Lafayette County, Missouri - Chapter 19: Dover Township, 1910

Chapter 19: Dover Township

Dover, which is the north-central subdivision of Lafayette county, is bounded the same as it was in July, 1848, "commencing at the mouth of Tabo creek, in the middle of the main channel, where the same empties into the Missouri river; thence up said creek with the middle of the main channel thereof, to where the same crosses the township line betwen townships 49 and 50, in range 26; thence east with said township line to where the same intersects the range line between ranges 24 and 25 ; thence with the said range line north to the Missouri river ; thence with said river to place of beginning."

The first mention of this township was in February, 1836, when it was ordered by the county court "that Tabo township be hereafter known and designated by the name of Dover township." It then constituted most of the territory now embraced within Dover and Middleton townships, and the same was all a part of Tabo township.

Origin Of Name Tabo

Early French traders had called several places Terre Bonne, or good land. As the American settlers came in new names were given and the old ones localized and spelled by the sound, rather than according to the original Fresh meaning, and also often shortened in sound, thus, Ta Beau. It was next Anglicized into Tabbo, and finally Tabo, and limited to a small creek, instead of naming and describing a region of country. Such is thought to be the evolution of the name Tabo creek, which now forms the boundary between Lexington and Dover townships.

Early Settlement

The first attempt at settling this portion of Lafayette county was ninetythree years ago, in 181 7, by John Lovelady and Solomon Cox, at a point one-half mile west of the present village of Dover. The same season W. R.

Cole and James Bounds located one and a half miles to the west. Solomon Cox immigrated from Virginia, settling in section 29. Cole was from the same state and settled on section 30. James Bounds, Sr., James Bounds, Jr., and Obediah Bounds came in from Tennessee, settling in section 31 in 1818. Christopher Jago, William Carpenter and John Parkerson, of Tennessee, came in 18 19. Z. Linville. a Stonite preacher, and Martin Trapp, a Reformed preacher, called by some at that day a Stonite preacher, but who later became Campbellites or Disciples, came in 1818.

What was known to old-timers as the "Long Grove settlement," was brought about by Martin Warren and his sons, who arrived in 1824, locating in section 23, township 50, range 26. Following these came Samuel Walker, Adam Sensibaugh, John Ennis, Thomas Buckley and Richard Collins, all natives of Kentucky, and who came about 1826, locating on section 26. In 1827 came Alexander H. Page, of Kentucky, whose son furnished the memoranda of this early settlement paragraph.

Johnson's Grove settlement was effected in Dover township and derives its name from the first comers there. Two William Johnsons, cousins, located there in 1827 and 1828. No others came into the community until 1835. In 1 84 1 came William Burns, of Virginia, and William Bell and Joseph Roberts, of Kentucky, located near there.

The first church was erected by various denominations and known as "Oakland church," which was finally torn down in 1880. Prior to this the settlers went ten miles to Dover to worship.

The first school house in the vicinity was built of logs, near the Oakland church, in {843, the expense being subscribed by the pioneer band. In this building, the first term, there were seventeen pupils, whose parents had to pay a dollar a month each for their attendance.

The nearest flouring mills were at "Brown's," in Saline county, and Webb's horse mill, at Dover village. At many of these mills, so-called, the sifters were made of horse hairs or deer skins. Around the vicinity of Dover township lingers many a pleasant romance and memory of events both prior and subsequent to the great Civil war period, which cost the township so much of wealth in money and bloodshed, and for the time made the township almost desolate, but which today has come to be, among the eight divisions of Lafayette county, one of the most prosperous. (22)

Villages And Steamboat Landings

Prior to railroad days the boat landings along the Missouri included *hose of Berlin, Edwards, Dover, etc., the true history of which, with the passage of steamboating, has almost been forgotten. An inland village of some historic importance is Page City, on the Missouri Pacific railroad, within Dover township. It was laid out by Joseph H. Page in 1871, on twenty acres of land belonging to himself, and eleven acres belonging to his brother, G. R. Page. It has never amounted to more than a station point, with small business interests.

Edward's Mills, now known as Hodge postoffice and railroad station, is situated on the river front, down stream from Dover, and is a mere station and hamlet of no considerable commercial importance.

Berlin, another old landing, has woven about it some early history of importance. The following incident, connected with war days, is from the files of the Lexington Union, of September 19, 1863 :

"As the steamer 'Marcella,' on her upward trip, yesterday, approached Berlin landing, in Dover township, twelve miles below Lexington, she was ordered to land by about sixty bushwhackers. There being no protection to the pilot house, and about fifty revolvers pointed at the trusty pilot, he could do nothing but obey. The boat had no sooner landed than she was boarded by the monsters. They robbed the boat and passengers of nine hundred dollars, and several cases of boots and shoes and clothing. They then searched the boat and found four soldiers belonging to Colonel Siegel's regiment of Union troops, Fifth Missouri State Militia, residents of Lexington, who were on furlough and on their way here. Their names were Martin Fisher, Charles Wagoner, Edward Knobbs, Chris Seely. They took them off the boat and into the woods a short distance, where they were placed in line and inhumanly fired upon. Fisher, Knobbs and Seely were instantly killed, but Waggoner, not being hit, ran and hid, and finally made his escape."

