Macon County, Missouri - Chapter 14 (2 of 2 so headed), 1910

Chapter 14

Tur GEoLoGy or Macon County - Tosacco - AcricuttrurE - THE Damy - Stock Ratsinc - A Town Lor Auction ar Hupson - 'Tuer Crry or Mapres'' - Mopern Municipal Improvements - Laptes' Civic Leacue - Macon Cuarity Sociery - Dratnace Work IN THE CHARiron VALLEY - WEALTH OF THE COUNTY - SOME NOTED CHARACTERS - Pionrer Coat OpreraTOR - JOHN Jones AND His Cave Hovsk - Way Mr. Beach WovLpN^r Wear a Har - Parrior Who WouLbx'r Cur His Ham UxtiL a Democratic Presivent was ELeEcreD - JoHN Henry Grirrin - * Depot'? Smrra - Two Livery Riva Towns - Tue BostaL Service - Vore FOR PRESIDENT.

During its early years, farming and stock-raising were the main pursuits of Macon county. Then occurred the coal strike and it immediately became prominent as the center of the coal-producing region of the state. Year after year Macon county has headed the list for this valuable deposit of the underworld. Until within the past few years, however, but little attempt has been made at underground exploitation, save for coal. Now there is a large body of land under lez in the coal district and adjacent by an oil concern, which promises to begin development work at an early date. Another interesting project of the underground is a gold and silver mine at New Cambr These various enterprises are treated under the chapter on mining. Those who have studied the character of the country west of the Wabash railroad have predicted that within a few years it will be the center of a great oil and mining district, perhaps excelling that of any other state in the Mississippi valley.

In a diseussion of these important industrial features, so close to active development, a paper read by Colonel A. L. Gilstrap before the Macon Geological Society, in May, 1875, becomes almost prophetic.

not only all minerals, earths and soils, but the several uses to which these are applied in the evolutions of the laws of nature in the formation of the mineral and vegetable kingdoms. "That in the formation of the mineral kingdom, vegetable and animal life perform a conspicuous part in the incipient process, are facts so well established that they are no longer seriously disputed. But it is not my purpose now to enter upon the mode and manner of geological evolutions. Macon county contains an area of thirty miles square, less seventy-two square miles, of which eighteen are taken from the east side of the northeastern congressional township, and fifty-four from the two townships in the southwest, and lies upon the Chariton and Salt rivers, including the dividing ridge between the waters of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, upon which divide the eity of Macon stands. "Thus it will be seen that the county of Macon contains an area of 828 square miles. Within this area vast mineral wealth is known to exist. And, while it is true that the drift period succeeded elose upon the carboniferous, and in some cases appears to be intermingled, yet we find an extensive marl bed lying upon the upper earboniferous formation, forty feet thiek, upon the general average, and in some places, especially the hills, coming up very near to the surface.

This vast marl formation, rich in lime and clay, is far more produetive in vegetable matter than the common soil, and ean be added thereto, by eomparatively little labor, which will double the products of the farm, especially in that great staple, wheat. On the west side of the Chariton river there is a chain of hills running nearly north and south called the Elk Knobs. This formation, in some respects, differs from all other parts of the country. The drift seems to be less in depth, so, also, is the marl bed - besides coal veins running up four feet in thickness in some places, especially from the H. & St. Joe R. R. south, until you strike the loess formation, there is kidney iron ore, which will yield 60 per cent of iron, and some indications of anthracite coal. It is stated upon pretty good authority that there are hills so completely filled with iron ore as to constitute fully one-half of them.

Information has existed for many years that lead existed in these hills, near the county line between Macon and Adair, and continues northward into Putnam county. In one ease this ore has been melted out, and found to contain about 30 per cent of silver. But explorations have not been made in such a manner as to determine whether these ores exist in sufficient quantities to justify working them.

are known to exist. The first one runs from four to five and one-half feet, and is being worked at the Summit and Bevier mines; and near the Summit, and on Brushy Creek, in the Elk Knobs, by Thomas Jobson, Esq. Below this vein about thirty-five feet is another vein thirty-two inches thick, superior coal. About forty feet further down is another vein, whieh measures eight feet, in the valley of the East Fork, on the H. St. Joe R. R. This vein is superior to any yet found for gas and the forge, making coke, and generating steam, because of its freedom from sulphur, and the immense amount of gas whieh it contains.

