Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 12: Religious Denominations, 1882 (part 2 of 2)

Seeing the Indians here in large numbers while on their journey at this time, the partners debarked, and after looking at its points and its advantages as a probable future trading-post, they proceeded on their wa}' to Council Bluffs, Iowa, the original place of their destination.

Being favorably impressed with the " Bluffs " as a trading-post, Mr. Robidoux returned to St. Louis and purchased a stock of goods, which he transported uj) the Missouri by a keel-boat, arriving at the " Bluffs" in the fall of 1809.

Here he remained for thirteen years, and while residing at the " Blufi's," in 1813, he married Angelique Yandory, another lady of St. Louis, who died in the city of St. Joseph on the iTth of January, 1857. By this union they had six sons and one daughter.

Readily adapting himself to the habits, manners and customs of the Indians, and speaking with considerable fluency the dialects of the tribes by whom he was surrounded, Mr. Robidoux became an expert Indian trader.

The American Fur Company were also in business at the " Bluffs," and had a monopoly of the entire Indian trade for some time previous to the locating»there of Mr. Robidoux. But a short time, however, passed after his arrival before he began to divide the trade, and finally became so popular with the Indians that he controlled a large portion of this trade, to the great detriment of the fnr company.

The company, wishing no further opposition from Mr. Robidoux, finally purchased his stock of goods, giving him fifty per cent on the original cost, and in addition thereto the sura of one thousand dollars annually for a period of three years, conditioned that he would leave the '' Bliifis."

He then returned to St. Louis, where he remained with his family, carrying on the business of a baker and confectioner, until tlie expiration of the three years, the time agreed upon between himself and the far company. Having spent already many years of his life among the Indians as a fur trader, a business which, if not entirely congenial to his taste, had at least been a profitable one, he concluded to embark once more in the same pursuit. Not that he really wished - but that he might reap therefrom a golden harvest. Making known his intention to the fur company, it at once offered him the post at the mouth of " Roy's Branch," just above the " Blacksnake Hills," at a salary of eighteen hundred dollars per year, provided he would in nowise interfere with the business at the " Bluffs."

This proposition he accepted, and having been furnished with a stock of goods he landed at the mouth of " Roy's Branch," in the fall of 1826. Shortly afterward he removed to the mouth of " Blacksnake Creek," where he continued to work for the fur company until 1830, at which time he purchased their entire interest in the goods then in his possession, and became the sole proprietor of the post at " Blacksnake Hills."

For many years the solitary log cabin of Joseph Robidoux was the only evidence of the presence of civilized man within a radius of fifty miles. With every puffing steamer which ascended the turbid waters of the Missouri came the emigrant and the adventurer, seeking homes in the western wilds. A few embryo settlements had been made along the banks of the great river in Jackson, Clay and other counties. The famous "Platte Purchase " became the new Eldorado, and the beauty of its rich, fertile valleys and prairies, fine timber, perennial springs and its numerous water courses, had been spread far and wide.

A few families from Franklin county, Missouri, consisting of Thomas and Henry Soller^ Elisha Gladden, Jane Purget, and a few others, settled near the spot in 1834, '35 and '36.

Kobidoux'S Home

the Occidental Hotel now stands - on the northwest corner of Jule and Second streets - and was a building of considerable magnitude. It stood east and west, was a story and a half and contained nine rooms - three above and six below. On the north side was a shed divided into three rooms. A covered porch was built on the south side extending the entire length of the building. The west room of the north shed was used by Mr. Robidoux as his sleeping-room. His store was the middle apartment of the main building, the entrance to which was through a door at the east end, first passing through an outer room to reach it.

So confident were some of the business men living in Clay and Clinton counties that some one of the last mentioned towns would be the future emporium of the "Platte Purchase," that they not only purchased land, but in one or two instances laid oflf towns and opened business houses. John "W. Samuels and Robert Elliott began business at "White Cloud, or what was known as "Hackberry Ridge," G, W. Samuels, now of St. Joseph, built a warehouse at Elizabethtown, where he bought and sold hemp, Amazonia was expected to be the county-seat of Andrew county, Charles Caples, concluding that the quarter section east and adjoining Amazonia, would be a more eligible spot for the building of a great city, laid it oft' into lots and gave it the name of Boston, These places, excepting Savannah, are numbered with the things of the past, and live only in the memories of the men whose pluck and energy gave them a name and brief existence,

In 1839, shortly after the arrival of Judge Toole in the county, he came to the " Blacksnake Hills" one afternoon, horseback, and while passing" along, near the present site of the Pacific House, he saw a large gray wolf, which he chased into the bottom, about where the first round-house now stands. In fact, the wolves were so numerous at that time in and about the " Blacksnake Hills " and their howls were so loud and incessant that to sleep at times was utterly impossible,

The first white male child born at "Blacksnake Hill" was Thomas B, Sollers, born in 1837, The first white female child was the daughter of Polly and Henry Sollers, born in 1838, in a small hut east of the present site of the Occidental Hotel. The first physician who came was Dr. Daniel G. Keedy, in 1838. Dr. Silas McDonald an-ived about the same time in the county.

He owned an old colored servant, who not only possessed a French name (Poulite), but who could speak the French tongue, having been raised among that nationality in St. Louis. This old man attended" to the culinary afiairs at the post.

Mr. Robidoux operated Ji ])rivMte ferry just below Francis street for crossing the Indians and those who were in his employ. The crossing generally was done in canoes, and occasionally in Mackinaw boats. The road leading from the ferry on the other side of the river led to Highland, Kansas, or to the Indian Mission, which was established after the removal of the Indians. The road from the ferry on this side passed below the Patee House, and crossed at Agency Ford, where it divided, one branch of which led to Liberty, Clay county, and the other in the direction of Grand River.

The next house (log) erected at Blacksnake Hills was built in March, 1836, and occupied by Thomas Sollers, east of Finger's packing-house, for Mr. Robidoux, who wished to take up another additional quarter section of land, and about this period began to think that Blacksnake Hills would develop into something greater than a mere trading-point for the convenience of the non-progressive and half-civilized Indian. No other improvements of a special character were made until the following year.

The treaty for the " Platte Purchase " had been negotiated, the Indians removed, the country opened to settlement, and hundreds of emigrants were flocking hither, locating in the interior and at different points along the Missouri.

The small colony at Blacksnake Hills was increased in number by the arrival of F. W. Smith, Joseph Gladden, Polly Dehard, Samuel Hull, John Freeman, Charles Zangenett, Father John Patchen, Captain James B. O'Toole, Judge Wm. C. Toole, William Fowler, Edwin Toole, and others.

