Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 15, 1912 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 15

An Official Chapter - The County Representatives - Line of Circuit Judges - Intrepidity of Judge Smith at a Perilous Time - Sencutorial and Congressional - Democratic Congressional Committee - Republican Congressional Committee - Democratic County Committee - Republican County Committee - Linn County's Population by Townships - Vote on State Officers - Incorporated Towns and Villages - Postoffices - Linn County Newspapers.

In this chapter it is the purpose to give some historical data concerning those who held ofBce in Linn county, and those in whom Linn county had an interest because of its place in the political divisions of the state. There will also be presented here some tables showing the present political organizations in the county, together with the biographical sketches of some of the leaders.

Thomas Reynolds was the first judge of the circuit court, his service dating from 1837. The Hon. James A. Clark was circuit attorney. Up to 1843 the circuit was known as the eleventh judicial circuit, and was composed of Grundy, Livingston, Linn, Adair, Macon and Chariton counties. By act of the legislature in March 7, 1849, the eleventh judicial circuit was composed of these counties :

\^^en the general assembly met in 1880-81 the counties composing the eleventh judicial circuit were again changed, the circuit being formed as follows : Chariton, Linn, Sullivan, Grundy and Mercer.

Judge Reynolds was also the first judge of the circuit court in Macon county. He was appointed judge of the district by Gov. Lilbum W. Boggs, January 27, 1837. Judge Reynolds took the oath of office before William Taylor, a notary public of Howard county, February 7th, the year he was appointed.

Judge Reynolds was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, ^larcli 12, 1796. "While holding the office of Governor of Missouri he committed suicide in the executive mansion at Jefferson City, February 9, 1844. But very little is known regarding his early education, but it was no doubt as good as could be obtained in the schools where he resided. He certainly was not a classical scholar, though he had some knowledge of Latin. He was admitted to the bar in Kentucky about the time he became of age. In early life he removed to Illinois, where he filled the successive ofiices of clerk of the house of representatives, speaker, attorney general, and chief justice of the supreme court.

In 1829 he came to Missouri and located at Fayette, Howard county. His high reputation as a jurist had preceded him and he soon enjoyed a good legal practice. He was sent from Howard county to the legislature, and became speaker of the house. After serving for some time in the legislature, he was appointed judge of the circuit, comprising the counties of Howard, Boone, Callaway, Randolph and Macon. When the circuits were changed and Macon became a part of the Eleventh District Judge Reynolds became judge of that circuit.

"It was at this convention that we made Judge Reynolds's acquaintance, and formed a very high estimate of him, as not only a man of ability, but of undoubted integrity and honesty of purpose. As a delegate in the convention we gave him our support, and had occasion frequently afterwards to meet and transact business with him, as we were in the legislature and there most of the time he was governor. He was elected over J. B. Clark by a handsome majority."

"Shortly after breakfast, on February 9, 1844, a report of a gun was heard from the executive mansion in Jefferson City, and some persons passing by at the time went into the governor's office to ascertain the cause of it, and there found the governor Ijang in his blood, dead. Just previous he had sent out for a rifle. The muzzle of the rifle he had placed against his forehead, and by the aid of a strong twine he discharged the weapon. On a table near where he fell was a letter addressed to Col. William G. Minor, an intimate friend, which read as follows:

" 'In every situation in which I have been placed I have labored to discharge my duty faithfully to the public, but this has not protected me for the last twelve months from the slander and abuse of my enemies, which have rendered life a burden to me. I pray God to forgive them and teach them more charity. My will is in the hands of James L. Minor, Esq.

Following is the line of circuit judges succeeding Judge Reynolds : Thomas C. Burch served as circuit judge of the district from April, 1839, until December, when he died.

Judge James A. Clark was appointed the successor of Judge Birch, and held the position until 1861. At that time the Civil War was on and he was ousted from office for refusing to take what was called "The Gamble Test Oath." Judge Clark was born in Estell county, Kentucky, February 22, 1805. He came to Missouri with his father, Bennett Clark, in 1817, and settled in Howard county; began to study law at the age of twenty, in the office of Peyton R. Hayden, a distinguished lawj-er of Boonville. Two years later was admitted to the Howard county bar. In 1827 went to Galena, Illinois, practiced in the courts there until 1833, when he returned to Missouri and located in Linn county, then a part of Chariton county. Started to farm a mile north of where Linneus is now. "When not concerned with his legal duties Judge Clark was very much interested in his farm work and he was also passionately fond of hunting. He was what might be called an all-round man. At times his services were required to draw deeds, give legal advice, settle differences among neighbors and to prescribe medicine. In all these matters he was looked upon as an authority.

Judge Clark was Linn county's first representative in the legislature. The county was organized in 1837 and he went to Jefferson City as its representative in 1838. During that session of the legislature the eleventh judicial circuit was formed, and Judge Burch was made the first judge of the circuit. As stated, Judge Burch died in December and Judge Clark was appointed to fill the vacancy. Under the law at that time judges were appointed to serve "during good behavior." Judge Clark enjoyed the benefits of that law as long as it lasted, and was afterwards twice elected by the people. His entire service extended over twenty years, when the Civil War began, and he was removed for the cause noted. Judge Clark recommended that his friend, Judge Jacob Smith, be appointed in his place. The recommendation of Judge Clark was carried out and Judge Smith served until he was killed at Linneus by a band of raiders. Judge Clark moved from Linn county to Chillicothe, Missouri, in 1843, and then to Monticello, Chariton county. In 1878 he returned to Linneus. Judge Clark was married twice. His first wife was Martha A. Lewis, of Howard county, to whom he was wedded in March, 1833. She died July 15, 1845, and on January 5, 1847, Judge Clark married Mary Jane Lewis, a sister of hi^ former wife. Judge Clark died December 12, 1882.

Judge Jacob Smith, who is referred to in the above biography, was appointed judge of the eleventh judicial circuit in 1861. Judge Smith was born in Virginia, March 3. 1816. His parents emigrated to Kentucky while he was quite young and settled near Columbia. Judge Smith's boyhood was spent on the farm but he utilized every spare moment for books and study. Manhood found him possessed of a very good English education. During the "Florida "War" against the Seminole Indians, Judge Smith served as a volunteer. Returning home in 1838, he began his study of law, which he mixed with school teaching in order to acquire the means to pursue his studies. In January, 1839, was married to Frances P. Crews, of Marion county, Kentucky. Judge and Mrs. Smith came to Missouri in 1846 and settled in Linn county. For several years thereafter Judge Smith gave his attention chiefly to farming, but during the winter months he taught school and continued his favorite study of the law. He was elected on the Whig ticket to represent Linn county in 1850, then was elected probate judge of Linn county, which position he filled four years. The first Mrs. Smith died October 6, 1857, and in. the spring of 1859 Judge Smith was married again to Jane T. Hickman, of Linn county. The judge was a staunch friend of the Union from the start of the political trouble in the sixties. At the election in February, 1861, Judge Smith was chosen as one of the delegates to represent the eighth senatorial district in the convention which met at Jefferson City the 28th of that month for the purpose of "Considering the existing relations between the government of the United States, the people and the government of the different states, and the government and people of the state of Missouri." During the spring and summer of 1861 Judge Smith was actively engaged in aiding in the organization and equipment of the Eighteenth and Twenty-Third Regiments of Missouri Volunteer Infantry; was elected and commissioned the first lieutenant-colo ael of the Twenty-Third Regiment. This position he resigned for the purpose of taking charge of the duties of circuit judge of the eleventh judicial circuit. This appointment had, at the suggestion of Judge Clark, been made by Gov. H. R. Gamble. Judge Smith served until January, 1864, when he was succeeded by Judge R. A. De Bolt. Judge Smith was slain by a body of raiders that invaded Liimeus the night of January 9, 1865. He died bravely, with a musket in his hand, endeavoring to protect the citizens. A leader of the raiders was riding along on a stolen horse. Judge Smith raised his gun, fired and mortally wounded the man. Then he started towards the court house where some arms were stored and shouted to the citizens to come along and arm themselves and fight for their homes. But just as the brave judge reached the court house some of the raiders fired on him and he fell as the result of wounds that caused his death two days later.

Eezin A. DeBolt is a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, born January 20, 1828. Reared on a farm, his time up to his seventeenth year was divided between agricultural pursuits and acquiring an education in the common schools of the county, the first of which was the founda-

In January, 1845, in his seventeenth year, he was apprenticed for three years to a tanner, served his time and followed his trade for a few years, and in the meantime gave his nights to study, ' ' many times and oft" burning the "midnight oil," as he eagerly pored over dry volumes of legal lore. Ceaseless diligence and tireless study were at last rewarded, and in February, 1856, the whilom tanner's apprentice was admitted to the bar, to practice in the courts of Ohio. Two years he practiced in his native state, then following the tide of immigration, which was flowing rapidly westward, he joined the throng, hoping to take the tide "at the flood which leads on to fortune." Arriving in Missouri, he settled in Trenton and began the successful practice of his profession in 1858.

The following year he was appointed commissioner of common schools of G-ruudy county and was elected to the same office in 1860, but still continuing his practice which the duties of the said office did not interfere with.

When the dark clouds of dreaded Civil War first hovered over the land, he was among the first to come to his country's aid, and his voice grew strangely eloquent when he raised it in behalf of the Union and the Stars and Stripes.

