5, 1882, while the late Nicholas Ford was our Representative. Of the original appropriation, $50,000 was set aside to purchase a site and inaugurate the work of construction. After a long delay the lots at Eighth and Edmond streets were purchased for $11,750. There was more or less objection by downtown merchants, who argued that the proposed location was too far removed from the business district of the city. The growth of business since that time, however, has been in the direction of the Federal Building until now it is conceded that excellent judgment was displayed in selecting the site.

When the late James N. Burnes entered Congress, he took up the work of pushing the completion of the Custom House where his predecessor in office had left off. Congressman Burnes secured a second appropriation of $40,000 July 7. 1884, and, on March 3, 1885, tvnother appropriation of $50,000. August 4, 1886, Congressman Burnes succeeded in getting $50,000 additional, and March 3, 1887. the last appropriation of $127,000 for the building proper was made. August 29, 1890, Congressman R. P. C. Wilson obtained an appropriation of $3,600 for the purchase of a clock for the tower of the building, makingthe total appropriations $345,000.

Seven years were occupied in building the Custom Plouse. there being much vexatious delay, as is usual in cases of this kind. The principle loss of time was caused, however, by the sinking of the building at the northwest corner. Much of the masonry had to be taken down and rebuilt after the foundation had been properly strengthened. The latter part of 1890 saw the building completed, and it was occupied in January of 1891.

Since then it has become toO' small and Congress has appropriated $125,000, through Representative C. F. Cochran, for an extension to the south as far as Charles street and

Three branches of the United States government are represented in St. Joseph - the Postoffice Department, the Department <>t Justice and the Treasury Department. All of these are quartered in the Federal lUiilding at Eighth and Edniond streets, which is the most imposing public edifice in the cit\'.

Postoffice. - In 1840 a postoffice was established at Blacksnake Hills, with Jules (". Robidoux in charge. The office continued under this name until 1843, ^vhen it was changed to St. Joseph, the town having meanwhile been platted and christened. Robidoux, George Brubaker and Capt. Frederick W. Smith were the postmasters under the old name, and Captain Smith was the first postmaster under the new name. The mails were not \ery heavy in those days, coming mostly by boat from the outer world and by pony and stage from neighl)oring points. Captain Smith wore an oldstyle, bell-crowned beaver hat, which he used as the repository of postal matter. Fie was personally acquainted with every inhabitant of the village and it was his custom to deliver mail to parties as he met them. Thus it will be seen that St. Joseph had free postal delivery longbefore many of the now jiopulous cities of the West were even thought of.

William B. Almond succeeded Captain Smith in November of 1844 and served until September, 1845, ^vhen he was succeeded by William Ir\in, who served until September, 1848. Joseph W'yatt then filled the office for one year, and was succeeded by Jesse Holladay. who served until September, 1849, ^vhen he was succeeded by Henry S. Creal in January of 1852. Charles Dutszchky was appointed Ai)ril. 1833. Henry Clark was appointed .\pril, 1854, but did not take the office. Henry Slack was appointed in the same month and held the office until October, 1855, wlien William A. Davis was appointed. Mr. Davis invented the railway postal car. The office was made presidential in March of 1858 and Mr. Davis continued as postmaster until April of 1 86 1. He was succeeded by John L. Bittinger, who served until March, 1865, and was succeeded by William Fowler.

In March of 1866 George H. Hall was apl)ointed. This appointment was rescinded and James M. Graham was appointed October 31, 1866. However, the friends of Colonel Flail ]jre\ailed at W^ashington and he was given the office in the following month, holding it until Ajiril of 1867, when he was succeeded by Joseph J. Wyatt, who served until .\pril of 1869, James M. Hunter served from that time until March of 1871 and was succeeded by Philip Arnholdt, who served until February of 1875. John Severance held the office until May of 1876, and was succeeded by Dr. Robert P. Richardson, who ser\ed only a fewmonths, however. He was succeeded in the following August by James T. Beach, who served until December of 1877, and was succeeded by Capt. Francis M. Posegate, who served until June of 188 1. Frank M. Tracy succeeded Captain P(jsegate and served until April of 1885. when he was succeeded by John S. Evans, who served four years and was succeeded by Charles F. Ernst. Captain Ernst i died August 2. 189J. From that time until Sei)tember 30th, the office was in charge of Deputy Postmaster Jo.seph S. Browne, when Fr.'uik M. .\tkinson took charge, served four years, and was rea])pointed for another fouryear term in April of 1897. He was succeeded by Arthur W. Brewster, the present incumbent.

that point. For many years it was in the Beattie Bank Building, on the east side of Second street, north of Francis. Under Hunter and Arnholdt it was located in the Constable Building, on Fourth street, south of Edmond. Under Severance, Richardson. Beach, Posegate and Tracy it was located at the southeast corner of Second and Francis streets. Under Tracy, in 1 88 1, the office was moved to a room under Tootle's Opera House, the theater at that time occupying the upper floors only. The business of the office soon outgrew the accommodations here, and under Tracy, also, the first floor of the new Tootle Building, east of the Opera House, was taken. The office remained there until January 26, 1891, when, under Postmaster Ernst, it was removed to its present permanent quarters in the Federal Building. There is also a postoffice in South St. Joseph ; one at Inza, near South St. Joseph ; one in South Park ; and three sub-stations in the city proper.