Between the years above named the country settled rapidly, and one of several localities in or near the Missouri River, it was thought, would take precedence of all the other settlements, and become the chief town in this portion of the State. The respective aspirants for future greatness were Blacksnake Hills, White Cloud, Savannah, Amazonia, Boston and Elizabethtown, all north of St. Joseph, some eight or ten miles, and within a radius of five miles.

Beattie, located between Main and Second streets. In this tavern the Rev. T. S. Reeve preached the first sermon that was delivered at Blacksnake Hills.

A Four Thousand Dollar Burglary

Having regard to facts and dates as they occur chronologically, we have now reached a period (1842) in this history when there happened an inci dent which not only attracted the attention of the settlers at Blacksnake Hills and surrounding country, but furnished a theme for conversation around their firesides for months afterward, and as the circumstances connected therewith are of an interesting character, we shall narrate them: In the summer of 1842 Mr. Robidoux received from the Sac and Fox Indians the sum of four thousand dollars in silver, in four different boxes, each box containing one thousand dollars. Mr. Robidoux liad sold goods to these tribes to this amount, and when they were paid their annuity by the gov eminent its agent turned over to him the sum above mentioned.

Having no safe, Mr. Robidoux placed the boxes containing the money on one of the lowest shelves of his store, behind the coun ter,^ near a window. This window was secured at night by wooden shutters and fastened on the inside by a bolt.

On the east side of One Hundred and Two River lived at that time three families, bearing respectively the names of Spence, Scott and Davis. They were supposed to be counterfeiters, yet no one knew positively that they had ever passed any spurious money. The Spence boys, whose given names were John, George Monroe, Andy and James, were in the habit, in company with Scott and Davis, of visiting Blacksnake Hills almost daily, and while there would spend their time lounging about the solitary saloon, which stood upon the bottom, west of Blacksnake Creek, and at Mr. Robidoux's store.

For some days previous to the occurrence which followed, it was noticed that one of the Spence boys would often place himself in a recumbent position on the counter, with his face turned toward the shelf containing the boxes of money.

moved. As soon as it was ascertained by Mr. Kobidoux that his store had been bnrghirized and his money taken, immediate search was instituted by his clerk, Mr. Poulin, and others who volunteered their assistance. Suspectino- that the Spence boys knew all about the burglary, as well as the whereabouts of the missing treasure, they went in the direction of their house.

While en route, and on crossing Blacksnake Creek, the party discovered a man's shoe which had evidently been worn but once, as it was entirely new. The day before three of the Spence boys had purchased shoes of Mr. Poulin at Robidoux's store. Pie remembered that the shoes were of diflferent numbers, the smallest pair being sixes, and of cutting an unusual long buckskin shoe-string. The shoe found was a number six, and the buckskin string was "confirmation strong as holy writ " that the Spence boys were of the party of thieves, or were in some manner connected with the burglary. That they had worn the new shoes on the previous night, and that in their flight through the soft clay had lost one, was clear enough.

Being thus encouraged, the party pursued their way to the cabin where the Spences lived, surrounded it, and captured the Spence boys as well as Davis and Scott. Davis and Scott, however, were released. The others were brought before Justice Mills, and upon a preliminary examination were discharged, there not being sufficient proof to hold them for trial.

Sixteen or eighteen citizens, some of whom are still living, confident that the Spence boys and Davis and Scott had committed the crime, met the next day and proceeded in a body on horseback to Davis's and Scott's residence, determined, if they could, to bring the offenders to justice and restore the stolen money. In the meantime, Mr. Kobidoux had offered a reward of five hundred dollars for the capture and conviction of the thief or thieves and the recovery of the funds. Scott and Davis were taken prisoners and compelled to accompany the party of citizens, who, when about half way back to town, separated, the larger portion taking Davis on a hill and leaving Scott in the valley of the One Hundred and. Tw^o in charge of Elisha Gladden. They took Davis out of sight of Scott and just far enough away that Scott could hear the firing of a pistol. They then halted and told Davis that he must tell them where Robidoux's money was, or, if he refused, they would hang him. Pie strenuously denied all knowledge of the affair and told them to "' hang and be d - d." They put a rope around his. neck and swung him up, only intending to frighten and make him confess to the whereabouts of the money. After he had remained suspended for some minutes they let him down, and asked him to confess the crime. Davis being as bold and defiant as ever, they hung him again, this time almost taking his life. They again asked him to tell where the money was, when he again refused in a fiendish, insolent manner, branding them with a profusion of the lowest epithets. Seeing that Davis would tell nothing, some one of the party shot off a pistol (as previously arranged, if Davis did not coufess), so that Scott could hear It, and at the same time two or three of them rushed down the liill where Scott was guarded, shouting that they had " killed Davis " and were now " going to kill Scott."

One of these men held up his hand which he had accidently bruised coming down the hill, and which had some spots of blood on it, telling Scott, when Davis was shot, some of his blood had spurted on his hand. Gladden, who was guarding Scott, said, when the concussion of the pistol was heard, "that Scott's face ])ecame as pallid as death," he supposing that his accomplice had been killed.

Thej' gave him to understand that thej had disposed of Davis, and that if he did not tell them all about the money and the parties implicated in taking it, they would also dispose of him in a very summary manner, but promised that if he would give them this information, they would not only spare his life, but would supply him with monej^ enough to take him out of the country.

Believing what he had heard and seen to be true, and that the condition of things was such as had been represented, Scott asked some one present to give him a pencil and piece of paper. This being done, he wrote the names of all the parties concerned in the burglary (the Spence brothers, Davis and himself), and led the way to where one of the boxes had been buried, near the banks of the One Hundred and Two. So ingenious had been their plan, and so careful had they been to conceal all the traces of their villainy, that while digging a hole, in which to deposit the money, tbey placed every particle of dirt in a box and emptied it into the stream, excepting enough to refill the hole after the money was put in. Having four thousand dollars, they dug four holes. They then divided a blanket into four pieces, took the mone}^ out of the boxes, wrapped each thousand dollars separately, buried it by itself, and then refilled the hole, covering it over with the same sod that they had taken up, and then burned the boxes.

Scott could only show them where the first thousand dollars was. He did not see them when they buried the other three thousand. They, however, found the first thousand. How or where to obtain the balance of the money they did not know. Scott could not tell, and Davis, they supposed, would not. They had tried threats and hanging with him, but without avail.