In 1861 he recruited a company ; was elected captain in the Twenty- Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. At the head of his men he participated in the battle of Shiloh and was captured April 6, 1862, and held prisoner until the following October. His health here became impaired and he resigned his commission in 1863, but again entered the United States service in 1864 and was commissioned major of the Forty-Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, remaining until mustered out in August, 1865.

In November, 1863, he was elected judge of the circuit court of the eleventh judicial circuit, which office he held by re-election until January 1, 1875, and by his impartial rulings won many encomimiis.

In 1877 Judge DeBolt again entered the arena of political life as a candidate for congress, and after an exciting and bitter fight, was elected a member of the Forty-Fourth Congress, as a Democrat, defeating his opponent by 217 votes. Since the expiration of his term in congress, he has given his entire attention to his large law practice. He is independent and outspoken in his advocacy of what he believes to be right. By hard battles against desperate resistance he has won

Judge DeBolt has been twice wedded. His first marriage was to Miss Maria M. McVleery, of Fairfield county, Ohio, near Lancaster, June 19, 1849. By this marriage they had a family of six children, three only of whom are living. Mrs. DeBolt died February 4, 1869. His second marriage was to Miss Laurestine U. Dinsmoor, a native of Canada, but reared in New York. The ceremony was performed October 12, 1869. Five children have been the issue of this union, all living.

Judge DeBolt has a fine residence in the southeast portion of the city, with grounds covering ten and one-half acres. Handsomely laid off with shade trees and shrubbery in front of the house. With his \vife and family gathered around it makes one of the most pleasant and comfortable homes in Trenton.

Judge Gavon D. Burgess was elected judge of the circuit in 1874. The Democratic convention that nominated him was held at Brookfield. Judge Burgess was born in Mason county, Kentucky, November 5, 1833, was reared and educated in his native state; read law in the office of W. H. Cord of Flemingsburg. After studying with Mr. Cord for four years Judge Burgess began the practice qf his profession at Flemingsburg in 1854. Formed a partnership with Salucius Garfield, a distant relative of President James A. Garfield. Judge Burgess dissolved the partnership in 1855 and came to Missouri, located first at St. Joseph; removed to Milan in the spring of 1856 and began the practice of law there ; came to Linneus in the spring of 1866 and practiced successfully imtil his nomination and election as circuit judge. Judge Burgess remained on the bench until he was chosen by the people of his state supreme judge, in the year 1892. He died holding that important position. Judge Burgess was married to Delia Trimble, daughter of Eobert Trimble, of Fleming county, Kentucky, in March, 1855. There was one child, a son, who died in infancy. Judge Burgess was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity.

Judge William W. Eueker was judge of the twelfth judicial circuit (formerly the eleventh) from 1893 to 1898, when he was elected to congress and is still occupying that position. He was born in Covington, Virginia, February 1, 1855, educated in the district schools and came to Missouri, October 3, 1873; served as prosecuting attorney of Chariton county from 1887 to 1892; resides at Keytesville.

Judge John Pollock Butler succeeded Judge Eueker. Judge Butler was bom in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1846 ; educated in common schools and at Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburg,

Pennsylvania; came to Missouri in 1865, located at Milan; served in the Sixth Carps, army of the Potomac during the Civil War as private and corporal; upon his return from the war Judge Butler read law and was admitted to the bar of Sullivan county, March, 1867 ; enrolled in supreme court of Missouri at St. Joseph, August term, 1870; to circuit and district courts of the United States in 1875, and in the supreme court of the United States in 1880; was presidential elector, second district in 1888 ; elected judge circuit court in 1898 ; re-elected in 1904 without opposition.

Judge Fred Lamb was born in Randolph county, Missouri, June 11, 1872 ; was admitted to the bar, June 12, 1896 ; elected to the circuit bench of the twelfth district November, 1910, for a term of six years ; was married to Miss Katherine Hood, at Arrow Rock, in Saliae county, June 11, 1902. Resides at Salisbury.

The first senatorial district in which Linn county was included was composed of Macon, Livingston and Liun counties. In 1842 Grundy county was added. In 1853 the senatorial district was changed and became known as the tenth senatorial district, composed of Macon, Chariton and Linn counties. In 1865 Sullivan and Putnam coimties were added to the district and Macon taken off. In 1881 Putnam county was taken from the district, leaving Chariton, Linn and Sullivan. It was then known as the sixth senatorial district. At present the sixth district is composed of Chariton, Linn. Livingston and Sullivan counties and had a population of 86,806, according to the census report for 1910.

Benjamin L. AMiite, Democratic, is state senator from the district, ha^ang been elected in 1910 without opposition. He resides at Marceline, and is a lawyer by profession.

Linn county is in the second congressional district, which is composed of Chariton, Carroll, Grundy, Linn, Livingston, Monroe, Randolph, and Sullivan counties. The population of the district in 1910 was 171,135. W. AV. Rucker, Democrat, was elected to congress in 1910 by a vote of 21,090. Haley, Republican, received 16,122 votes; Tobey, Prohibitionist. 447; Campbell, Socialist, 251.

At the presidential election in 1908 Linn county cast 3,000 votes for Bryan, Democrat ; 2,974 for Taft, Republican, and 77 for Debs, Socialist; Chafin, Prohibitionist, received 40 votes.

Chapter No. Xvi

Brookfield, by Charles Willis Green - Marceline, by Clarence M. Kendrick - Buchlin, by George L. Joyce - Linneus, since 1882, by D. B. Ormiston - Browning, by Senator E. B. Fields - Laclede, by Oscar F. Libby - Purdin, St. Catharine, Meadeville and Other Toivns of the County.

Brookfield is located on land that was once called "the Scatters," as has been referred to in the description by Mrs. Kate Tooey. Along Elk Creek, south of the track, the grass grew rank and high, affording hiding places for all sorts of game. It was a famous place for duck hunting, and was frequented by sportsmen who came a long distance to enjoy the excellent shooting.

The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was completed in February, 1859. Brookfield was laid out July 20 of that year. This was done under the direction of Maj. Josiah Hunt, land commissioner for the railroad company. The division headquarters, shops, etc., had been temporarily at Thayer, but with the completion of the road it was decided to move headquarters a little to the west. John Wood Brooks, a civil engineer from Boston, surveyed the town, which was named in his honor. So Brookfield was marked down on the map, and "the Scatters" passed out of mind.

Engineer Brooks was further recognized by four streets of the town, which were named "John," "Wood," "Brooks" and "Boston," all crossing Main street.

Shortly after the town was laid out the railroad company began the erection of a hotel and dining house just west of Main street. Wlien ready for occupancy Capt. E. P. Dennis took charge of this establishment, being ably assisted by his wife, who was the first female resident of Brookfield. All trains stopped at Brookfield for dinner.

Among the first residents of Brookfield were Captain and Mrs. Dennis, Mr. Hurd, Patrick Kerrigan, Mr. Landrigan, Thomas Bresnelien, Cornelius Slaughter, Jacob Van Meter, Frederick C. Loring, Henry Steinhelver, James Proctor, Michael Gannon, Michael McGrail, Ed Stephens, John McCormick, Charles Davis, first train dispatcher; Rad

Dennis, James Tooey, W. T. Snow, Augustus Turner, A. J. Tillotson, Michael Quinn, John L. Houck and John McGowan. The two latter came in on the first train.

James Tooey came from St. Catharine in July, 1860, and built the first store in Brookfield. It was of two stories, located on Brooks street, between Main and Livingston, lot six, block ten. Mr. Tooey opened up a good stock of general merchandise, and earned the honor of being the first merchant in the new town.

The first white child born in Brookfield was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Slaughter, the date being January 7, 1860. Captain Dennis acted as god-father for the baby Brookfielder, and insisted that Brookfield should be a part of its name. So it was christened William Brookfield Slaughter.

Frank Bernard and Nellie Mathews, employed at Captain Dennis' hotel, were the parties to the first marriage in Brookfield. It was quite an event with those enthusiasts who were engaged in building a new town. The wedding occurred in the fall of 1860, and was witnessed by everybody in the hamlet. Squire Samuel Sumner officiated.

Brookfield enjoyed the benefits of preaching by able ministers from the first. Even when there were but two or three families some devoted priest or pastor would visit the new settlement and expound the Word of God. The Bev. Father James Hogan, now Bishop Hogan of Kansas City, was among the first to visit the place, and was warmly welcomed by the warm-hearted Irish people who constituted early Brookfield. The Catholic congregation at first met at Landrigan's boarding house, and here the devoted churchman performed the rites of the church and ministered to his flock. Father Hogan will long be remembered with tenderness and love for his service to the little colony struggling to make its way in a new land, far from home and kindred.

The first Catholic church at Brookfield was completed and dedicated in August, 1860, Father Hogan officiating. It was the first church building in the town.

Miss Lizzie Clark taught school in her father's residence in 1861. The first school in the town proper was taught by Miss Lizzie Eenick, in the spring of 1863. The schoolroom was over Tooey 's store, on Brooks street. There were 15 pupils.

The first public school house in Brookfield was completed in 1865 on site where is now the C. H. Jones residence. Soon afterwards a dramatic company came to Brookfield and gave a performance in the

Dr. Banning was the first physician to locate in Brookfield. He came in January, 1861, and had his ofifice in the Myers house. Drs. Shook and Eider practiced here during the Civil war.

