Grundy County, Missouri - Chapter 18: Medical Society, Crimes, Etc, 1881

Chapter 18: Medical Society, Crimes, Etc

Trenton College - fFhen Incorporated - Medical Soc'ietji-When Organized - Qualification of Members - Railroad and Machine-shops - Number of Einploi/es - Kxpenditurt's - Coal Consumed - Waste and Oil Used - Managers - Crimes - The War Period - Robbery and Murder - Burglar Captured and Shot - Biographies - Alphabetical List of Sketches - Prominent Citizens of Trenton.

Teenton College

An institntion of learning, bearing the above title, was incorporated bj the General Assembly of Missouri, and received executive approval, on the 26th of October, 1857. A board of trustees was appointed, consisting of Messrs. William H. Nelson, William H. Robertson, James R. Merrill, Wm. "W". Brooks, James Austin, John B. McDonald, William C. Benson, Geo. W. Parker and Jerry Bradley, who were given full authority to appoint "all such officers and servants as they shall deem sufficient or useful, and declare the tenure, duties and emoluments of the same." The faculty were granted all the powers belonging and appertaining to a collegiate institution, such as the bestowal of diplomas, which "entitled the possessor to all the immunities which, by law or usage, are allowed possessors of similar diplomas granted by any college or university in the United States." The first named trustee was authorized to appoint the time and place and call a meeting of said board of trustees. Whether such meeting ever took place is not known, but certain it is that further than the act of incorporation, the Trenton College never became a reality, and only lives as one of the attempts to make Trenton an established seat of learning.

The question of organizing a medical societ}^ though frequently broached by the physicians of Trenton, never resulted in an organization until in June, 1880, when the above named society became one of the institutions of the city and county. The following named ])hysicians and surgeons were the original members: Solomon Stewart, W. R. Berry, J. W. Patton, R. Cash, J. E. Harris, C. E. Webber, Isaac Coles and Thomas Kimlin, who organized by electing Dr. Kimlin president, and Dr. Webber secretary.

The regular meetings of the society are held on the first Monday in each month. Any physician possessing the qualifications required by the American Medical Society, may become a member of the Grundy County Medical Society by having his name proposed, balloted for and receiving a majority of the votes cast. The society is governed by the same rules as the American Medical Association. The meetings of the society are' of much interest, affording, as they do, opportunity for the discussion of questions of importance to the profession, and at the same time cementing the bonds of fraternal fellowship among the members.

The Railroad Shops

Among the industries which have contributed largely to the growth and prosperity of Trenton, the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway take the most prominent place, and a stateiiient of the management and operation of this department of Trenton's business is of more than passing importance.

The company employs in the shops some two hundred and fi.fteen men, and for the wages of these employes makes an annual expenditure of $142,296.60, nearly, if not all of which goes to swell the local trade of Trenton. These employes represent a class of thrifty and industrious citizens who spend their earnings in making and beautifying their homes, thus assisting in the material progress of the city.

Following will be found a more detailed statement of the management and operation of the master mechanic's department of the southwestern division of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, under the efficient control of the head of the department, Mr. R. O. Carscadin.

There are one hundred and twenty-one machinists, laborers and wipers employed, for whose services the company pays out annually the sum of $55,051.80.

In the locomotive department employment is given to ninety-four engineers and firemen, the annual aggregate of whose salaries amounts to the sum of $87,544.80.

As above stated, the general management is under the charge Mr. R. O. Carscadin, master mechanic. Mr. John Kirk is the general foreman of the shops, and Mr. John Buckley is foreman of the blacksmithing department. Mr. L. T. Cox holds the position of time-keeper. These gentlemen are all thoroughly acquainted with their duties, as the excellent manner in which the business of the shops is conducted amply testifies.

The list of crimes and casualties that have taken place iu Grundy county, outside of those committed during the late civil war, were of but little consequence. With the exception of one murder, of a courtesan, referred to, the eases have been of lighter degrees of crime than murder. During the war, hatred born of fanaticism, and a naturally depraved and brutal heart, committed crimes in the name of libert}' that not only damned their actors as fiends, but threw a veil of deep damnation over the fair fame of the Union itself, and caused a feeling of intense horror to take possession of the people. These acts were caused by the civil war when passion raged and judgment was lost in the fury of the hour. But what excited the horror and astonishment of the people was the fact that sucii devils incarnate were found among those who had lived in their midst. It was not for the love of Union, or the love of a Confederacy that caused these crimes to be committed in freedom's name, but was the tigerish instinct and thirst for blood of a few demons in human shape. The people of Grundy can thank God that they had but a few of these beings around them, and these pages will not be polluted even by the mention of their names. The deatli of Mr. Wright, the cowardly assasination of Chambers, the brutal and fiendish hanging of Gooch, the murder of Sharp, and the sending of poor Bonta to his long home, are a portion of the list of crimes which have darkened the pages of an otherwise bright record in the rise and progress of Grundy county. This history briefly records these things because they are records of events that have their share in the annals of passing time, and to make this work complete, but not to dwell upon a chapter that, while it cannot be left unwritten, can at least be shortened in detail.

Safe Robbers

The county safe was broken into in April, 1870, and the robbers escaped, but were tracked to Kansas City and there arrested. They gave their names as Edward O'Dowell and John Fuller. Fuller also escaped from the Trenton jail, but was recaptured. The money was mostly recovered. The attempt to burglarize the bank of Shanklin & Austin was another episode in the annals of crime in Trenton. The fact was discovered and the burglar shot dead in his attempt to escape. His pal gave him away. On finding himself trapped he struck one man with his jimmy and hurt him severely, but the sheriff fired and killed him. His name was Carter.