These existenees of this lower vein has been demonstrated by boring into it in the East Fork valley, two miles west of Macon, on the, H. & St. Joe R. R. and by sinking a shaft into it by Col. A. R. Pope, on the same railroad, one mile nearer Macon, where several tons of this coal have been taken out, from which the tests were obtained. Tn the valley of the East Fork, near the railroad, where the boring has been done, the fact was demonstrated that, at a distance of about 100 feet below the railroad track, lying immediately under a Plazoie rock, there exists a spongy compact bed of black material nine feet thick, very heavy, of a glistening metallie luster, apparently greasy and ineapable of reduction by heat.

Further investigation has shown that it only exists under and near the valley, and that it must be graphite, or the black oxide of manganese, the latter of which its character, as so far determined,

Jontinuing southward, between the East and Middle Forks, the coal lands increase in thickness, and the country, falling off as it does, while the eoal veins run on a level with a small dip to the southwest, exposes these beds, and they crop out above the valleys so as to be worked by drift openings, self-draining. Such is the ease in township 56 of range 15, where these veins run from five to seven feet in thickness; and on the west side of townships 56 and 57 these beds run from three to four feet. Such veins are to be found throughout the whole extent of the southern part of the county, and contain vast deposits of mineral wealth, to utilize, which railroads are indispensable.

The great mass of the rocks of this county is a bituminous limestone, with occasional beds of argillieions sandstone intervening. A number of conglomerate depos of the sulphate of lime-pure lime- stone exist in the county, which, by trial, burns into a fine, white lime of the best quality. "This white limestone belongs to the drift period.

Of valuable earths, this county possesses two varieties in abundanee, and all found below the several eoal veins - fireclay and pipe or potters' clay, of the best varieties. The beds of fireclay are from four to fifteen feet thick, and the potters' clay formations are about the same thickness, while the pipe-clay beds are not over thirteen inches, as a general rule. It is believed that one bed of Koaline has been discovered under the graphite formation, supposed to be three feet thick. A bed of pure white clay is found there, but that it is Koaline remains to be determined. The inexhaustible marl beds everywhere in reach of the farmer, the immense deposits of valuable coal beds and clay formations, if properly utilized, will make Macon one of the richest counties in the state. But it remains to be seen whether this generation is capable of casting off old prepossessions and customs, and of coming up to the work necessary to develop her resources.

Mr. President, this discourse is quite short of all that can be truthfully said upon this subject, but I hope that I have given satisfaction so far as I have gone. A. L. GILSTRAP.

Prior to 1860 the growing of tobacco was the important pursuit of the Missouri agrieulturist. Every man owning an acre of land put it in tobacco, and thereby established credit with his storekeeper. Tobacco was a staple crop, commanding a steady market, and the possession of it y as money in the bank.

Callao was an important center of the tobacco-growing region of Macon county. Seven hundred thousand pounds were shipped from there one season. The factories there were operated by John Henry Matthis, Kerry Perrin, Judge George Turner and Lovern & Wright, George and Minor Towner had a big factory at Bloomington. At Macon R. M. J. Sharp, P. M. Wright, George B. Turner, George Towner and Shortridge & Benedict were the leading tobaceo men.

"The tobacco industry of Missouri grew to enormous proportions up to and during the Civil war. It was the only profitable erop for the farmers in the interior of the state before the railroads came, for there was practically no market for country produce and grain. But the tobacco shipper stood with his eash in hand, ready to pay the producer. If a man could get hold of a few acres of ground his eredit would be good with the storekeeper as soon as he told him he had sown tobacco, and the storekeeper would be content to wait for his money until the crop was harvested and sold.