Up to June, 1863, all the houses in Brookfield were either of frame or logs. In that month James Tooey completed a brick building on the northwest corner of John and Livingston streets, now standing and occupied by the widow.

The Brush Creek Bridge disaster occurred March 1, 1881. In this some of the best citizens of Brookfield lost their lives. A passenger train from the east, due at Brookfield at 3 a. m., was wrecked near Bevier. Brookfield was notified of the accident and a special train was made up to go to the relief of the injured. There were some 15 or 20 men on the I'elief train, including Drs. Wood, Eear and Waters. A broken rail caused the derailment of the relief train at Brush Creek. Dr. Wood and W. S. Hallett, one of the bridge men, were instantly killed. Others were injured so badly they died soon after. The total casualties resulting from the accident were six dead and from ten to fifteen wounded.

The First Banquet and Reunion of the Old Settlers of Brookfield occurred at the Central Hotel, June 2, 1888. The programme of the meeting was as follows :

Social reunion from 8 to 9 :30 p. m. ; Invocation, Rev. J. P. Finley, D. D. Toasts, W. D. Crandall, Sr., presiding - "Brookfield in the Sixties," W. D. Crandall; "Bench and Bar of the Olden Time," Hon. A. W. Myers; "Merchants of the Early Days," John Ford; "Early Churches of Brookfield," Rev. J. P. Finley, D. D.; "Early Schools of Brookfield," Geo. W. Martin; "Reminiscences," C. B. Simpson, J. A. Arbuthnot, L. S. Bowden, L. A. Smith, James Tooey and others ; ' ' Our Host and Hostess and Our Guests," Hon. J. A. Arbuthnot.

Brookfield, The Metropolis

To us Brookfielders now of the warp and woof of affairs it is a fascinating story, that of the childhood, youth and maturity of Brookfield - fascinating to the seven thousand souls who love her name.

Brookfield, the metropolis of Linn county, as well as of North Central Missouri, is one of the cities of the commonwealth which is more than generously favored by a kind hearted Nature, in that she is and may eontiime to be the most beautiful city of homes in interior Missouri. Men may build monuments; men may rear great columns celebrating victories in war; men may make boulevards o'er which other men may drive wonderful horses and screaming machines, but men do not build the trees. They do not make the blue grass in the broad meadows that lie at our feet. Men do not make the topography of the country surrounding Broofield ; the rich soil, just rolling enough to be safe from flood. Men do not build the streams and timber on all sides of us which guard us from the winds and storms that carry terror to the hearts of less favored climes.

Turning from those primitive days of Brookfield, those days of the sixties, seventies, and even the eighties, what a change do we find in what is now the metropolis of North Central Missouri ; this rapidly growing Brookfield, with the business streets teeming with trafSc and hurrying with people; with new buildings going up on every hand - surely the scene under Brookfield 's smiling summer sky is a joy forever. It is indeed a vivid impression of growth that strikes the beholder. On the beautiful residence additions surrounding the commercial center of Brookfield the people look down and see the liveliest mart in the state, size considered. Then when one at this season of the year hears the song of the hammer and saw the whole day long - more houses for more people is the impression. Here in progressive Brookfield everything is on the move. There is no idleness. The people and the town grow at the same time. Indeed, Brookfield is filled with the romance of progress and success.

Nature's best endownaent of a city consists in the bestowal of those climatic and topographical conditions which contribute to the public health. The healthfulness of a city is a guarantee of its prosperity, and capital cannot be more profitably invested than in guarding it. The past year has been one of great progress in conduct of the sanitary affairs of the city.

The population of Brookfield differs in many important particulars from that of any city in the West. There are no "floaters," drawn hither by temporary causes. The population of Brookfield is stable. The merchants, manufacturers, professional men, mechanics, and laborers are Brookfield men. They own their own homes. In good times and bad they are with us because they belong to us. We doubt whether there is another city in the country of equal size, wealth and importance of which these observations are as true as they are of Brookfield. Eecent heavy additions to the population of the city are of a class that soon become inseparably attached to the city.

A stranger coming to Brookfield is amazed at the number of her lovely lawns and elegant homes. In this feature she is excelled by no city of equal population on the continent. This is as it should be. It evinces a love for home life that is characteristic of every people that is prosperous and happy.

In many cities both east and west it is characteristic of the business men to become so absorbed in the pursuit of wealth, as to entirely lose sight of the comforts of home. It is not so in Brookfield. While her business men and her professional men are money makers, they build beautiful homes. Many of these homes are known far and wide for their magnificent splendor. Costing in the aggregate thousands of dollars, they attest in a striking manner the disposition of their owners to use riches purely for the comforts and pleasures they afford.

The year 1880 found L. A. Smith mayor, who served for three terms, and was succeeded by P. H. Peck. Both have been gathered to their fathers, Smith dying in Brookfield in 1907, while Peck died in Chicago. Dr. A. C. Pettijohn was elected mayor in 1888 and was again mayor a decade later. Dr. Pettijohn, after being a resident of Brookfield for over a quarter of a century, is now superintendent of Asylum No. 2, at St. Joseph.

Since the years of the eighties up to the present time others who have filled the ofiice of mayor were John Ford and Dr. G. N. Lantz, deceased ; J. M. Sheets, John Goldman, A. A. Bailey, John McCartney, Eichard N. Bowden, Dr. Pettijohn, R. S. Brownlee, while the present mayor is E. M. Lomas.

During the past quarter century many of Brookfield 's well known citizens have served on the city council, including George Brown, J. C. Gardner, Anthony Questa, James Dillon, Henry Tooey, Joseph Dick, Crozier Armstrong, Joseph Banning, Dr. Robert Haley, James F. Turner, J. S. Reger, L. W. Niles, J. F. McElwain, C. W. Green, L. W. Eunimell, Hiram Dewey, George S. Wilber, Charles Spurgeon, Dr. I. V. Powers, B. F. White, Thomas Halliburton, S. P. Hartman, E. P. Banning, A. W. Baker, John Waldhaus, and others. The present members of the council in this year 1912, are R. S. Brownlee, M. C. Post, B. R. Woodlief, Henry West, D. B. Skene, J. M. Sheets, Frank Dick, Gilmer Banning, while C. K. Hart is city attorney, J. D. McLeod, city clerk ; L. W. Rummell, cemetery commissioner ; J. W. Jones, park commissioner; Charles Lowary, street commissioner; J. W. Lacy, water

In 1888 the first Board of Trade was organized in Brookfield, composed of Brookfield 's most public spirited citizens at that time. L. S. Bowden was elected president; J. F. McElwain and J. C. Post, vicepresidents; C. D. Bennett, secretary; W. D. Crandall, corresponding secretary, and R. J. Wheeler, treasurer.

About 1905 the Brookfield Commercial Club was organized, succeeding the Merchants ' Association. Those who have served as presidents of the Commercial Club are Dr. A. C. Pettijohn, Henry Tooey, Thomas Halliburton, while Charles W. Green is now the president, with Charles H. Jones secretary.

The greatest thing the Commercial Club has brought to pass was in being the means to the end of locating the Brown Shoe Factory by raising in four days $70,000 as a bonus. Since that time the Commercial Club has worked with the city administrations in the interest of a greater and better Brookfield, until today Brookfield has more miles of street paving than any city in Missouri of her size - something like twelve miles; has the "white way" illumination in the business section - and the beautiful "white way" was brought to pass through the efforts of the Commercial Club, encouraged by the progressive city administration.

The first in the way of public utilities for Brookfield was the electric light system, organized in the year of 1890 by a company composed of R. J. Aviieeler, R. T. Smither, M. Y. Rusk, H. B. Daggett.' For many years the system was of a primitive nature, but some three or four years ago P. W. Markham, the technical electrical engineer, was given entire supervision of the plant, and today it is second to none in Missouri in the matter of good service.

The next in the way of public improvements was the waterworks system, by the city, after bonding for $35,000. Water mains were laid in nearly every portion of Brookfield, business and residence sections. From the point drive well system Brookfield has the finest water in the state, absolutely free from contamination. As the city has grown more bonds have been voted and the mains and supply increased.

Following electric light, water works, and sewerage, came the installation of a splendid gas system by a private corporation from Macomb, Illinois, of which Mr. L. D. Kelsey is the manager. It would be impossible to have a more perfect system or quality of gas for lighting or heating purposes. This system was put in in 1901, and the service

Everyone appreciates the fact that banking institutions are a necessity. In the organization of modern commerce and industry the need for sound and substantial banking institutions is constantly emphasized in the active transaction of daily business and the welfare of a trade center depends in a very large measure upon the character and adequacy of the facilities furnished by the leading institutions of financial character in the city. Therefore, the status of a city commercially is very largely estimated by the quality of its banks, and there is no more accurate measure of the comparative prosperity of a business center than the volume of business transacted through its financial institutions.

Brookfield from an early day has held an excellent position among Missouri towns in respect to the character of its banks, and as its business has increased the demands made upon the resources of these institutions have continued to become heavier, yet the banks have always proven equal to the requirements of the business situation and have gained an exceptionally high reputation for the quality of the banking advantages they offer to the corporations, firms and individual depositors, who represent the business activity of this community.