Raihvay Mail Scn'icc. - The St. Joseph division of the railway mail service, which is embraced in the Seventh Division of the service, has headquarters in the Federal Building. There are 65 clerks employed under the direction of the chief clerk of the St. Joseph office, 2/ of whom live in this city. The lines under the jurisdiction of the St. Joseph office extend into Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and many of the clerks employed under the office here live in Quincy, Council Bluffs, Grand Island, Atchison, LeaA'enworth and other towns.

Internal Revenue Office. - A branch of the Sixth Internal Revenue District of Missouri has been located in the Federal Building since its completion. A deputy, appointed by the collector at Kansas City, is in charge, and liis jurisdiction extends over 17 counties: Buchanan, Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, Andrew. Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Worth, Harrison, Daviess, Caldwell, Livingston, Grundy, Mercer^ Putnam and Sullivan. There are in this division 700 retail liquor dealers, including druggists who have permits to sell whisky and alcohol. In addition there are 32 wholesale liquor dealers, three breweries, seven fruit distilleries, five grain distilleries and 52 cigar manufactories. The business of all these concerns with the Internal Revenue Department is transacted through the St. Joseph office and consequently it makes a vast amount of work. The deputy has a stamp clerk, a ganger and a storekeeper to assist him.

In 1862 St. Joseph was the headquarters of the Third Revenue District of Missouri, embracing all of the State lying north of the Missouri River, and including 44 counties. The taxes collected amounted to about $1,000,000 per annum. Charles B. Wilkinson was the first collector. In 1865 W. A. Price of Savannah was collector and A. N. Schuster was his deputy. In 1869 Mr. Schuster was appointed collector, the district then embracing 25 counties. Schuster served until 1871. The boundaries of the district were subsequently changed and it was called the Sixth. Schuster was succeeded by Gen. James Craig, and he by W. Zi Ransom. In 1875, when Charles B. \\'ilkinson was collector a second time, irregularities and complications were discovered in the office. Wilkinson went to Australia and was brought back, tried and convicted of embezzlement on a technicality, the irregularities having been traced to some of his employees. Such w^as the nature of the case, however, that after a careful examination of the same by the United States Attorney General and the President, a full pardon was granted Wilkinson.

R. T. Van Horn of Kansas City having meanwhile been appointed collector, the principal office was moved to Kansas City, and Christ. Alast, deceased, was made deputy at St. Joseph. John G. AValker of Savannah followed Mast, and then came Charles Groscup, H. G. Getchell, John Harnois and John B. Rodgers. The latter w^as succeeded in November, 1898. by William AI. Shepherd, who in turn was succeeded by George L. Jewett, whose successor, George C. Toel. is still in charge.

Port of Entry. - St. Joseph was made a port of entry January of 1883. through the efforts of Congressman James N. Burnes. Maj. James Hunter was the first surveyor and he had for his deputy James T. Beach. John Vanderlinde was appointed surveyor January 30, 1887, and was succeeded by James M. Limbird. who was appointed March 21, 1890. It was during his term, in January, 1891, that the customs office, which had ])reviously been quartered in store buildings, moved to the Federal Building. President Cleveland appointed Clay C. Macdonald surveyor of the port in 1893, and Captain Macdonald was succeeded March 2, 1898, by William L. Buechle, who served until 1901, when he was succeeded by John Albus, the present incumbent.

Federal Court. - Through the efforts of Congressman James N. Burnes a branch of the Western Division of the United States Circuit Court was established at St. Joseph. TliG first session of this court was held at the Court House on April 4, 1887. with the late Arnold S. Krekel as judge. Channing M. Dunham was appointed clerk. Judge Krekel and Mr. Dunham both died in the summer of 1888. Judge John F. Phillips, the present judge, was appointed to succeed Judge Krekel and appointed Charles M. Thompson as clerk. Mr. Thompson served until October of 1891, when he was succeeded by Charles S. Pollock, who remained until his death, and was succeeded by C. C. Colt, the present incumbent.