"The tobacco was received in huge barns, the most notable of which were at Huntsville, Brunswick and Glasgow. There were, also, large factories at Macon, Bloomington and Callao. The product was squeezed into great hogsheads, from 1,400 to 2,000 pounds in each, and sent by boat to St. Louis. I have seen steamers eut loose from the wharf at Brunswick so heavily loaded with hogsheads of tobaceo that the water would splash up on the lower deck.

"Nearly all of the Missouri tobacco went to European countries. It seemed that in certain sections there our weed was a prime favorite for plug and smoking because of its great strength. England was specially fond of a long leaf we raised, which was known to the trade as 'Shoestring.' At that time - prior to 1866 - it was against the law to cultivate tobacco in England. The other varieties raised here were "Iron Oker,' 'Yellow Oker' and 'One Sucker.' 'White Burley' was grown towards the close of the industry in Missouri. It is said that this variety absorbed enough moisture on the ocean voyage to pay its freightage across. The smart dealer on the other side was the gainer by this, which he long kept to himself as a trade secret. The vessels collected their freightage at the port of embarkation and, of course, could not charge again on the other side.

"T am glad experiments with the object of again raising tobacco in Missouri are under way. At the present price, which, I understand, is from $10 to $12 per 100 pounds, it ought to be profitably raised. You ean raise easily 750 pounds to an aere, if the crop is well "tended. But it requires incessant activity. About three acres is enough for one man to look after, but if he has several children to help, he might put out more. In the tobacco days ten acres was regarded as a large tract. You see, a man has to virtually sleep with his crop, with the weeding and the suceoring and the worming. But it's a hardy crop and thrives well. There was money in it in the old days, and there would be money in it now for the small farmers who could devote the time to it.

"Why they quit raising it? Well, there were several reasons. One was the bottom dropped out of the Liverpool market because of the India tobacco which had just reached there. That knocked out the American export trade. Quite a number of Missouri shippers had large consignments on the way over when the drop oceurred, and all lost heavily, as the tobacco they sent wouldn't pay the big transportation charges. I know of one man whom they drew on to pay a large freight bill to cover the difference between the freight charges and what his tobacco sold for at Liverpool. These things disgusted the Missouri farmer with the business and he tried to forget all about tobacco in the raising of corn, wheat and fine cattle. Tobacco continued very low for a long time, and at last it beeame a forgotten produet of Missouri. But with present prices the weed could certainly be raised profitably and the industry come into its own again. The old state certainly raised a fine article while it was at it, a brand that was famous the world over, just as our corn-eob pipe is today. An immense amount of tobacco could be raised without subtracting materially from the production of grain and other things, as tobacco doesn't require very much space.

"There is one draw-back about the erop, and that is it drains the fertility of the land quicker than any other product. After land has been planted in tobacco three seasons it is 'all in,' and you have to treat it heavy to fertilizers to make it produce anything else for some time. But by that time you've got a good pile of money in your pocket, and can stand the loss of the small acreage for a season while it recovers. The resumption of the tobacco industry would add mightily to the state's wealth and furnish employment to a great many laborers, both in the fields and factories. There is no question about the successful raising of the plant; it is as sure a crop as anything a farmer could put in, and because of certain qualities the Missouri article has always proven a high favorite with the manufacturers."

E. E. Samuel, a Chicago capitalist, is now doing a great deal to revive the tobacco industry in Missouri. His house is distributing White Burley seed to the farmers and agrees to take all the tobacco produced at the highest market price. Last year Macon county raised quite a lot of weed which was sold to the firm. The demand for Missouri White Burley comes largely from China, where by official edict the celestials have been using tobacco manufactured from that and other brands in large quantities in place of the seductive opium pipe. It is stated by those who are close to the situation that the Oriental demand for tobacco is increasing as the years go by, and that in time the price will rise to such figures that Missouri farmers will go into the tobacco business extensively.

Many old citizens clearly remember the time when Macon, Callao and Bloomington were lively in those seasons when the farmers were bringing their tobaceo to market. Immense sums of money were put in eireulation and business thrived wonderfully. Of course, tobacco will not take the place of grain and stock-raising, whieh are the leading industries of the county, but it may prove to be one of the important side industries, one which will add many dollars to the farmers' annual revenue.