In the meantime Davis was still in custody. They went to him, told him that Scott had confessed, and it would be better for him to confess, also. That Scott had not only given them the names of the persons who stole the money, but had shown them where the first thousand dollars was buried. He still refused to believe or say anything. To convince him of the truth of what they said, they took him to the spot from which they had taken the money, and showed him the piece of blanket in which it was wrapped. JSTo longer doubting what he liad seen and heard, he called for a drink of whisky, which was given him, and after drinking it told them he would show them where the balance of the money was buried.

To further show that Davis and his pals were accomplished villains, and* possessed a cunning ingenuity which would have been creditable to the pirates and freebooters of a past century, and which in some respects is not unlike the narrative of "Arthur Gordon Pym," by the gifted Voe, it is only necessary to mention how he proceeded to show when and how to find the balance of the raontey stolen.

He stood at the edge of the hole from which the first thousand dollars had been taken, and stepping fifteen paces to the south, pointed to his feet and said: " Here you will find a thousand dollars." He then led the way to a small log, with a single knot on it, and said, " Under that knot, in the ground, you will find another thousand dollars." Going to the bank of the One Hundred and Two, in the sand, 'neath a willow tree, iTuder a broken branch that bent downward, said, " You will find the last thousand dollars here."

Scott and Davis were held in custody, but during the night Davis escaped, and Scott was finally discharged on the ground of his having made confession, and giving the names of the persons who had committed the burglary. The Spence boys left the country.

St. Joseph Laid Out

In June, 1843, Mr. Hobidoux laid out the original town, the site of which was covered with a luxuriant growth of hemp. Simeon Kemper acted as surveyor in this important undertaking, and Elisha Gladden as chainbearer. Two maps of the town were made - one by F. W. Smith, and the other by Simeon Kemper, bearing respectively the names of " Kobidoux " and " St. Joseph," in honor of its founder. The map drawn by Mr. Smith was selected b}^ Mr. Kobidoux, and the more civilized and felicitious appellative of St. Joseph was substituted for that of Blacksnake Hills.

This map was taken to St. Louis, where Mr. Robidoux acknowledged it in the office of the clerk of the Court of Common Pleas (Nathaniel Paschall, who has since been one of the editors of the St. Louis Republican, being the clerk at the time), and after having it lithographed, returned to St. Joseph.

" I, Joseph Robidoux, of the county of Buchanan, and the. State of Missouri, do hereby declare that I am the proprietor and owner of a certain town named St. Joseph, located upon the southwest fractional quarter of section eight, township fifty-seven north, range thirty-five west of the fifth ^principal meridian, and that I have laid ofl" the same into lots and blocks, bounded by streets and alleys, and a levee, or landing on the front, which streets and alleys are of the width set forth upon this plat, and the lots and blocks are of the dimensions and numbers as are indicated upon said plat ; and the course of said streets and the extent of said lots, blocks and town are correctly set forth upon this plat of the same, which was made by my authority and under my direction. And 1 do hereby give, grant, allot and convey, for public uses, all the streets and alleys, by the names and of the extent that are set forth upon said plat. And I do hereby declare this dedication to be made by me, this, the 26th day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-three, to be binding upon me, my heirs and assigns forever.

Certificate Of Proprietor'S Acknowledgment

" Be IT REMEMBERED, that ou this 26th day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-three, before me, the undersigned, clerk of the St. Louis Court of Common Pleas, within and for said county, came Joseph Robidoux, who is personally known to me to be the same person whose name is subscribed to the above plat, as having executed the said plat, and who acknowledged to me that he executed said plat for the purposes therein named.

" In testimony whereof, I have set my hand and aflSxed the seal of said court at office in the city of St. Louis, and State aforesaid, 26th day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-three.

Blocks And Lots Donated

The west half of block thirty-one was reserved on the map as a market cquare ; the west half of block fifty was donated for a public church ; the northwest quarter of block thirty-eight for a public school, and the south quarter of the same block for a Catholic church.

These lots were immediately put upon the market, even before the title to them was complete. This was perfected in 1844, at which time a United States land-office was located at Plattsburg, Missouri.

The uniform price of corner lots was one hundred and fifty dollars, and inside lots one hundred dollars. As rapidly as sale could be made the money was applied in payment of a mortgage, held by Pierre Chouteau, Jr., of St.

The town, as then laid off, included all the territory lying between Eobidoux Street on the north and Messanie Street on the south, and between Sixth Street on the east and the Missouri River on the west, and contained sixty-four blocks, twelve of which are fractional. Each whole block is 240 by 300 feet, bisected by an alley and containing twelve lots.

The streets are governed by the cardinal points of the compass; those running back from the river in the " Original Town," extending north and south, are Water, Levee, Main (or First), Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth; and those running at right angles, commencing on the parallel of the north line, are Isadore, Eobidoux, Faraon, Jules, Francis, Felix, Edmond, Charles, Sylvanie, Angelique, Messanie. These names are derived from members of Mr. Robidoux's family.

In 1844-5 the first church edifice in the town, a log building, 20x30 feet, was erected, under the direction of Rev. T. S. Reeve, a Presbyterian clergyman. It was located on the lot where the business house of John S. Brittain & Co. now stands.

In the fall of 1845, on a sabbath-day evening, while religious services M-ere being held, a loud, rough knock was heard upon the door. Without waiting for a response, the door was thrust wide open, when in stalked a large, burly-looking individual from Grand River.

With hat on and hand raised, he advanced toward the pulpit and motioned to the minister to stop. The man of God (Rev. T. S. Reeve) being thus rudely and inopportunely accosted, left off preaching, when the stranger said :

Mr. Donnfell being present, and taking in the situation at a glance, immediately' left his seat and went out of the house ^^'ith the enterprising and redoubtable honey vender. Whether he purchased the " bar'] " we cannot say. The man, however, who, nothing daunted, had so persistently hunted him up, braving the parson and the astonished gaze of the congregation, certainly deserved some consideration at the hands of Mr. Donnell. We hope, therefore, a bargain was made, and that his Grand River friend returned home a happier, if not a wiser man.

The log church was first permanently occupied in the winter of 1844-5. In the fall of the year 1844 the first Union sabbath-school was organized, and a committee of ladies sent out for the purpose of making collections for the school. Joseph Kobidoux, the founder of the city, made tlie first donation of ten dollars in mone}' for the school. This was the first time a subscription paper had ever been carried around, and it elicited some practical jokes from its novelty among those who subscribed, and who are now among the oldest citizens.