The history of the banking business in Brookfield extends back to 1867, when T. D. Price & Co. established the first banking house in the present site of the Brownlee bank. Mr. Price was a genial gentleman ; came here from Hannibal. His silent partner lived in New York City, a Mr. Sherrell. Two years later, however, there was a shake up in the first bank and its successor was Price, Brownlee & DeGraw - Judge Brownlee and Dr. DeGraw. This firm only did business for a short time. Price and DeGraw retiring, after which it was succeeded by the firm W. H. Brownlee, banker, which continued the only bank in Brookfield until the banking house of H. DeGraw made the second. Its location was on the present John LaPierre site. This DeGraw bank was organized in 1876. with H. DeGraw, president, and W. H. DeGraw, cashier. Just after that time was organized the third bank, named the Bank of Brookfield, with Joseph Aldrich, president, and W. H. Lockwood, cashier. A. D. Scott soon afterwards, however, became president of this bank and John Ford, cashier.- With the death of Mr. Scott, J. E. Huffaker was made president. This made three banks for Brook- field, and the next move, in 1878, was the consolidation of the first and second one, and the birth of the present Linn County Bank. In its organization W. H. Brownlee was made president; W. H. DeGraw, cashier, and Walter Brownlee, assistant cashier. This organization did business for several years, all through the eighties and into the nineties on the old Brownlee banking corner. In 1893 there came a division between the Brownlee and the DeGraw interests, and Judge Brownlee retired as president. Then the Linn County Bank was moved to the DeGraw corner across the street, and Dr. DeGraw elected president.

About this time the Brownlees began to make preparations for opening a new bank on their, old corner, which was done in 1893 under the name of the present Brownlee Banking Co., of which W. H. Brownlee was president ; S. E. Crance, ^dee-president ; Walter Brownlee, cashier, and R. S. Brownlee, assistant cashier. The directors and stockholders of the Brownlee Bank then, in addition to the above, were Henry Tooey, E. N. Bowden, N. G. Eansom, T. P. Oven, Lan Rummell, Oliver Cramer, Thomas Halliburton, and George Howard. The present officers are: Walter Brownlee, president; R. S. Brownlee, cashier; H. W. Craig and John Cornish, assistant cashiers.

Some twelve years ago the old Linn County Bank reached the "second generation" epoch in its history. A younger set of men took charge in the management of its affairs. First came George W. Stephens, Jr., all his life a banker, and was made cashier, succeeding W. H. DeGraw, who was at that time made president. Charles H. Jones at the same time was made assistant cashier, and later came E. M. Lomax as the active vice-president. Dr. DeGraw, one of our pioneer bankers, was by acclamation made president of the Linn County Bank, upon the death of his brother. Some five years ago the lamented Dr. DeGraw retired and E. M. Lomax was elected president, while C. H. Jones was elected cashier and W. W. Martin assistant cashier. George W. Martin is first vice-president, but not in an active capacity. Messrs. Lomax, Jones and W. W. Martin practically conduct the atfairs of the Linn County Bank now. The directors at the present time are : R. X. DeGraw, G." W. Martin, R. R. Smith, C. L. Spalding, E. M. Lomax, C. H. Jones, W. W. Martin. The capital stock is $100,000.

It was in 1887 that a new factor appeared in the banking circle of Brookfield. R. J. Wheeler, from before the war up to this time, was a merchant and trader in Bucklin. He got rich - not as rich as Croesus, but rich for men in country towns. He longed to come to -Brookfield, a larger town, and finally did so, establishing the Wheeler Bank after building Wheeler block on the corner of Main and AVood streets. He organized tbe bank in 1887, with himself as president and Thomas Flood, now deceased, cashier. Mr. Flood afterward ran for county recorder, and was elected. E. M. Lomax, formerly in a clerical position with the Laclede Bank in St. Louis, was made Mr. Flood's successor as cashier of the Wheeler Bank, which position he filled until 1900, when he retired to accept the vice-presidency of the Linn County Bank. Thereupon Mr. Harrj' Markham, formerly of Laclede, was made cashier of the Wheeler Bank and Eobert Wheeler, Jr., assistant cashier. At the present time, however, Robert Wheeler is president, while Mr. Mai'kham is still cashier.

In the year 1904 James Moore conceived the idea of establishing a bank in South Main street, and did so, with himself as president and the son, Joseph Moore, as cashier. Each year has seen this, the fourth bank, grow in business and popularity, as have its older competitors.

The only bank failures ever in the history of Brookfield were that of the first banker, T. D. Price, and seventeen years ago that of the Bank of Brookfield, the latter during the panic.

Thus it will be seen that Judge William H. Brownlee and Dr. Hamilton DeGraw and W. H. DeGraw, now deceased, were the Nestors in the banking business here in Brookfield. All three were interesting men. Dr. DeGraw was a sage-like man, perhaps better read than any man in Brookfield - had a philosophical sort of mind, was a student of the Bible as well as political economy; of philosophy as well as occult science. Judge Brownlee was of a poetical turn of mind. He loved fiction, was fond of the classics, and as an "Indiana man" was partial to Gen. Lew Wallace and James Whitcomb Eiley. While he was an able lawyer, the public for years associated him in its mind as a banker, W. H. DeGraw was a banker personified. He was fond of home life, and a most entertaining, chivalrous character.

There are some interesting reminiscences connected with the history of the banking business in Brookfield. None the less was the robbing of the Bank of Brookfield about thirty years ago, a few years after it was established. One lazy, summer afternoon, just before closingtime, when the bank was located where is now the ]\Iodel Cleaners, four men rode into town on horseback from the northeast. They came in on Wood street and dismounted in the alley in the rear of the bank.

There was at that time not a half dozen people upon Main street in the block where the bank was located. One held the four horses and three put on masks and went 'round to the front door of the bank. One of these stood in the door with a big revolver swinging in his hand, one covered Cashier Ford with one gun and Miss Carrie Scott, the assistant, with the other as they ordered them to liand over. The third carried a grain sack and put in his time filling it. Daniel Young, a shoemaker, now deceased, was the first to get action with his rifle. This aroused the people and as the robbers broke away, under the pressure of spur to their horses, they were a mile or two out of town in a northeasterly direction before a posse headed by Colonel Arbuthnot, G. R. Critchfield, Harry Moore, and others were in pursuit. All of northeast Missouri reached by wire was notified of the robbery. Two or three times the posse overtook the robbers and exchanged shots, but it was about ten days before they were captured in the bi'akes west of Kirksville. The robbers were four young men, the Mason boys, who formerly lived in Yellow Creek township, ranging in age from 18 to 24. The leader was married. All were speedily tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for 25 years by Judge Burgess. One by one they were pardoned out, on account of consumption, two of them by Governor Francis. All of them have since died. Most of the money was recovered - all but about six thousand at the time. The young men were of good families, but had been students of yellow-back literature, and took it into their heads to imitate the James boys. The robbery made Brookfield famous for a time.

In commercial lines Brookfield has had and still has several merchants who have contributed to the upbuilding of the city as a trade center. They have been Oliver Cramer, S. P. Hartman, John Walker, Thomas Halliburton, Gus Tooey, J. H. Foss, E. N. Bowden, while in later years have come B. F. White, L. W. Bundy, L. W. Rummell, Jerry Noland, Cole and Fred Halliburton, G. F. Duker and others. Conspicuously in their time were the lamented Charles Green, druggist, and Henry Tooey, the clothier ; the latter having built up a great business for the firm still bearing his name.

One of the particularly "big things" of Brookfield is the Linn County Fair, whioh has contributed to making the county metropolis famous. Frank Dick is president; L. W. Eummell, secretary, and Thomas Halliburton, treasurer, while the other directors are E. S. Brownlee, J. H. Fuoss, Gus Gaimon and E. N. Bowden. Mr. Gannon has made the fair what it is to the harness horse world.

Brookfield lias three newspapers, The Gazette, The Argus and The Budget. The oldest paper is The Gazette, which was established fortysix years ago, in the early days of the town, by Crandall & Ward. For many years it was conducted by W. D. Crandall, who was appointed postmaster in the early nineties, when he sold the paper to Martin & Jones. J. W. Jones sold his interest to Col. George W. Martin, the editor, who in turn sold the interest to his brother, J. V. Martin. The publishers of The Gazette now are Martin & Martin, the senior brother, George W., being postmaster at the present time. However, The Gazette has been a stepping stone to the office of postmaster, for J. V. Martin served one term, while J. W. Jones served two terms. Thus, three men connected with The Gazette have been postmasters.

The Argus was founded in 1883 by Charles W. Green, its present editor and publisher, when he was but a boy. The chief strength of The Argus lies in the fact that it has been, early and late, a "booster" for Brookfield.

The Budget, the third paper, was established by A. P. Crosby seventeen years ago, and from that day to this has had a dozen or more editors and publishers, the present ones being H. C. Myers and Nellie Hannan.

Within the past three decades a dozen other newspapers have been born and died in Brookfield, including the New Era, Chronicle, Union, Times, Eagle, Press and Times No. 2.

In many respects the world has been revolutionized since The Argus with its hundred eyes came to keep track of its movements and record its doings. Men in every walk and station of life have come, have played their various parts. Fame has crowned them and they have passed on. Within the life of The Argus new issues have developed in the arena of politics, new questions and theories have commanded popular attention and consideration, and conditions have appeared not dreamed of in the philosophy of thirty years. The silent pages of the files of The Argus, as well as its older sister. The Gazette, tell an inspiring story of the long years that are gone ; tell of births, of marriages, of deaths ; tell of the material and spiritual progress of this city and county from time to time - year in and year out advocating the cause of Brookfield.