Twenty-two years ago a writer on Macon county farming lands appraised them at from $10 to $20 per aere. Today $50 is a fair average, but many improved farms have been sold largely in excess of that sum. The immense influx of land buyers from Iowa, Illinois and other states in 1902-3 sent values up rapidly. Missourians awoke to a realization that they had appraised their farms below their value. Quite a number paid a bonus to purchase back before the deeds were executed. Many thousands of acres in Macon county changed hands during the period of the land boom. The men who came here from other states knew exactly what they were getting. They seemed to have a better idea of the land's value than many of those who had lived on it all their lives. In most instances, the newcomers paid spot-cash. They have proven good citizens, bringing with them the thrift and enterprise of their former states. The county has been the gainer by these new residents, nearly all of whom belong to the well-to-do class.

Blue grass is named as the most valuable of the soil's products. The broad acres of the county are covered with it, and it has made stock-raising profitable. It comes out in mid-spring and stays till the winter snows blight it. Corn, timothy and elover are the staple erops. Some progress has been made in the production of alfalfa. Wheat thrives as well on the Chariton lowlands as on the Missouri river bottoms. Corn runs from sixty to seventy bushels to the acre there. The land there also produces the finest vegetables known. Until the drainage enterprise was under way these lowlands had not been successfully developed. With the large canal now constructed from north Valley township down into Chariton eounty the farmers regard these lands as safe from damaging overflows, and eultivate them extensively.

The Missouri apple is said to command the top notch price in the markets, because of its superior flavor. There are a number of large orchards in Macon county, many of them being operated strictly as a financial enterprise. One orchard firm near Macon - Wardell & Me- Cully - cleared $12,000 on its product in 1909. The varieties are Ben Davis, Jonathan, Willow Twig, Grim's Golden and Winesap. Peaches, pears and small fruit of all kinds are grown with fair success.

The drainage of Macon county is excellent. The state divide runs through the heart of it, north and south. The larger streams are the Chariton, East and Middle; Mussel, North and South Forks; Salt river,

Within recent years the dairy business has become quite an important adjunct to farming. There is a first-class creamery at Macon operated by Rudolph Miller, a native of Denmark, who has worked indefatigably to interest the people in the production of milk and the development of their dairies.

When he first came to Macon county Mr. Miller traveled from dawn to dark explaining to the farmers what the dairy business had done for Denmark and what it would do for Missouri if the people here would go at the business as the Danes did? The soil of Holland and Denmark had been practically worked to the bone, and the people were emigrating in large numbers beeause of their inability to produce erops, when some good Samaritan suggested the idea of dairying for the restoration of the land. It proved to be the financial salvation of the kingdoms.

Mr. Miller eame to Macon county in the spring of 1900. He was told that Macon was not a dairy eounty, and that he would simply add his to the list of failures of those who had tried to conduet a creamery at Macon. But the man from Denmark knew what he was about. He reasoned that a Missourian was just as anxious to make money as à Dane, and that it was his business to show him how. For the first year or two it was a discouraging proposition. He was told that Macon was a splendid county for corn and coal and fruit and stock-raising and all of that, but that it never could be made a prize-winner on dairy products. So from the small patronage he had on the start; Mr. Miller managed to produce some samples of Macon county produets, which he sent to the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901. "There were exhibits from all parts of the United States, the highest of whieh scored 9715. and Mr. Miller's **serub"' butter from Macon county scored 97. The trouble with the dairy business in this state," said Mr. Miller, **is that, with most farmers, it is merely a side issue, to earn a little money. The production of eream ought to be an industry by

There should be organization and diseussion. The producer of milk and the manufaeturer of butter need zreater confidence in each other. Attention should be given to scientifie feeding and to keeping the cows and their barns as clean as possible. The barns should be heated in winter and the eows fed on suceulent feed, such as roots, ete. With proper eare they will give as much milk in winter as in summer. Great eare should be exereised to keep the ponds and all

One man sold $82 worth of cream to the Macon creamery in November, 1909, the product of ten cows. Several patrons of the creamery clear annually from $500 to $700 on five cows.