The log church was also occupied once a month by the Methodist denomination for some time, and twice a month, until their own church was built, in 1846. In August, of that year, trustees were appointed by the First Presbyterian Church, under the care of the Lexington Presbytery, in connection with the '' Constitutional General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church." During the same year a building committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the erection of a new house of worship. Money was raised by subscription, and in 1847 was erected the brick building on the northeast corner of Fourth and Francis streets, in dimensions fifty feet front by sixty feet. The first services were held in the church in the winter of 1849-50.

This building was used without interruption till the closing of the church and dispersion of the congregation in 1801, at the breaking out of the civil war. It then passed through various hands, till it finally became, by purchase, the property of the German congregation now occupying it.

The citizens of St. Joseph are justly proud of their excellent system of public schools, which not only aftbrd a practical and liberal education for their children at home, but have given the city character and reputation abroad. They have been one of the most important factors in attracting immigration, and have done more than any other institution to add to the population, wealth and general prosperity of the city. They are the schools in which the great masses of the children are educated - the children of the wealth}^ of the men of moderate means and of the poor alike - all classes, and frequently many nationalities, being rej)resented in the same school.

Until the year 18G0, no attempt at any system of public schools had been made in St. Joseph. Occasionally a free school would be taught for a month or two, or for a sufficient length of time to absoi'b what was not wasted or lost of the city's share of the public school-fund. But there was no public school-system, and St. Joseph had merely the organization of a country school-district. In that year a few of the most enterprising of her citizens determined to make an eflbrt to establish a system of public schools. They sought and obtained from the legislature of the State a good and liberal charter.

This charter has been twice amended by the legislature, at the request of the board of public schools; once in 1866 and once in 1872. Edward

Everett said: "To read the Eiiirlish language well, to write a neat, legible hand, and to be master of the tbnr rules of arithmetic, I call this a good education." Any pupil completing a course in the St. Joseph schools should have an education far above that standard, and be well prepared to enter upon any of the ordinary business avocations of life. But that the system of public instruction may be as complete and thorough in St. Joseph as in any Eastern city, a high school, with a liberal course of study, was organized in ISfiO, which lias graduated 208 young ladies and gentlemen who are filling useful and honorable positions in society. Of the above number, forty-four are either teaching now or have been teachers in the public schools o\' St. Joseph.

Thk Gazette

The lirst newspaper, the Gazette, a weekly, was establislied in St. Joseph in 1845, its first issue appearing on Friday, the 25th day of April, of that year. The proprietor was William Ridenbaugh. When commencing the publication of his paper he had extensively circulated throughout Buchanan and the adjoining counties, the following:

"Again, the spirit of internal improvement is abroad, our people are determined not only to improve tlie transporting facilities now had, but to add others, which will place us on terms more nearly equal with other parts of the world. Then all the advantages we have in soil and climate will become available; then a new impetus will have been given to the industrious farmer; then the call upon the merchant for the necessaries and comforts of life will have been vastly increased; then health and prosperity will everywhere greet the eye of the beholder; then ours shall be a town and county in which the wealthy, industrious and educated of the other and older States will love to settle, and the situation of our town and surrounding scenery, which are now surpassingly lovely, will be enhanced by the touch of art, and the citizen oi- visitor of cultivated or refined taste will love to contemplate their beauty."

The above article was written in the spring of 1847, and is doubtless a faithful and coi-rect representation of St. Joseph and her business prospects at that time. Four years had elapsed from the laying out of tlie town, and the inferences drawn from the editorial are that notwithstanding many difiiculties had heretofore intervened, such as the jealousies of rival towns, imperfect navigation facilities, and other hindrances, the town had continued to prosper.

The people of St. Joseph early awoke to a sense of the importance and necessity of railroad commmiication with the East. About the first reference to this matter we find in the Gazette, of Friday, November 6, 1846: difficulty of navigation and the extremely high rates the ])oats now charge. Our farmers may calculate that they will get m'uch less for i)roduce and will be compelled to pay much more for their goods than heretofore, and this will certainly always be the case when the Missouri River shall be as low as it now is. The chances are fearfully against having any considerable work bestowed in improving the river, and until it is improved by artificial means the navigation of it to this point must always be dangerous and very uncertain.

" The prospects for this fall and winter are well calculated to make the people look about to see if there is no way to remedy this inconvenience, if there can be any plan suggested whereby our people can be placed more nearly upon terms of equality with the good citizens of other parts of our land.

" "We suggest the propriety of a railroad from St. Joseph to some point on the' Mississippi, either St. Louis, Hannibal or Quincy. For ourselves we like the idea of a railroad to one of the latter places suggested, for this course would place us nearer the Eastern cities, and make our road thither a direct one; we like this road, too, because it would so much relieve the intermediate country which is now suffering and must always suffer so much for transporting facilities in the absence of such an enterprise.

" If this be the favorite route we must expect opposition from the southern portion of the State, as well as all the river counties below this. For the present we mean merely to throw out the suggestion, with the view of awakening public opinion, and eliciting a discussion of the subject. In some future number we propose presenting more advantages of such a road, and will likewise proj^ose and enforce by argument the ways and means of accomplishing the object."

The charter for the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was secured mainly by the exertions of Robert M. Stewart, afterward governor of the State, and, at the time of its issuance, a member of the State senate, and of General James Craig, and Judge J. E. Gardenhire.

About the spring of 1857 work was begun on the west end, and by March of that year the track extended out from St. Joseph a distance of seven miles. The lirst fire under the first engine that started out of St. Joseph on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was kindled by M. Jeff. Thompson. This was several years before the arrival of the first through train in February, 1859. (Sometime in the early part of 1857.)

The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was completed February 13, 1859. On Monday, February 14, 1859, the first through passenger train ran out of St. Joseph. Of this train E. Sleppy, now (1881) master mechanic of the St. Joseph and "Western Machine Shops, in Elwood, was engineer, and Benjamin H. Colt, conductor.

The first master luecluuiic of tlic Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad shops in St. Joseph was (\, F. Shivel. These shops were established in 1857. In the tbllowinij^ year Mr. Shivel ])nt up the first car ever built in the city.

On the 22d of February, 1859, occui-red in St. Josepli the celebration of the completion of the Hannibal and St. Joseph road. This was, beyond doubt, the grandest display ever witnessed in the city, up to that period.