While Brookfield had "good" public schools prior to 1880, it has been since that that marked progress has been made ; and particularly during the past fifteen years.

It was about 1880 that Brookfield began to outgrow the one school building, notwithstanding it had six rooms. There was a demand for more room and naturally all conceded that the South Side was entitled to school facilities. Accordingly, the building in the Third ward, to the extent of two rooms, was erected in 1882 and named the Adams School, in honor of George W. Adams, a Brookfield pioneer, then county clerk. Still there was ux'gent demand for more rooms, and in 1888 two more rooms were added, to be followed by two more in 1901.

The same year it was decided that the Fourth ward must have a school building. A proposition to bond was voted upon, carried, and a substantial building went up on a site formerly a city park. Hence the name. Park School. It was in 1895 that Brookfield had outgrown three public schools of sixteen rooms. Every ward in the city had a school building except the Second. The question was agitated by the people, encouraged by the press, and as a result the proposition was voted upon, carried, and after a site was purchased from Colonel Dake, the Finley School, named after that departed pioneer and parson, the lamented Eev. J. P. Finley, D. D. Along about this time Mrs. Julia Hickman, a good woman, and a teacher in the First ward school, died, and in her honor the school was named Hickman.

Having four ward schools - but few cities in Missouri of Brookfield's size can say as much - we began to feel important. Brookfield must have a high school, a large, modern structure, centrally located. As usual, the press began the agitation. Everybody endorsed the idea, the school board submitted the proposition to bond for fifteen thousand dollars, which was carried by a large majority.

During the past dozen years many improvements have been made upon the school property. The Brookfield College property, with a whole block of ground and residence at the rear of the building, was bought by the school board twelve years ago for thirteen thousand dollars. At a low estimate the High School property, since improvements have been made thereon, is worth forty thousand dollars. The campus is one of the high sites of the city, surrounded by shade trees, while the building is one of the finest in north ]\Iissouri. The public lilirary is in the High School, and the laboratory, class rooms, auditorium, large hallways and splendid ventilation, together with the steam heat and toilet rooms, makes a high school in every way worthy of the name. Each year there is an effort to make the faculty a little stronger, and each year there is an increase in the attendance not only by students within the district but from those outside, the tuition for the latter being just enough to cover cost.

The present members of the Board of Education are : T. M. Bresnehen, president; Dr. J. S. Evans, vice-president; E. M. Lomax, treasurer; N. E. Wanamaker, secretary; R. J. Beauchamp, Banner Campbell, F. D. Sanford.

Citizens who have served in years gone by upon the board, as a labor of love, are as follows : Judge W. H. Brownlee, Col. J. A. Arbuthnot, Henry Tooey, J. G. Banning, George Anderson, all deceased.

J. U. White was elected superintendent of the Brookfield public schools about fourteen years ago and has given splendid satisfaction - so much so that he has been re-elected time after time by the full vote of the board. He came from Jefferson City to Brookfield, accompanied by an accomplished wife and interesting children. Mr. "White has a state reputation as an educator. On coming to Brookfield he at once put new life and new ideas into our public school system. He attends National and State teachers' associations and is always on the lookout for new ideas for the Brookfield schools. He and his good wife have proven splendid acquisitions to Brookfield society, socially and morally, and it is the concensus of opinion that Superintendent White, as the official head of the Brookfield public school system, is the right man in the right place, for during his regime of fourteen years wonderful advancement has been made in our schools.

Thus you have the condensed story of the public schools of Brookfield. Do you blame the people of Brookfield for being proud of them? Five public school buildings, all modern structures, each upon a large campus, each with steam heat and sewerage connection, each complete within itself, with a splendid corps of instructors and a strictly up-todate superintendent and a board at all times, as a "labor of love," doing the best they can to make each school year better than the preceding one.

Most every sect of religious belief is represented in Brookfield, there being altogether eight churches within the city. While there are a few primitive structures, in the main the Brookfield churches are modern and handsome houses of worship. In fact, the Catholic, the Episcopal, the Presbyterian and the two Methodist and the Christian would be a credit to a city four times the size of Brookfield ; imposing in architectural beauty, either stone or pressed brick, with slate roofs, cathedral windows, etc.

The first church organization in Brookfield was that of the Catholic, forty -nine years ago - the first church in the way of a little mission being erected in 1861 on the present Catholic church site. The little church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hendricks, of St. Louis, in 1868 - after the war was over.

Rev. J. J. Hogan, whose ashes now rest just west of town in the convent grounds, was in charge. The organized members of the Catholic church were Michael McGowan, Thomas Bresnehen, Michael Gannon, William O'Neill, Michael McGrail, John Curtin, Patrick Tooey, Michael White, John McCormick, Michael McKinney and James Tooey. All have been gathered to the Great Father except one, Mr. McCormick, still a resident of Brookfield.

The new and magnificent Catholic church was erected about sixteen years ago through the untiring energy of Rev. Father Tormey, who has been located here since 1878, although now retired, the Rev. F. C. Cummins being the present pastor.

The first Protestant church organized in Brookfield was the Congregational, which was in May, 1865. Rev. Charles H. Pratt was its first pastor. For many years, through the seventies and into the eighties, the Congregational church was the most flourishing in the city. Its members in those days were "the people," or at least thought they were. Those were the days when Major G. N. Blossom used to toss five dollar bills on the collection plate, and Deacon Franklin used to lead in prayer meeting. During that period in the history of the Congregational church some very able divines were called, one after another, as its pastor. As the writer remembers there were Revs. Harrah, Plumb, Ham, Foster, Cole, Warren, Todd, Watt, and others. But once so flourishing the Congregational church is now but history - - having died a decade ago for want of support.

The First Presbyterian church was organized in 1866, and the erection of the building began in October, 1869. Those who took the initiative way back in 1866 in the organization of the Presbyterian society were A. W. Myers, Lavina H. Myers, Ephriam Banning, Louisa Banning, William Donaldson, Ira Johnson, Otho Reams, Martha Day and S. P. Huston. All have long since passed away.

The first pastor was the Rev. Jonathan P. Finley, a man who afterwards as a preacher and educator enters into much of the best history of Brookfield. He was the church's pastor for a quarter century or more, retiring to devote his entire time to the Brookfield Academy, afterwards the Brookfield College. When Dr. Finley died the college died also, to all purposes, for he was its guiding spirit and its inspiration. The new Presbyterian church was erected some thirteen years ago under the guidance of the pastor at that time, the Rev. E. C. Jacka. It was burned some six years ago and the second new church edifice was erected imder the leadership of the present pastor, Eev. W. C. Atwood. The Rev. Mr. Atwood is popular with his church and the public ; looked upon as a strong preacher and energetic church worker. The Presbyterian church is now among the strongest in the city in membership.

The First M. E. Church of Brookfield was organized in the fall of 1866 at the residence of C. P. Hyatt by the Rev. Shumate, at that time presiding elder of the Hannibal District. The first church was erected in 1870, under the pastorate of Rev. W. F. Clayton. This building was destroyed by a tornado in 1876, but was rebuilt the following year at a cost of about $3,000. The second edifice was dedicated with great ceremony, the Rev. C. C. McCabe, D. D., being ijresent. During all the years from the dedication of the M. E. church up to the time it was torn down to make room for the present handsome and modern church there were several divines, remembered by some of the older inhabitants ; there being Revs. Myers, Weam, Cooper, Ferril, Messner, Stocking, Seeley, Cox, Poland, Canada, Casely, Sapp, Sappenfield, Robbins, Wilson, Fay, Chase, while the Rev. Edgar Reed is the present pastor. The present church was erected in 1900 and is one of the handsomest in north Missouri.

Next came the organization of the Baptist church in 1867, with the Rev. E. J. Scott as pastor. The organization disbanded soon, however, and was again organized in 1874, when Rev. S. L. Cox served as pastor for two years, after which it again disbanded.

It was in 1883 that the Baptists re-organized and this time erected a church on the corner of Main and John street, which burned two years ago. Since that time the Baptist society has gradually grown until now, under the pastorate of Rev. 0. H. L. Cunningham the church has become strong numerically and in its influence in the community. The Baptists contemplate the erection of a new and modern church this year.

While the birth or rather the organization of the Episcopal church does not date back further than 1874, its charter members were among some of the most prominent pioneers of Brookfield. On the present site of the elegant Grace church, of stone and Episcopal style of church architecture, first stood the Universalist church way back in the six- ties. It was a frame affair with a very high steeple. One by one the Universalists moved away from Brookfield and when the Episcopalians organized they purchased the Universalist edifice. The original members of the Episcopal church here in Brookfield were John Bolton, Joseph Gamble, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Vosburg, Mrs. Gilson, Miss Fannie Gilson, Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable, Miss Emma Briekell (now Mrs. Eugene Eawn), Mrs. Fantum, Major and Mrs. De- Graw, Mrs. M. Graff, Miss Armstrong, and Mrs. Willis. The church at that time was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Robertson, and its rectors since those days have been Rev. E. Talbott, now Bishop of Pennsylvania ; Rev. Robert Talbott, now of Washington, D. C. ; as well as Revs. Flower, Sellers, Birnback, James and Merriman. The rock church was erected about fourteen years ago and dedicated by Bishop Atwell. One June 11, 1902, occurred an event long to be remembered by all present, being the ordination of Rev. Frank Arthur McElwain, who grew up here at Brookfield, and graduated at the head of his class with great honors in a college of divinity in Minnesota. The present rector is the Rev. Oscar Hombuuger and the vestrjTiien are John Mc- Cartney, R. N. Bowden, C. W. Green, L. E. Dewey and James Turner.