The live stock industry has grown to large proportions in Macon county. Blue grass pasturage exists all over the county, and grazing land is abundant. All the towns on the railroads ship large consignments of eattle, sheep and hogs to the markets, and the high prices existing have made the industry most profitable. The Missouri mule is developed in Macon county to his highest perfection, and is seen on all the blue grass farms. In most of the towns regular stock day sales are held, which are largely attended and good prices realized. Some noted auctioneers reside in Macon county and they have made these sales attractives features of the week en

"The following list of purchasers and prices paid is from the report of an auction sale held at Macon in March, 1910, largely attended by stock men and farmers from Northern Missouri:

At about the same time these priees were being paid on the Chieago markets for other classes of stock: Cattle, $8 to $8.60; hogs, $10.75 to $10.95; sheep, $8.50 to 39.30. The local market was a few cents lower.

There was a sale of lots in Hudson (now Macon) by publie outery on July 4, 1857. At that time Hudson was farming land sliced up into town lots. The town of Macon was to the east of it. Macon had progressed rapidly and it was the desire of the promoters of Hudson to Start a rival town and outelass it. The eventual result was that the two towns went together and became one big city.

number of well-to-do St. Louisans in the enterprise. The syndicate had influence with the management of the North Missouri Railroad, then building upstate. The road, as originally projected, would have gone through Macon, but the Hudson Town Company indueed the managers to change its locating survey to the town it was going to build to the west. That is why the road swings on a long curve to the west. Several of the prominent streets and avenues of Macon are named after St. Louis men who were stoekholders in the town company, notably Samuel Treat, D. A. January, Gerard Allen and others. The new town was named after Thomas Hudson, at that time president of the North Missouri railroad.

The Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad was very close to completion; North Missouri was full of active railroad men and investors. It was said that the machine shops, road-houses, and other railroad buildings of the North Missouri road would be loeated at Hudson. Other roads were talked of as knocking at the door to get in. It was a rosy picture for a town lot sale erowd. "There were several brass bands, refreshments galore and everybody was out there for a good time and a town lot. Lots, 46x20 feet, were bought up like hot cakes at from $50 to $300. There was no limit to the supply, however. The Town Company could have sold lots clear up to the Iowa line if there had been enough purchasers.

The $300 lots were supposed to be on the main thoroughfare, the Broadway of Hudson. Now it is in the extreme southwest part of Macon, almost out of sight of the business district. Colonel Robert Bevier, who later organized a regiment and went into the Southern army, was one of the orators of that interesting day. Quite a number of other distinguished personages from the cities were present.

Web M. Rubey, now a resident of Macon, is the only person who could be found in the county who has a keen recollection of the town lot sale. He was then deputy county elerk, and lived at Bloomington, the county seat. Hudson, January, Judge Treat, Allen and all the members of the Hudson Town Company are now dead.

The men who bought lots erected buildings, and for a while it seemed that all the rainbows drawn by the auctioneer would be realized. The streets of Hudson hummed with activity, just as they do now in the boom towns of Oklahoma. A large portion of old Macon was rolled over and united with the new town. The railroads were completed and up until the Civil war there was constant business activity in these parts. It is very rare now that you hear the name Hudson

Visitors to Macon have expressed great admiration for the beauty and extent of the maple trees in the residenee distriets of the town. A picture taken of the town from the waterworks tower looks as though the city were in the heart of a forest. From these beautiful trees came the name, ''The City of Maples," so frequently applied to Macon. The circumstances in which the town acquired these trees are interesting. In 1872 John W. Beaumont, an energetic real estate man and promoter, became involved and could not pay his taxes. The city's bill against him was only $116. Beaumont was an honest man and the debt worried him. He went to the City Council, frankly explained his finaneial embarrassment, and said that he had on hand 10,000 young maple trees, from one to two inches in diameter, which he had secured for the purpose of setting out around the real estate he had for sale; if the city would accept these young trees, which were worth far more than his debt, he would be glad to make the payment that way. After some discussion, in which the majority favored the proposition, the Council agreed to the compromise, and Mr. Beaumont delivered the trees. Then the mayor, S. G. Brock, proclaimed an ** Arbor Day." It was announced that every property owner who would agree to set out and eare for from six to ten trees could receive them free of charge by applying to the City Council. At that time the country in these parts was mostly prairie land and there were but few trees in Macon. The Council's proposition was eagerly accepted and acted upon by the citizens. Almost in a day Mr. Beaumont's legal tender for taxes was in the hands of the inhabitants, who faithfully earried out their part of the agreement. These trees were sturdy and grew to large proportions, furnishing welcome shade to all the avenues of the town, and adding greatly to its beauty and homelike appearance.