Mr. Jeff. Thompson, at that time mayor of the city, presided over the ceremonies and festivities of this brilliant occasion. The city was wild with enthusiasm, and the most profuse and unbounded hospitalitj' prevailed.

A grand banquet was held in the spacious apartments of the Odd Fellows' Hall, which then stood on the corner of Fifth and Felix streets. Not less than six hundred invited guests were feasted here; and it was estimated that several thousand ate during the day at this hospitable board.

Broaddus Thompson, Esq., a brother of General M. Jeff. Thompson^ made the grand speech of the occasion, and performed the ceremony of mingling the waters of the two mighty streams thus linked by a double band of iron.

The completion of the road constitutes an era in the history of St. Joseph^ and from that period dawned the light of a new prosperity. In the five succeeding years the population of the city was quadrupled, and her name heralded to the remotest East as the rising emporium of the West.

In the summer of 1872 this road commenced the building of a branch southward from St. Joseph, twenty-one miles, to the city of Atchison. This was completed in October of the same year.

The St. Joseph and Western is one of the most valuable roads that leads into St. Joseph, and has been the source of a large trade from the neighboring State of Kansas.

The Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs road is not so important, having parallel roads in opposition, and nntil it came under the control of the C, B. & Q. it lacked comprehensive business views and enlightened management. It is, however, a good, local road, all the way from Sioux City to Kansas City, but as a northern and southern road, with competing lines, will not be of very great value as an investment.

The ]\tissouri Pacitic is another road that has run to the city, but found it far from profitable, and are now building from Atchison north, into Nebraska. This road, like the K. C. & C. B., is of great local convenience to the people and St. Joseph.

Tlie Wal.'ash, St. Louis and Pacific, as its southeastern route to St. Louis, the St. Joseph and Western, and the Hannil)al and St. Joseph, will always be the leading roads. The first mentioned running a branch to St. Joseph, giving them a route to St. Louis over what was called the Kansas City, St. Louis and Northern, now all known as the Wabash system.

The St. Joseph and Des Moines is another new road of local importance, although giving another Chicago route to the city of " pools and corners." There are now (1881) three lines of street railway in St. Joseph. The Board of Trade was organized October 19, 1878.

Wholesale Trade

The rapid increase of the wholesale trade of St. Joseph is simply remarkable. The merchants, in January, looked forward to a greatly increased trade, but they did not tliink for a moment that it would go so far beyond the expectations of the most sanguine. Such, however, has been the case, and there is no telling what proportions the trade will assume in 1881. To accommodate this increase of business, many of our merchants are compelled to erect more commodious buildings. The many magnificent wholesale structures that have gone up in the past few months bear ample evidence to the truth of this assertion.

Gas Works

In the year 1856 J. B. Ranney and associates proposed to the city authorities that privileges should be granted to a company to be organized of which the city should take one-half the capital stock and himself and associates the remaining half. The proposal was agreed to and the city became a stockholder. The works were erected and met with a steady loss even at the rate of five and six dollars charged per thousand feet of gas to consumers. The city sold out for twenty cents on the dollar. They continued changing hands and losing money until the purchase of the works in 1871, by James Clemens and his associates, of Detroit, Michigan, under the name of the Citizens' Gas Light Company, for the sum of $50,000. This company greatly enlarged and otherwise improved the works, and secured a contract for lighting the street lamps, which had remained unlighted several years. The trouble was that the people had not progressed far enough to fully appreciate gas in their business houses or private residences, and the cost of introducing was an item of serious contemplation while their residences to a large extent were not built with gas arrangements. The company, however, began to prosper for the first time in the history of gas in St. Joseph when a new company was granted equal facilities with them and proposed to cut down the price of gas and teach the citizens of St. Joseph the beauties of its use.

In 1878 this new company came to the front under the name of the Mutual Gas Light Compan3\ tlie ])resent owners of the works, and made proposals to the authorities, through their president, C. PI. Nash, to supply present consumers with gas at $2.50 per thousand feet, and tlie street lamps at $25 per annum. The old company had charged $4 per thousand feet and $30 for lighting the street lamps per year. They were granted the franchise and awarded the city contract, and this resulted in the sale of the entire works and franchise of the old company to the Mutual Gas Light Association.

The latter company has erected elegant new works on the corner of Lafayette and Sixth streets, capable of supplying a city of 75,000 inhabitants.

The company have now placed in position over twenty miles of main pipe, supplying over eight hundred consumers and nearly five hundred street lamps.

One of the chief needs of St. Joseph for more than ten years past has been a complete and perfect system of water-works, to be employed both as a safeo-uard against fire and as a means of averting the possibilities of a deficient supply in seasons of drought.

But it was not until the 10th day of December, 1879, that anything was actually accomplished in that direction, at which date the mayor approved an ordinance passed by the city council authorizing the construction of water- works upon the " gravity system," the supply to be obtained from the Missouri River above the city limits.

On December 23, 1879, the contract was let to the St. Joseph Water Company, under bond to complete the works and furnish a full supply of pure, wholesome water within twelve months from that date. Tliis company commenced work on the 4th day of January, 1880, and upon the 12th day of January, 1881, the works were accepted by the city authorities as perfectly satisfactory.

The great basins are supplied with water by the engines below, the water first being forced into a well west of the elevation, and after that it runs through pipes into the reservoirs, of which there are three. The settling basin is 380 feet long by 85 feet wide, and its capacity is three million gallons. Its depth is twenty feet, and its water level is two feet higher than the reservoir on the south.

The north basin, which is intended for the filtered water, is 150 feet wide and 300 feet long, and has a capacity of six million of gallons.

If at any time it should be required to empty these basins there is certain machinery on hand tliat can be placed at work immediately and the old water can be replaced by that which is fresh and pure.

Reservoir Hill is 330 feet above high water mark, and it is 122 feet higher than any point in St. Joseph. In the business portion of the city the pressure has been, since the works were in operation, 120 pounds to the square inch.

that in the business portion of the city a stream can be thrown through hose, with a proper nozzle attached, to the height of about 110 feet, while at tlie corner of Nineteenth and Francis streets, one of the highest points within the eastern cor^jorate limits, a distance of sixty-five feet has been shown to be the extreme limit of the elevation.

At the present writing something over twenty miles of main pipe have been laid in place and one hundred and eighty-two hydrants placed at proper locations and in working order.

The works were to cost at first $300,000, but the company kept adding to the original estimate until the works complete have cost $700,000 instead of the amount first estimated.