In the latter eighties, a few years after the coming of R. J. Wheeler to Brookfield, the Southern Methodist people began to discuss the idea of erecting a church, and it was in the spring of 1893 that the prominent site on North Main street was purchased while Rev. Browning was pastor. The following year the foundation was in and in 1895 the church proper Avas erected, but not dedicated until 1897. This church and ground is one of the most valuable church properties in the city, having cost about $12,000. Rev. K. T. Davis is the present pastor. He is a forceful preacher and a very effective church worker, very popular with the membership, and held in high esteem by the citizens generally.

The Christian Society was organized in 1887, and the first church erected on South Main street the same year. The first preacher was Rev. Colston, since which time there have ))een several pastors; the Rev. R. E. L. Prunty remaining the longest.

The present pastor is Rev. Ben F. Hill. He is well liked by the members and the citizens of the community. Rev. Mr. Hill is a zealous worker for his church and stimulates the members thereof.

The United Brethren Church, in the Third ward, was organized about fifteen years ago and the present pastor is Rev. A. C. Tudor. He came to Brookfield last autumn and is an interesting man of good ability and an untiring church worker.

Brookfield has a bright future before her, and those who have high hopes have abundant grounds for their confidence. The city has had a career of unexampled prosperity during the past five years. The present year is witnessing more substantial progress than any of its predecessors, and enterprises already under way give assurance of more advancement during the year that is still young. The city is rapidly increasing in population, and the volume of emigration flowing in is constantly growing. Business houses are increasing in number and size, assuming really metropolitan proportions.

No where can there be found better fraternal brotherhoods, teaching and practicing the lessons of the golden rule; institutions more universal in their application to the advancement of morality and humanity; bringing sunshine and happiness into the homes of the afilicted and the needy, than right here in Brookfield.

The membership of the Brookfield churches of the different religious faiths and the membership of the fraternal societies vie with each other in the work of charity and benevolence, and the upbuilding and moral training of citizens, as they trample every obstacle to brotherly love and consign bitterness and strife to oblivion. And never forgetting to inculcate into the minds and hearts of their children gratitude and love; gratitude to God for permission to enjoy good health, happiness and the blessing of good government ; love for fellowmen, loyalty to state and country, Brookfield is a good town to live in.

The decade from 1880 to 1890 will go down in history as the greatest ten years of railroad construction on the American continent. It was during this period of unparalleled industrial progress that the great trans-continental systems stretched their ribbons of steel over mountain, plain and hill, annihilating distances, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards and laying down at the doors of the people of the hamlets of interior America the rich products of the Orient and the Occident.

The total mileage of railways in the United States standing at 93,296 miles in 1880, increased by leaps and bounds until in 1890 it had reached an aggregate of 166,706 miles, disclosing the enormous increase in ten years of 63,410 miles.

Fe Eailway, operating exclusively west of the Missouri river, until the late 80 's, and practically the only competitor in the rapidly developing western country of the Union Pacific, the pioneer of the great plains roads. The Santa Fe, with 2,510 miles of rails in 1883, increased its mileage in the eleven years following imtil it was operating, in 1904, 9,345 miles ; and the more imj^ortant and by far the most expensive part of this increased mileage was what is known as the "Chicago Extension," running almost directly as the crow flies in a northeasterly direction from Kansas City to Chicago, connecting the Great Lakes region with the Land of Sunshine beyond the snowy peaks of the Rocky mountain ranges. Experience in railway operation had developed the fact that the welfare and comfort of employes, and the care and preservation of the vast machinery of the industry, demanded division or terminal points along the lines at a distance of one hundred miles, one from the other; and on the line of the Santa Fe's proposed extension, one hundred miles northeast from Kansas City, was an open, upland prairie, stretching away to Yellow creek on the west and the Chariton river on the east, dotted here and there with the homes of the farmers, carpeted with bluegrass, ornamented with the white blossoms and the bright red fruit of the wild strawberry and the blue-bell of the fleur-de-lis. Over this beautiful prairie the cattle roamed unmolested and the land produced lirsuriously almost without effort. Scattering cottonwood and locust trees cast their shade here and there, principally around the spots where the fasmers had located their dwellings, and it is a tradition among the farmers that this high and sightly prairie ridge has been for years, and still is, the playground of the lightning, for scarcely a tree stood on the site of Marceline but showed the marks of the thunderbolts. As if to verify the tradition, discussed around the hearthstones of the early settlers, that some peculiar attraction at the spot where Marceline stands invites the fatal lightning stroke, many damaging conflagrations have resulted in the town from that cause and some loss of life from the deadly bolts has been noted in and near the town. But if the high location of the city invites the destructive force of the elements, nature seems to have made compensation in the healthfulness which the site, with its natural drainage to the streams east and west, provides.

One day, in 1886, the farmers awoke to meet the faces of strange men, men who talked business incessantly and who wanted to buy options on their land. They offered good prices, put up forfeits, got signed contracts and before the end of the year the civil engineer with his force of rodmen, chain-bearers and transitmen was on the ground running the preliminary surveys for the Chicago, Santa Fe & California Railway, wliich, when completed, was to become a part of the great "Santa Fe System." Events developed with kaleidoscopic rapidity in the new enterprise. Construction work began at both ends of the new line, and in 1887 the Missouri division point was platted and on the 28th day of Jauuar}', 1888, the first town lot was sold in the new town of Marceline. On the 6tli day of March following the town was incorporated. The county court of Linn county, after making the order of incorporation, appointed A. D. Eeynolds, mayor ; J. H. Perrin, W. S. Thomas, George Levan and J. E. Dorsey, aldermen; Joseph Turner, marshal, all to serve until the regular election of officers. The mayor appointed seems not to have met the approval of his constituents, and so an early election was provided for by an ordinance, and at that election J. W. McFall, one of the earliest and best known lawyers of Marceline, was elected mayor; J. A. Eunyon, marshal ; Jeff Hurt, police judge ; C. D. Watkins, city attorney ; Joseph Hemmings, clerk. The city being divided into two wards. Dr. Garner Ladow, W. S. Thomas, Dr. J. H. Perrin and J. E. Waller were elected to represent these wards. Within six months from the date on which the first lot was sold the new city had a population of 2,500 people. The lauds of the town site were owned and sold by an auxiliary corporation known as the "Santa Fe Town and Land Company," and to its local offices in Marceline came an ex-lieutenant governor of Kansas, D. W. Finney, as sales-agent, and with him came Joseph Hemmings, still a resident of Marceline and at the date of the writing of this chapter superintendent of the mines of the Marceline Coal & Mining Company. The incorporation of the town, however, was not the only event of interest which came with the date March 6, 1888, for on that day the first child was born in the new town; and that child, Claud C. Dail, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Dail, is yet faithful to the place of his birth; and having led to the hymeneal altar Miss Vina McDonald, yet lives in the city with his young wife, a popular and prosperous young business man. With the opening of spring in 1888 came re-, markable activity in Marceline. It had gotten its name, of Spanish origin, through the request of one of the directors of the new road. The Christian name of the wife of this official was Marcelina, and as a courtesy to her the new town was called "Marceline." True to its western name, the town took on all the appearances of the cities of the West. Following the construction gangs Avho were building the railroad line came the usual boomers and the atmosphere was surcharged with energy and hustle. Business houses and residences arose like magic on the corn and wheat stubble of the year before. Vigorous young business men, merchants, professional men, promoters, coal prospectors, gamblers, and all the heterogenous mixture of people who make up the earliest population of new towns were here. The man from the West, with white sombrero ornamented with leather band, touched elbow with the Missouri farmer. The eastern college man, with his derby hat and coat of latest cut, who had taken Horace Greeley's advise - "Go west and grow up with the country," forgot his college yell and exchanged his fraternity pin for a bone collar button and all entered enthusiastically into the building of a new city.

The original plat of the city soon became too small for the ambitious builders, and the Marceline Town & Land Company's addition was platted by E. M. Randolph, James E. Adamas, Gov. Finney and others. Taking a part in the platting of this addition as well as in the platting of the original town site was Judge C. G. Bigger, the veteran Linn county civil engineer, at the time of this writing city engineer, having in charge the paving of the streets of the city of Marceline, whose site he knew as an unbroken stretch of prairie grass less than a quarter of a century ago. By the end of the year 1888 the railroad company had its round house and tracks ready for use and operation, and early in 1889 began in a modest way the operation of trains. The trainmaster and the chief dispatcher with their forces were located at Marceline. The division superintendant, whose jurisdiction then and for many years thereafter included the entire Chicago extension, was located at Ft. Madison, Iowa. The need of coal at convenient locations along the new line became manifest and prospecting began at Marceline as well as at other points. Captain C. U. Wlieelock, an experienced prospector, was employed to sink a shaft in search of coal and finally located a promising vein at what is now know as Mine No. 1 of the Marceline Coal & Mining Company's property. Local capital at once began to interest itself in the work and it was determined to sink a shaft, and that shaft is still in use as the air shaft of Mine No. 1. The first spade of earth in starting was turned by Mrs. Lillian Green, wife of W. C. Green, one of the promoters, and the shaft was called Lillian Shaft No. 1, in her honor. A peculiar superstition prevailed among the miners at that time. They believed bad luck would follow the enterprise if the first shovel of dirt was not turned by the delicate hand of a lady and so, in deferrence to their wish and that belief, Mrs. Green turned the spade of earth over that \'irgin vein whic^i since that day has yielded millions of tons of coal to the commerce of the nation. As soon as the mine was in working condition, the

Kansas & Texas Coal Company purchased the property from its local projectors and began preparations for extensive operation. This company operated the mines until October, 1893, when it passed into the hands of the C. J. Devlin interests who operated it under the name of the Marceline Coal Company until the year 1907, when Mr. Devlin's property was swept away in a financial crash which carried with it many large banks and trust companies of the West, and the mines, Nos. 1 and 2, No. 2 having been opened at a later date, were closed out in a court of bankruptcy and passed into the hands of the Marceline Coal & Mining Company, which still operates them. During all the changes and vicissitudes of the properties Joseph Hemmings has been its superintendent, and under his masterful direction the properties are still yielding enormous quantities of fuel to drive the wheels of commerce. West of the City another coal mining venture was launched by J. L. Landreth, a West Virginian. His beginning, though humble, was nevertheless determined and as a result of his effort the third coal mine is in successful operation, making its sales almost exclusively to local consumers.