To Col. F. W. Blees largely belongs the eredit of the extensive municipal improvements inaugurated and carried out in Macon. When he returned from Germany, after having settled up his ancestral estate, he went before the City Council and insisted that an adequate sewerage system be constructed. To this enterprise he generously donated $5,000. He was also one of the first to urge the extension of street paving and good sidewalks. Year by year the paved streets have been extended in all direetions and there are miles and miles of granitoid walks around the town. All the main streets of the city are paved with vitrified brick, and at the southern limits of the paving is the government road, a smooth boulevard constructed as a specimen of rock high-

In 1909 the eleetrie light and waterworks system was remodeled at an expenditure of about $24,000. The improvements were in the hands of a Board of Public Works, composed of the following gentlemen: F. W. Gieselman, president; John Thompson, Thomas Still and Henry Hunckler. Allen Guthrie was a member of the board the first year, but resigned when his time was up and Mr. Hunckler was appointed in his place. The board was chosen by the citizens. New eleetrie pumps were installed at the source of water supply, East Fork, and the power house was strengthened by the addition of a Vertical Cross Compound engine, 450 H, P., directly connecting with a 300 kilowatt generator. This is the emergeney engine of the plant. It is of the class used in the large cities for trolley lines and electric lights. The capacity of the plant with this powerful engine is 7,000 16-candle power lights. The Macon plant has the capacity to supply power not only for Macon but for all the adjoining towns within twelve miles or more. It is said to be the best concern of the kind in the west. It is hoped by the new installation that the eleetrie light and waterworks system will not only be self-sustaining, but will ereate a revenue for the city.

To the Ladies Civic League is largely due the credit for the cleanly and attraetive appearance of Macon. The League was organized in 1903, and the following officers were chosen. Mrs. Philip Gansz, president; Mrs. Theodore Gary, first vice-president; Mrs. Otho Matthews, second vice-president; Miss Jennie Dessert, secretary and treasurer.

The League at once began an active campaign. It enlisted the support of the City Council and the business men. A man was employed to sweep and remove the litter from the downtown streets daily. An ordinance was passed prohibiting tobacco users from disfiguring the sidewalks. Householders were urged to elean up their yards and alleys, and to have carted off their ashes, old cans and debris. Prizes were offered for those who cultivated the most attractive lawns. Many other improvements were encouraged by the industrious and publie spirited women, and Macon soon became known far and wide as one of the prettiest towns in the state. The seeretary has received numerous letters from other organizations of women, requesting that a copy of the by-laws of the Macon League, and something about its method of operation.

a sinking fund to be devoted to some special feature of interest and benefit. A suite of entertainment rooms for farmers' wives and children, and visiting women from the towns of the county, has been suggested. The fund now contains $300. The ladies raised $85 of this by the sale of a carload of old magazines which had been donated to them by the people.

The present officers of the Civie League are: Mrs. R. Holtzelaw, president; Mrs. Ed. S. Smith, first vice-president; Mrs. W. H. Miller, second vice-president; Mrs. Maude D. Brock, secretary-treasurer.