The Union Depot

To John B. Carson, general manager of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, belongs the credit of originating a plan for the construction of a union depot at St. Joseph.

After various conferences of the union depot projectors, the erection of the building was finally determined upon in April, 18S0, when the St. Joseph Union Depot Company was organized, with the following companies as incorporators and stockholders: Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad Company, Missouri Pacific Railway Company, St. Joseph and Western Railroad Company, which is a part of the Union Pacific; Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Blufi's Railroad Company, which is a part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad; Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad Company ; St. Joseph and Des Moines Railroad Company.

The ground which was selected and legally condemned for this enterprise is situated on the east side of Sixth Street, near the corner of Mitchell Avenue, that having been found to be the most suitable location for a common point of meeting for the different railroads operating their lines through this city. It embraces a tract of six acres, all of which will be required for its buildings, sheds, platforms, tracks, etc.

The style of the building is Eastlake domestic gothic, and contemplates a building 400 feet in length and fifty feet in width, set back from Sixth Street thirty-six feet, so as to give room for carriage-way between present street line and front of building.

Live Stock

There were about 4,000 horses and mules sold in this market in 1880, of a total value of $350,000. A great portion of this number were shipped out to Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Louisiana and South Carolina.

Packing-Houses

There are at present (1881) three packing-houses in the city. The oldest of these was established by the present proprietor, David Pinger, in 1853. It is near the Francis Street depot. About five hands are generally employed. Slaughtering here is principally done for the l)utchers.

Hax & Bi'other were established in 1868. Their packing-house and oftice are on the corner of F'ourth and Mary streets. They employ in the winter season between sixty and eighty hands, and also pack to a limited extent in summer.

The packing-house of II. Krug & Co. was established in the winter of 1877-8, II. Krug, president; James McCord, vice-president and treasurer; George C. Hax, secretary. The capital stock of the company is $72,000. In the winter of 1879-80 this house packed between 60,000 and 65,000 hogs. In the summer about 24,000 head were packed. In August, 1881, they slaughtered 1,800 hogs per week.

Connett Brothers, who packed in 1880 about 6,000 hogs, on their farm in the county, are now (1881) erecting a spacious brick structure south of the city limits, which will cost, when completed, about $25,000 or $30,000. Its packing capacity will be from 1,000 to 1,500 per day.

The past winter has afforded the best ice harvest ever before known in this city. The following statement shows the number of tons taken from the Missouri Hiver and Lake Contrary and stored for use:

The average cost of storing ice last season was less than $1.00 per ton, while the average cost of imported ice the year previous was $4.50 per tou.

Opera House

No other city in the entire West can hoast of so fine u temple devoted fo the dramatic art, nor comparing in size and elepjance of appointment, vith tlie Opera House in this city.

The i>uildin2: was erected by Mr. Milton Tootle, in 1873, at a cost of 3150,000. If is regarded by all as the finest theater west of Chicago.

Interesting Items

Ill accoi'dance with a res()luti(jn of the Board of Trade recently adopted, a committee ap}iointed for that ])ur|)ose has i)repared ai'ticles of association for the incorporation <»f a stock com])any, to be called tlieChaml)er of Commerce, the object of which is to perfect a plan for the erection of a Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce building in this city. The organization has been completed, and it is thought that the necessary stock can be placed at once. The location has not yet been determined upon, but it is designed to secure a corner lot, if possible, near to the business center of the city.

The St. Joseph glucose company was formed in June, 1880. The name of the company is Tlie St. Joseph Refining Company. It has all of the latest improved machinery, and a capacity for making up 3,000 bushels of corn daily. The building is situated in South St. Joseph, and covers over an acre of ground.

Situated on South Fourth Street, in the premises formerly t>ccu|»ied by the Evans, Day 6c Co. Canning Factory, are the Star Preserving AVorks, owned and operated by Albert Fischer & Co. They ha\e recently enlarged the premises with additional buildings until they cover nearly an entire square.

The capucity of the works are 40,000 cans, or 1,800 bushels of tomatoes per day, or from 1,000 to 1,200 bushels of peas. During the preserving season these works have about 250 employes upon their pay-roll.

Produce Packing

The packing of butter, eggs, apples, potatoes, and other pixnluce is assuming immense proportions, and as St. Joseph is situated in the heart of the finest agricultural district in the world, this industry must increase with each succeeding year.

The military force of the city consists of two battalions, composed of five companies of infantry, all superbly equipped and exceedingly well drilled.

The First Telegraph Line

built to St. Joseph was completed to that point on the day of the inauguration of President Franklin Pierce. The first dispatch to come over the line to St. Joseph was his inaugural address. The name of the telegraph operator who received the message was Peter Lovell. His office was on the southwest corner of Second and Jule streets.

Post-Office And Finances

St. Joseph is the third city in size in the State, and its population, by the census of 1880, is 32,484. It is gaining moderately, but the spirit of enterprise has never been very highly developed by lier people. Her wholesale merchants are opposed to further opposition in their line, and, as a rule, they do little to advertise their business; some of the heaviest never putting a line of advertisements in, the papers year in and year out, while many do it grudgingly, as a sort of tax which they are compelled to pay. It is like St. Louis, slow to move, and like the latter city, it has some live, energetic men, but not enough to leaven the mass.

In scope of country tributary to her growth and prosperity St. Joseph has little to complain of, and if an energetic spirit possessed her people she would have a surprising growth the next ten years. As it is, she is likely to retain her present position as the third city in the State. She has a refined and cultivated people, hospitable and generous, but her business interests are carried on to the extreme upon the basis of self. With an increase of population and more extended and broader views St. Joseph's future is one of promise.