All lines of business were flourishing by midsummer of 1888 and a& the people looked forward to prosperity and commercial progress they turned their attention to the building of substantial homes, churches and schools. During the first six months of the town's existence the two branches of the Methodist Church, the Church of the Disciples, the Baptists, the Catholics and the Cumberland Presbyterians had organized congregations. All the protestant denomination met for worship in Crumley's hall, on Gracia avenue, and the Catholic congregation held their services in Senrick's Hall, on Lake street. J. W. W. Waugh was the first pastor of the Church of the Disciples, and while a minister by profession and eloquent in the pulpit, he seems not to have worked exclusively at his trade, but found time to build a reputation as a real estate dealer and, like David Harum's parson, was apt in swopping horses. W. Toole was the first pastor in charge of the Southern Methodist organization, while J. E. Eutledge directed the destiny of the earliest congregation of the First M. E. Church. These two branche.'^ of the Methodist faith maintained a separate existence in the town until the year 1908, when the two congregations were merged into one and the splendid, modern church edifice at the corner of Kansas and Santa Fe avenues, with its many enduring and ornamental features, is the result of that merger. An interesting coincidence of the first Methodist Episcopal Church congregation here is the fact that on October 8, 1888, its first church structure was dedicated and at that dedication Rev. J. D. Mendenhall preached a strong sermon, as we are advised by the local papers of that date. Twentj^-four years thereafter, on March 4, 1912, the same J. D. Mendenhall, older in years but still the progressive, enthusiastic man of affairs, stood in the new church building, as pastor of the congregation, and saw dedicated to the cause of Christianity, the modern house of worship just completed, that handsome monument to his enterprise and that of his coworkers in erecting it.

St. Bonaveuture's Church soon began actively to prepare for erecting their church home. Rev. Thomas J. Burke was the first pastor and presided over the parish until succeeded by Rev. P. J. Cullen. Relieved of his charge here. Father Burke weut to Liberty, Missouri, where he died December 22, 1903, at the age of 42 years and was bux'ied there. Later his remains were disinterred and removed to Mt. Killard cemetery, near Marceline, where a great shaft of solid concrete marks the final resting place of that able man. St. Bonaveuture's Church building was erected in the fall and winter of 18SS and 1S89. Work was commenced on its foundation on September 10, 1888, and the cornerstone was laid by the Rt. Rev. J. J. Hogan, Bishop of the Diocese, on October 1, 1888. Eev. J. W. Martin came to organize the Baptist congregation and though long since gone from the field of his activity here, his work remains a tribute to the thoroughness of his effort and that congregation, in common with all the others enumerated, is now worshiping in commodious and comfortable church edifices. True no great spires pierce the skies rising above piles of marble and polished granite, glittering in the sunlight, to proclauu to the world congregations of great wealth, yet in the hearts of the devout people who worship there these humble shrines become palaces of sincerity, and so we may believe them to appear to the All seeing eye of Him who has promised to note even the sparrow's fall. While lawlessness, violence and crime have at times invaded the community and stalked boldly through its streets and avenues, yet a strong and safe moral tone has always prevaded the social atmosphere, gi"ving assurance of the triumph of good citizenship in the end.

It was the purpose of the Town Site Company that the principal business section of Marceline should be located on Santa Fe avenue and that avenue was made one-hundred feet wide for that reason, and here all the early business houses opened their doors. The Marceline Mirror and the Marceline Journal began business on this street, the first issue of the Journal being sometime in the month of June. 1888. Dr. J. A. Smith, now deceased, and J. W. Northcott, a real estate dealer of Kansas City, Missouri, were its first editors and publishers. All of the early files of this paper having been destroyed by fire, the exact date of its initial issue cannot now be fixed. It was launched as an organ of the Republican Party and has continued as such in its editorial policy down tO' the year 1912, and is now published by Alden Lyle. The first issue of the Mirror was given to the people on Thursday, August 9, 1888 by Euede & Dodge. It started out prudently, making no promises except that it would print the news and support the policies of the Democratic party. Later Mr. Dodge sold his interest in the paper to Harry Brodrick, a newspaper man of Osborne, Kansas, and the paper continued under the direction of Mr. Ruede and Mr. Brodrick until 1894, when Walter Cash, of Macon, Missouri, purchased Mr. Ruede 's interest and came with his familj- to Marceliue. Mr. Cash, now living in St. Joseph, Missouri, was and is a minister of the Primitive Baptist faith, a businessman of splendid qualifications and a man of determination and enterprise. He brought with him to the Mirror ofSce the "Messenger of Peace," a secular publication and it was issued from the office in Marceline and went to its subscribers in all parts of the world, being one of the few publications of its character published. Later Mr. Cash purchased the interest of Mr. Brodrick in the paper and in 1897 sold the business to E. J. Conger, one of the editors and proprietors of the Linneus Bulletin. Mr. Conger came to Marceline, took charge of the publication and has continued in the position ever since with the exception of a short interval when he was engaged in newspaper work elsewhere.

In November, 1888, the newspapers announced in large headlines that Marceline was soon to have an electric lighting plant, a telephone system, school buildings and street cars. The electric lights came in the following year and were the first in Linn county. The telephone system arrived in due time, true to the prediction; two large, double-story, eight-room school buildings arose on the prairie to sei*ve the children of Marceline, but up to the good year of 1912 no street car has clanged its bell to disturb the peace of the ambitious city and the "syndicate of wealthy citizens of Scranton, Pa., who were anxious to build the line" probably found other investment for their surplus wealth and so passed the street car dream of early Marceline. The first term of school was for seven months during the fall and winter of 1888 and 1889; five teachers were employed to instruct the pupils of Marceline, shown by the first enumeration to number 306; in 1912 twenty instructors are employed for a nine months' term with an enumeration of 1,267.

ornamental construction, was erected at the corner of Kansas and Santa Fe avenues, in the very heart of what was then thought to be the prominent business section, and at this time the city claimed a population of 3,300; but notwithstanding the fact that fifty mercantile establishments, seven hotels, two banks, five livery stables, the newspapers, drug stores and other commercial enterprises were located either on or contiguous to Santa Fe avenue, commercial interest began to center in a district farther south and soon business houses were erected on Lake street, five blocks south of Santa Fe and on the east side of the railroad tracks. At the time of Mareeline's beginning, Linn county had adopted what is known as the Local Option law and no licensed saloons were in operation in the county. The Lake street business district was soon doing a thriving business with "speakeasys," as the places were known, where liquors were illegally and surreptitiously sold and along with them were the gambling dives and dan,ce halls, all more or less open and operating in violation of law. Many prosecutions resulted, with but few convictions, and a condition of lawlessness prevailed. A number of murders resulted from drunken brawls, fights were frequent, and in 1891 the citizens of the county returned to the license system and saloons were opened in Marceline.