The Macon Charity Society is another women's enterprise which has and is accomplishing splendid work. It was organized in 1904. Mrs. E. J. Demeter, who was the first president, still retains that position, because her work has proven so successful, and she seems so well adapted to it, that the ladies will not permit her to resign. The purpose of the Charity Society is twofold - to help the deserving poor and to prevent the citizens from being imposed upon by unknown and irresponsible eharity solietors. The society saves the County Court a large sum of money every year, by taking care of the town's really poor. The merchants and business men generally are requested not to hand over money to traveling strangers solieiting for this and that enterprise, but to refer them to the president of the Charity Society, who will investigate, and if the applieants are found worthy, will assist them.

Not long ago a sweet-faced young woman, dressed in deep mourning, came to Macon and said she represented an institution where poor children were cared for. She wept bitterly over the sufferings of the little ones who were disowned by their parents, and in less than half a day had raked in forty dollars to relieve motherless little chaps, who, it was afterwards ascertained, existed only in the imagination of the sweet-faced young solicitor. The money she carried away in her handbag, however, was very real.

It is her knowledge and experience with cases of this sort which makes Mrs. Demeter an invaluable head to the society. If those who contributed to the young lady referred to had first sent her to Mrs. Demeter for investigation an unconscionable young grafter would have left Macon with an empty hand-bag.

The cases of real destitution, however, receive the earnest and constant attention of the society. No worthy applicant is refused, and so useful has the society proven that not a ease of real suffering occurred in Macon during its organization. The officers of the Macon

Charity Society are: Mrs. E. J. Demeter, president; Mrs. Charles VanCleve, Mrs. J. R. McKee, vice-presidents; Mrs. Frank Smith, secretary; Mrs. H. A. Abel, treasurer. Two women from each church of the eity eonstitute the Charity board.

Perhaps the most important county enterprise that has been put on foot within recent years is the system for draining the Chariton lowlands. The need of this had been apparent for a long while before the work was commeneed. "The bottom lands are the most produetive in northern Missouri. The periodical floods bring down a large quantity of valuable fertilizing material, whieh lays on the ground until it become a part of the soil. The springs would open smiling and propitious, encouraging the farmers to sow. But when the grain was up and beginning to give promises of a prolifie harvest the floods would come and destroy the hard work of the husbandman. This occurred so frequently that the lowlands had but little value.

Owing to its tortuous course the Chariton river was utterly inadequate to earry off any great volume of water. It was evident that if the lowlands should be saved it would be necessary to construct a practically straight channel or canal running directly to the Missouri river.

Among the early movers in the campaign to save the bottom lands were Judge Gran Goodson, John M. London, Judge Robert H. Kern, Jacob Grove, Charles O., Albert and Thomas B. Dunham, and others. W. G. Walker of Macon was appointed Chief Engineer and has had charge of that work from the very start. A drainage ditch association was organized and the land owners went into the County Court with their petition to build a diteh and to issue bonds for the payment. The petitioners were not successful in the County Court, and they next filed the papers with the Cireuit Court, which gave them authority to proceed. A canal was constructed from the northern part of Valley township running through Macon county and a mile and a half into Chariton county, where it connects with a ditch there leading on to the Missouri river.

The excavation was made by a steam dredge, which was run continuously day and night. The dredge consumed 1,200 gallons of water daily, and a ton of coal. It excavated daily a body of earth 250 feet in length, 12 feet in width and 6 feet in depth. A crew of four men operated the dredge - an engineer, fireman, craneman and a helper. For night work a dynamo on the dredge supplied electric light.

The ditch as constructed is from eight to fifteen feet in depth and has a twenty-foot bottom, with a slope of one to one. "These dimensions have been considerably increased by the flow of water. The ditch

In addition to the big canal from Valley township southward there is also a ditch on the west side of the river, in Valley township. This diteh eonneets the lower end of Painter Creek with what is known as the Willow Slough, and is about five and a half miles long. It is built in the same manner as the main canal, only it is somewhat smaller. The total number of aeres affected by the ditch enterprise is 17,242. The aggregate expenditure for both ditches mentioned was about $60,000. To meet this cost necessitates an assessment of about $9 per aere, which is paid at the rate of fifty cents per e annually. As the land was quoted at $25 an acre when the ditching commenced in the early part of this century, and was easily worth $65 an aere in 1909, with prospects of steadily increasing, the expenditure for canal enterprise is eonsidered a highly satisfactory investment.