Homestead Exemption Law

Tlie homestead exemption law of tlie State of Missouri has been uue of the most enlightened laws passed for the benefit of the people. In the last session of the general assembly of the State, the spring of 1880-81, there was a material change in the law, and it is given here in full. Thus every head of a family can be secure in a home of moderate value, if he will not waive his right to it. There are printed notes now drawn up in which there is a clause printed waiving the right of holding such property under that law. When a man signs such a note, his home stands in the same light as his other property. These notes should never be signed unless by or with the consent of the wife as well as the husband. The law reads, as amended, as follows and is in full force at this time:

Section 1. Section twenty-six hundred and eighty-nine (2689) of the Eevised Statutes of Missouri, is hereby amended by striking out, " or incorporated towns and villages having a less population," and inserting in lieu thereof, '* having a population of ten thousand or less," in twelfth line, and by inserting immediately after " dollars," fifteenth line, the words " and in cities and incorporated towns and villages having a population less than ten thousand, such homesteads shall not include more than five acres of ground or exceed the total value of $1,500," so that said section as amended shall read as follows:

Sec. 2689. The homestead of every housekeeper or head of a family, consisting of a dwelling-house and appurtenances, and the land in connection therewith, not exceeding the amount and value herein limited, which is or shall be used by such housekeeper, or head of a family as such homestead, shall, together with the rents, issues and products thereof, be exempt from attachment and execution, except as herein provided; such homestead in the country shall not include more than one hundred and sixty acres of land, or exceed the total value of fifteen hundred dollars; and in cities having a population of forty thousand or moi'e, such homestead shall not include more than eighteen square rods of ground, or exceed the total value of three thousand dollars; and in cities having a population of ten thousand and less than forty thousand, such homestead shall not include more than thirty square rods of ground, or exceed the total value of fifteen hundred dollars; and in cities and incorporated towns and villages having a popnlation less than ten thousand, sucli homestead shall not include more than five acres of ground, or exceed the total value of fifteen hundred dollars; and any married woman may file her claim to the tract or lot of land occupied by her and her husband, or by her, if abandoned by her husband, as a homestead; said claim shall set forth the tract or lot claimed, that she is the wife of the person in whose name the said tract or lot appears of record, and said claim shall be acknowledged by her before some oflicer authorized to take proof or acknowledgments of instruments of writing, afiecting real estate, and be filed in the recorder's ofiice, and it shall be the duty of the recorder to receive and record the same. Aftei* the filing of such claims, duly acknowledged, the husband shall be debarred from, and incapable of selling, mortgaging or alienating the homestead in any manner whatever, and every such sale, mortgage or alienation is hereby declared null and void; and the filing of any such claims, as aforesaid, with the recorder, shall impart notice to all j^ersons of the colitents thereof, and all subsequent purchasers and mortgagers shall be deemed, in law and equit}^, to purchase with notice: Provided^ hoioever, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent the husband and wife from jointly conveying, mortgaging, alienating or in any other manner disposing of such homestead or any part thereof.

Husband Not Liable

Section 1. The property owned by a man before his marriage, and that which he may acquire after his marriage by purchase, descent, gift, grant, devise, or in any other manner whatsoever, and the profits thereof, excej^t such as may be acquired from the wife, shall be exempt from all debts and liabilities contracted or incurred by his wife before their marriage.

Bights Of Married Women

The law passed by the general assembly on the rights and privileges of married women is full and complete, is composed of fourteen sections and too long to be embodied in this work. The law can be found in the 'i Revised Statutes of Missouri, volume 1, 1879," It is chapter 51, and found on pages 557 to 561.

Hedges Trimmed

It may not be known to all that a law was passed by the last general assembly (1880-1881), that " every person owning a hedge fence, over five years old, upon the line of any public road or highway in this State, is hereby required to cut down the same, to the height of not more than five feet nor less than four feet, every two years: Provided, that hedge fences inclosing orchards, house-yards and stock-yards, shall be exempt from the provisions of this act,"

The overseer of roads is to serve the notice and the owner has thirty days to commence, and if he fail to do it the overseer shall have it done and the owner must pay all expenses of the same. It can be collected of him by law, same as revenue for road purposes.

Changing School-House Sites

Section 1. The voters of any school-district in this State may change the location of a school-house site when the same, for any cause, may be deemed necessary and notice of such comtemplated change shall have been given by the directors at least twenty days prior thereto by posting at least three written notices in three of the most public places in the district where such school-house site shall be located: Provided, that in every case a majority of the voters of said district shall only be necessary to remove a site nearer the center of a school district, but in all cases to remove a site further from the center of a school-district it shall require two-thirds of the legal voters of such school-district.

The legislature of 1880-81, passed a marriage license act which makes it necessary for persons before marriage to secure a license. No person authorized to perform the marriage ceremony, can legally do so without first seeing the license, and a marriage performed without a license is not legal and a penalty is attached. The intent of the law is to have an official record which will stand in the courts and settle any dispute either of marriage or property which may hereafter arise. The law reads:

Section 2. The recorder of the county issues the license and the parties must be, the male 21 years and the female 18 years of age. If younger the parents or guardian must give consent,

The business of jpublishing hooks hy subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations

Twt authorized hy the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made:

A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consideration is that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work are described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional, or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied, or rescinded verbally, hut if done, at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.

Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode and have no authority to do it any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other manner. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery nor bind their principal for the payment of exp)enses incurred in their business.

It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what it is; and if they cannot read themselves call on some one disinterested who can.

Laws Of Missouri

I, James Johnson, of the town of Muncle, county of Delaware, and State of Indiana, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner as follows; to- wit.,

First - I give, devise and bequeath to my son James Horace Johnson, $1,000 in bank stock, of the First Kational Bank of Boston, and the farm owned by myself, in the township of AVashington, Shelby county, Missouri, and consisting of eighty acres of land with all the houses, tenements and improvements thereunto belonging, to have and to hold unto my said son. his heirs and assigns forever.

Second - I give, devise and bequeath to each of my two daughters, Ida Louisa Johnson and Annie May Johnson, each $1,000 in cash, and each one a quarter section of land owned by myself in the township of Jasper, Henry county, Illinois, and recorded in my name in the record of said county, where said land is located; the north 160 acres to go to Ida Louisa, tny eldest daughter.

Third - I give, devise and bequeath to my son Thomas Alfred Johnson, ten shares of railroad stock in the Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, and my lot, with the residence thereon, in Dayton, Ohio, with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the county where situated.

Fourth - ! give to my wife Samuella Richardson Johnson, all my household furniture, goods, chattels and personal property about my home not hitherto disposed of, including $5,000 of bank stock, in the Merchants' National Bank of Toledo, Ohio, fifteen shares in the Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, possession and benefit of the home farm so long as she may live, in lieu of dower to which she is entitled by law, said farm being my present place of residence.

Fifth - It is also my will and desire that at the death of my wife, Samuella Richardson Johnson, or at any time when she may arrange to relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each.

And lastly - I nominate and appoint as executors of this, my last will and testament, my wife, Samuella Richardson Johnson, and my eldest son, James Horace Johnson.

I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shall be paid Irom moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Dayton, Ohio, the residue of such money to revert to my wife, Samuella Richardson Johnson, for her use forever.