Town Of Corder

Corder is a sprightly town of about one thousand population, a station on the Chicago & Alton railroad, in Dover township. It was laid out in 1878, and incorporated in 1881. The first house was erected by the first postmaster, W. J. Leise ; he also conducted the first general store in the place. The first physician was Dr. Lewis Carthrae. The first mayor was G. W. Neithercut. Corder today is a good trading point and has the following business interests :

Incorporation

This place became a city of the fourth class in June, 1908. At one time Corder had a small system of water works, but finally their tank was burned and was never replaced. The town is now at the mercy of the flames.

The postmasters who have served at Corder from the date of establishing the office have been : W. J. Liese, Martin Liese, William Williams, John T. Gordon, A. Bortsfield, James Y. Brand, E. F. Martin, who has served since 1897. In 1903 two rural routes were started, twenty-four and twenty-six miles each in length. The office is fourth class.

One of the most disastrous fires of the town was that of May 25, 1910, when the opera house ("Theatorium), built of brick and two stories high, was burned. It was the property of S. M. Reynolds and he only carried enough insurance to partly cover his loss. Miners' Hall was burned by the same fire and a frame structure belonging to William Morgan, in which a millinery store was located. Total loss, eight thousand dollars.

Town Of Dover

Dover was platted on section 29, township 51, range 25, August 7, 1835, by John Duston. It is beautifully situated on the eminence of the bluffs to the south of the Missouri river, about one and a third miles distant, by wagon road. Its railroad station, on the Missouri Pacific line (river division), is on the river front. It is one of the old boat landings in the county, and has much interesting history connected with it. In the palmy days of steamboating Dover held a prominent place in river traffic. At a very early date there was a log church built at Dover jointly by different religious denominations. Churches and schools were in the minds of the pioneer band that started to build Dover, and this influence has gone on until the present. The town has never made rapid growth, but always has been a good trading place, made up of enterprising, hospitable citizens, who believe in living and letting others live. The present population of Dover is about two hundred and fifty. It supports Christian, Baptist, Catholic and Methodist churches, histories of which appear under proper church headings. For its school history see elsewhere.

Dover Lodge, No. 122, of the Masonic order, was instituted in May, 1850, but about 1880 moved to Corder. The present fraternity of Dover is that of the Odd Fellow order.

The place was incorporated in 1897. Among its mayors have been: Capt. W. A. Redd, R. P. Howard, George Zysing, Samuel Pile, L. B. Cole, R. P. Howard. The present trustees are : R. P. Howard, Jewett Redd, B. L. Vaughan, George F. Zysing, William Pauling ; clerk, Jewett Redd ; marshal, S. C. Hodges.

Among the postmasters of Dover may be named, since 1854: Messrs. Thomas Miller, S. S. Vangelen, James Clayton, William Meng, John Plattenburg, James Clayton, Mrs. E. J. Stolte.

Among the retail dealers and professional men of Dover in the years gone by should not be forgotten: In 1857, the general dealers were Plattenburg & Howard, Charles and Samuel Whiting; Peter Thoma. Dr. Caleb D. Baer, druggists; Joseph Wiles, hotel keeper; a flour mill, that in 1865 was run by F. C. Vivion, was in operation, but was abandoned in 1867, since which there has been no mill in Dover.

In 1858, the business of Dover was in the hands of: Judge Plattenburg, George B. Warren, James Howard, general stores, and John Ridge, village blacksmith.

At the close of the Civil war the business factors were: Plattenburg & Howard, Edgar Ashberry, Robert Cox, general dealers, and Samuel Meng, druggist.

Business Interests In I9Io

At the date of this book being published the following conducted the business of Dover: Redd Brothers (Jewett M. and H. T. Redd, sons of Captain William A. Redd), who succeeded their father, who established his business first in Waverly and in 1897 removed to Dover. The other general dealer of the village is George Zysing. The drug business is now conducted by E. Zysing, who succeeded R. W. Ashworth in 1906. The physician of Dover in 1910 was Dr. R. P. Howard; liveryman, B. W. Vaughan; hotel, R. P. Howard ; blacksmith, Joseph Bertrand ; pool hall, B. Gray.

The Dover State Bank, established in 1906, with a capital of ten thousand dollars, Henry Corbin, president, and O. G. Congdon, cashier, is the only bank Dover has ever had.

A log church was built at Dover by different denominations. Early ministers there were : Revs. Trapp, Linville, Ewing, King and Robert Mare. The three last named were Cumberland Presbyterians. Rev. Ransome Clark was also a pioneer "Old School" Baptist. Union meetings were frequently held and the pastors left it to the converts to decide which denomination they should finally join.

The first marriage in Dover township was that uniting John Lovelady and Mary Cox, daughter of Enoch Cox. This was in 1818, and it is thought to be the first marriage in the county after actually organized as Lafayette county.

The first death in the township was Martin Tripp, in 1820; the next was William R. Cole, and both were buried in the cemetery near Dover, which Mr. Cole had laid out himself.

The pioneer school of this section was taught in a log house just south of the village of Dover in 1822, by George Marquis, who soon afterwards died.

The first public school district was formed in May, 1840. In 1909 the total enrollment of pupils was eighty-one ; teachers employed, three ; average wages paid, forty-two dollars and fifty cents ; valuation of district, one hundred and sixty -five thousand dollars ; tax levy, sixty-five cents on a dollar.