About this time the people were startled by reports that women, returning alone to their homes in the north part of town, after nightfall, were being frightened by the strange actions of some unknown miscreant. A number of women, passing along dark stretches of sidewalk, had been horrified when a man stepped suddenly out of the darkness, threw his arms around them and escaped before his victims could sound an alarm. At first the matter was regarded as a hoax and Mareeline's "Jack the Hugger" was the joke of the period, but soon the complaints came in from sources so authentic that the facts could no longer be kept under cover. It was whispei'ed that the fiend an employe of W. A. Cannon, then a lumber merchant of Marceline, later a banker and drygoods merchant of Edina, Missouri, and now deceased. Because of the unpleasant notoriety many of these occurrences never became public, but enough was known to thoroughly arouse public indig-nation. Armed men secretly patroled the district but without result. Finally, as a last resort, a brave young woman then teaching in the Marceline public schools volunteered to take the lonely stroll with the understanding that three men, one of whom was her brother, should see her start, keejj within a safe distance of her and be ready to act if an occasion arose. All necessary precautions were taken to avoid the possibility of tlie trap being discovered and the brave young decoy was advised that at no time, from the moment of her starting to her return home, would she see her protectors, but she was assured that they would be constantly near her. She accepted the conditions and walked forth alone in the darkness night after night, and though she could neither see nor hear her guard, yet so great was her confidence and so firm her faith that she afterwards declared she felt not the slightest fear. But the cunning of the quarry was apparently equal to the shrewdness of the hunters, and the young woman strolled unmolested. The venture, however, was not without results for the occurrences ceased entirely after the unsuccessful effort to capture the vagabond. Whether or not the suspicions as to the identity of the fiend were well founded will probably never be known,

The town, starting with prosperous business, presented a splendid field for speculators, and real estate values continued at exorbitant figures until the year 1893, when the panic of that year swept over the country. Marceline had but little actual capital and from the year 1893 until 1896 city property continuously went down until it sold at from one-fourth to one-sixth of the prices which had prevailed in earlier days. During this period the building and loan associations of the country were doing their most active business and hundreds of houses had been built in Marceline with the money of these associations. Thousands of dollars went out monthly and at the end of 1905 the loan companies were closing out the property by foreclosure sales. Lots which had sold readily at from $1,000 to $2,000 during the first year of the town's existence brought $200 and $300 in the period of the panic, and business was at a low ebb. In the meantime the business district had again changed and Kansas avenue from Eitchie street south to Gracia became, and has ever since remained, the commercial center of the town. On Kansas avenue, on either side of Howell street, within this new district, are now located the two banking institutions of the ,city, the First National Bank of Marceline, with deposits of $325,000, and the Marceline State Bank, with deposits of $100,000. These banking houses are the outgrowth of the Bank of Marceline and the Santa Fe Exchange Bank, which, in 1896, showed combined deposits of $36,000.

wig, Austin N. Maupin, manager of the Marceline Mercantile Company's establishment, was elected to the office. Mr. Maupin 's administration was marked by careful business methods, and during his term what is known as the "Fire Limits Ordinance" was passed. A nonresident property owner had prepared to remove a large, two-story frame dwelling house into the middle of the block on the west side of Kansas avenue between Eitchie and Howell avenues. The house was to be used as a hotel and was already on the trucks when Mayor Maupin learned of the proposed move. He called the board of aldermen together in extraordinary session in the middle of the afternoon and passed an ordinance prohibiting wooden buildings within a certain district in the ordinance defined. The trucks were removed, and the house lowered back to its foundation where it rests today. Though still the local law, the provisions of this ordinance have been frequently violated by the unauthorized consent of mayors and town boards and a number of frame structures have been built and moved into the prohibited district, notably the Presbyterian church on California avenue, as well as many others.

With the retirement of Mi-. Maupin, W. S. Grubbs, now a stock dealer of Chariton county, succeeded to the office which he held until the election of Mayor Walter Cash. During the period of the town's existence, from 1888 to 1912, five men have held the office of city attorney under the several administrations. They were: C. D. Watkins, now judge of one of the city courts of Oklahoma City, Okla.; J. W. McFall, deceased; W. B. Clark, now practicing law in Ponca City, Okla.; B. L. White, and C. M. Kendriek, who still reside in Marceline.

In 1898 Walter Cash was elected mayor and imder his administration conditions improved, both in a business sense and in the moral tone of the town. Mi'. Cash's administration early began a campaign for civic improvement. Ripley Square, now one of the most beautiful miniature parks on the entire Santa Fe system, was then dotted with unsightly hovels and being located in the very heart of the city, next to the Santa Fe station, presented to strangers passing through the city a most unprepossessing prospect. Bonds in the sum of $5,000 for park purposes were voted in 1902, a part of the property was purchased from its owners, much of it was condemned and taken over by the city by legal process and the Santa Fe Railway, through E. P. Ripley, then, as now, its president, generously donated to the city ten lots it owned on the site and on which its grain elevator was located. This elevator was removed without cost to the city, the plot was graded, trees planted and walks built. Frem time to time ornaments were added to the park, including a rifle cannon and mortar, relics of the Civil War, donated by the government of the United States, through the courtesy of Senator William J. Stone, Senator William Warner and Congressman W. W. Rucker. Ornamental fountains were built from which pour living streams to soften and cool the summer air, and on the bosom of the miniature lake, set like a mirror in the green carpet of the beauty spot, aquatic fowls disport themselves, and the gi'aceful movements of snow white swans ever attract and hold the interest of the visitor. Lounging in comfort on the spreading lawns of this park, beneath grateful shade, the murmur of fountains and the moisture-laden breezes lulling to sleep the tired senses, our people have reason to remember gratefully the enterprise of Walter Cash and his live, progressive, wide-awake administration, and later the unselfish interest and untiring industry of R. M. Wrenn, whose labor and effort have added in no small way to the attractions of Ripley Square.

Up to the period when Mayor Cash took the oath of office the city was entirely without fire-fighting apparatus. Insurance rates were high, the fire record was bad and many of the first companies were closing up their agencies and withdrawing from the town. Among the first acts of the new administration was the submission of a proposition to a vote of the people to bond the city in the sum of $1,500 dollars, the money to be used in the purchase of a "hand fire engine." The proposition carried almost without dissenting votes, the apparatus was purchased, a volunteer fire company organzied and thus a modicum of fire protection was afforded the citizens. While the machine was crude and, so far as the writer is informed, it never arrived in time to save the burning building when an alarm was turned in, yet to the good housewife "next door," whose home seemed doomed, whose children clung in terror to her skirts, the raucous clanging of its gong was seraphic music. The pump was operated by hand and the men worked for love of home and without hope of remuneration, and that they saved many homes from destruction which, but for their effort, would have gone up in flames with the property adjoining, entitles Marceline's earliest fire fighting to a place in the grateful remembrance of her people.

One of these early-day fires came near resulting in the undoing of one of Marceline's pioneer physicians - Dr. J. T. Martin. The doctor had come to the town with the first arivals, hung out his sign as a practitioner and opened a drug store on the northeast corner of Kansas and California avenues. He was a studious man, an indefatigable investigator and being yet comparatively fresh from college was not ready to give up his researches into the mysteries of the anatomy of man. To more intelligently pursue his favorite subject he had procured a human body and had the cadaver reposing in his private study in the rear of the drug store awaiting a favorable opportunity to proceed with dissection at his leisure. One night the doctor was called out to see a patient and his clerk having gone home, he locked up the drug store, put his medical case under his arm and was off to minister to his patient. His visit was a distant one and returning he saw a red glow in the vicinity of Marceliue, and watching it curiously he rode along not specially concerned, for the reason that fires were not rare in Marceline, and so had lost interest in a measure to those not directly concerned. As it was the fashion in those early days for the proprietor of the burning building to be in town, as a rule, when the fire broke forth, and conveniently located so that he could be found and informed of his misfortune, and appear properly shocked and grieved, Dr. Martin rode in all unsuspecting, and his amazement was sincere when he found his own drug store was in ashes. Meantime, the do,ctor, one of the most popular of men up to this time, was advised by his friends that he could not get away any too quickly if his personal safety was to be assured, as a mob was forming threatening serious bodily injury to him and tlie more excitable ones were talking IjTiching. In answer to his excited inquiries, the doctor was infonued that when the flames broke out in the roof of his building, people rushed to the spot, and not finding him there, broke into the building with a view to saving his library and other personal belongings. Among the first articles they uncovered was the cadaver, and as it otfered no explanation of its presence, the cry was raised that the doctor was a grave robber, and excitement and indignation was at fever heat. The physician was persuaded by his friends to remain away until explanations could be forthcoming and excitement subside. This he did, and he produced evidence to convince his neighbors not only that he was not a murderer or a ghoul, but that he had come into possession of the cadaver legally and honorably, and so at the end of forty-eight hours the doctor returned to Marceline, hung his sign again and the incident passed. His anatomical specimen, however, perished, as did his library and other office belongings, for every man who had rushed to that fire imbued with the idea of unselfishly saving Dr. Martin's property, had business elsewhere as soon as he caught a glimpse of the figure reclining on the doctor's sofa. This incident was in 1889 and was followed in 1894 by one very similar in first appearances, but of vastly different results. Dr. Fox was conducting a drug store at the corner of Kansas and Gracia avenues and liad an ice box back of his prescription ease. One day the dealer was delivering ice to the doctor and noticed the lid was partially off a very long, slender box, sitting nearby, and to his terror and amazement he beheld protruding from the box the feet of a woman. He did not stop to investigate, nor did he hesitate to talk, and soon the whole town and countryside were discussing with bated breath the gruesome discovery in Fox's drug store. Fox was arrested, and tried in Chariton county on a charge of "body snatching," the fact having developed that the bodj^ was that of a young woman who had then but recently died in that county a few miles south of Marceline. The doctor's assistant, a man of excellent standing in the .community, told the whole story on the witness stand, of a midnight ride in a buggy to the lonely cemetery; of the opening of the grave, over which the earth was yet new; of the return to town with the body between them in the buggy, and though there was no conviction in the case, it resulted in a radical change of the laws of the state of Missouri, so that now the hazard is too great, the jjenalty too severe for adventures of that kind and character. The little churchyard received again the poor, inanimate form so ruthlessly taken from its silent portals, and with the passing of Dr. Fox from the community the most grewsome incident in the history of the town was allowed to pass from the memory of the people. Perhaps it were as well had the gruesome story never been retold, but as the sun ever follows the shadow of the rain and as the dawn of right dispel* and dissipates the darkness of wrong, so the restraining legislation that sprang from this incident has fully compensated for all the heartaches that its presence brought.