In witness whereof, I, James Johnson, to this, my last will and testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of December, 1876.

Signed and declared by James Johnson as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names hereunto as witnesses

Codicil

Whereas, I, James Johnson, did,'on the fourth day of December, 1876,. make my last will and testament, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof.

Whereas, A son has been born to me, which son is now christened Jolm Wesley Johnson, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all right, interest and title in lands, bank stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Ida Louisa, in the body of this will.

Signed, sealed, published and declared to us by the testator, James Johnson, as and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament, and we, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof.

Form Of Lease

And it is further ac^reed that if any rent sliall be due or unpaid, or if default be made in any of the covenants herein contained, it shall then be lawful for the said party of the first part to re-enter the said premises, or to distrain for such rent; or he may recover possession thereof, by action of forcible entry and detainei-, or he may use all or any of the remedies to effect snch possession.

And the party of the second part agrees to pay to the party of the first part the rent as above stated, except when said premises are untenantable by reason of fire, or from any other cause than the carelessness of the party of the second part, or persons family, or in employ, or by superior force or inevitable necessity. And the said party of the second part premises, or permit the same to be used, for any unlawful business or purposes whatsoever; that * will not sell, assign, underlet or relinquish said premises without the written consent of the lessor, under a penalty of a forfeiture of all rights under this lease, at the election of the party of the property, with the buildings, gates, fences, trees, vines, shrubbery, etc., from damages by fire and the depredation by animals; that will keep buildings, gates, fences, etc., in as good repair as they now are, or may at any time be placed by the lessor, damages by superior force, inevitable necessity, or fire from any other cause than from the carelessness of the lessor, or persons of family, or in employ, excepted; and that upon the expiration of this lease, or upon a breach by said lessee of any of the said covenants herein contained will, without further notice of any kind, quit and surrender the occupancy and possession of said premises in as good condition as reasonable use, natural wear and decay thereof will permit, damages by fire as aforesaid, superior force, or inevitable necessity, alone excepted.

Real Estate Mortgage Laws Of Missouki

And the said mortgagor agrees to pay all taxes that may be levied upon the above described premises. It is also agreed by the mortgagor that if it becomes necessary to foreclose this mortgage, a reasonable amount shall be allowed as an attorney's fee for foreclosing. And the hereby relinquishes all her right of dower and homestead in and to the above described premises.

Chattel Mortgage

and do hereby warrant tlie title of said property, and that it is free from any incumbrance or lien. The only right or interest retained by grantor in the said property being the right of redemption herein provided. This conveyance to be void upon condition that the said grantor shall pay to said grantee, or his assigns, the full amount of principal and interest at the time

The grantor to pay all taxes on said property, and if at any time any part or portion of said notes should be due and unpaid, said grantor may proceed by sale or foreclosure to collect and pay himself the unpaid balance of said notes, whether due or not, the grantor to pay all necessary expenses of such foreclosure, including % attorney's fees, and whatever remains after paying off" said notes and expenses, to be paid over to said grantor.

Warranty Deed

And do hereby covenant with the said that a - lawfully seized in fee simple of said premises; that they are free from incumbrance; that ha - good right and lawful authority to sell the same,

A note to be payable in anything else but money, needs only the article substituted in the above form. " With interest," means at the legal rate, and any other rate must be mentioned, or if no interest is to be paid until after the maturity of the note it should be so stated.

Valuable Rules

How to find the gross and net weight of a hog, is by the rule that a hog's net weight is one fifth less than his gross weight. For instance, a hog weighing 400 pounds gross, would when dressed weigh 320.

A good rule to find the capacity of a granary or a wagon-bed is multiply by (short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point off one decimal place - the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of bushels.

To find the contents of a corn-crib multiply the number of cubic feet by 54 (short method) or by 4^ ordinary method, and point off one decimal - the result will be the answer in bushels. This rule applies when it is first cribbed and before the corn shrinks.

For the contents of a cistern or tank, multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method) and point off one decimal place - the result will be the contents in barrels of 31^ gallons each. -

To measure boards multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches), divide the product by 12 - the result will be the contents in square feet.

The same in substance is the rule for scantling, joists, plank, sills, etc. Multiply the width, thickness and length together (the width and thickness in inches and the length in feet) and divide the product by 12 - the result will be square feet.

To find the number of brick required in a building, multiply the number of cubic feet by 22-|-. The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height and thickness (in feet) together.

Weights And Measures

The lawful weight of the following articles is the following number of pounds per bushel, and so understood when no special contract is made.

Laws Of Missodrt Missouri Game Law

There has been so many violations of the game law that its publication is one of interest. Many persons violate this law through ignorance, and others willfully. The penalty is here given for all such acts. Every good citizen and lover of hunting is interested in preventing the law from being trampled upon, and those willfully breaking it should be forced to pay the penalty. A synopsis of the law is as follows: -

It is unlawful to have in possession or to sell any of the game birds named that do not show shot marks, it heing prima facie evidence that they have been trapped or netted contrary to law.

It is unlawful for any railroad, express company, or other carrier, to receive for transportation any of the birds or game mentioned, when the killing of the same is prohibited.

Every person who shall violate any of the above named laws shall be guilty of misdemeanor and punished by a fine not exceeding $20 for each bird or animal killed, netted, trapped or found in his possession.

Any violators of these laws can be prosecuted before any police justice, recorder, or justice of the peace, or other court having jurisdiction to try cases of misdemeanor.

One half of any fines collected will be paid to the informer and the balance to the school fund of the county. It is the duty of all constables, marshals, market masters and police officers, to arrest all persons violating any of the game laws, and take them before the courts having jurisdiction to hear and try complaints.

Hawks, owls, eagles and crows can be killed at any time, and the destruction of these birds and their nests is recommended as they are very destructive to other birds.

The inhabitants of Alaska and the Indian Territory (both unorganized as yet) are not included in the above total. The census of Alaska in 1880 showed: White, 392; Creoles (issue of intermarriage between the whites and natives), 1,683; Aleuts, 1,960; Innuits, 17,488; Indians, 8,655; total, 30,178.

The Indians included in the census in each State and Territory are those reckoned as civilized, or outside of tribal organizations. Indians not taxed are by law excluded from the census. Estimates of their numbers var}^ widely - from 200,000 to 350,000 (the latter as estimated in the census of 1870).

In the Chinese column (for want of space elsewhere) have been reckoned a very few Japanese, East Indians and Sandwich Islanders, not exceeding 250 in all.