During the big flood in the summer of 1909 the eanal was blocked at the Burlington railroad by the embankment, which had not been eut through. . By reason of this the water on the lands north of the track was held back some days and the destruetion to property was great. But that was said to be the heaviest flood known since the high waters of 1875. Since then the canal has found an adequate outlet under the railroad, a space of 140 feet, and there is no obstruction from end to end.

It is the opinion of competent engineers who have examined the canal since the opening was made at the railroad embankment that it will be entirely adequate to carry off in a comparatively short time as large a volume of water as is likely to come down the valley, judging the extent of floods by past history.

Landowners north of Valley township are now preparing to organize a drainage association for the purpose of constructing a diteh from the north line of the county southward to connect with the completed ditch in Valley township. This will give Macon county a continuous drainage system through the valley. It is almost certain that this will result in the continuation of the enterprise to the northward, and in the course of a few years it is very likely that the whole Chariton valley will be saved by a canal extending from the Iowa line on down to the Missouri river.

D. L. Hummer, president of the Hummer Construction Company of Marion, Ohio, had the contract for the construction of the Macon county ditch. He is well acquainted with bottom country and he remarked while here that he had never seen more fertile lands than those in the

Chariton valley. He suggested that when the diteh was completed through the entire length of the valley that the farmers would derive an immense revenue from raising fine vegetables, as well as wheat and grain, and that a trolley line would be construeted along the banks of the canal to bring the products to the railroad lines crossing it.

Mr. Walker, the engineer, says that these bottom lands will produce from thirty-five to forty bushels of wheat to the acre, and from sixty to eighty bushels of corn.

The length of the main ditch as now constructed from North Valley township to the connection with the Chariton county ditch is fourteen miles. This with the five and one-half miles from Painter Creek to Willow Slough gives nineteen and one-half miles of association ditch work in Macon county.

A few miles north of New Cambria, in a pieturesque ravine, resides John Jones in a little thatehed house partly above and partly below the soi. Mr. Jones adopted his peeuliar domicile about the elose of the Civil war and has elung to it tenaciously ever since. It is a cozy little place, with just about enough room for a man to turn around. The center of his little home is dug out and propped like the entry of a coal mine. Lying cross-ways of the entry, up near the roof, is sort of an upper compartment like in a sleeping car. This is Mr. Jones's bed. The roof is safe and snug, and there is no danger of it leaking; it would take a tremendous wind storm to blow it away. On shelves bording the little passageway are articles of every deseription whieh Mr. Jones has pieked up in town and had given to him by friends, and which he has preserved. It is said that he never throws anything away. When he wears out a pair of shoes he places them on one of his shelves and saves them. An inventory of those heavily loaded shelves includes old knives, parts of locks, belts, hairpins, railroad Spikes, nails of all kinds, coils of wire, almanacs, cireulars, lamp shades, broken shears, funnels, bottles of various colors and kinds, ancient magazines, hooks, buttons, and here and there things to eat. Mr. Jones is not a poor man by any means. When he took up his land many years ago he was a little hard run, because he brought nothing with him from Wales. He was industrious, however; raised strawberries, potatoes, and other vegetables and marketed them in New Cambria. When he got any money he saved it, and kept adding to it until he had quite a little pile. This he would loan to friends occasionally at the legal rate of interest. While he cannot read English, and talks that language but slightly, yet he has become an expert at figuring interest in his head. You can't fool him on the amount you owe him. It is estimated that the queer old hermit is now worth from $12,000 to $15,000.

Mr.-Jones has sold off the larger part of his land, retaining only five acres for a little yard and garden about his cave house. This he has carefully fenced with hedges and everything about the premises is as neat and clean as a city park attended to by a landscape gardener. Across the drains, are mo bridges, sparkling with violets. On the upper part of the little traet is a tall, round stack of poles, whieh at a distance looks like it might be an Indian wigwam. At the base of these poles are rusty stove pipes and pieces of iron; bolts and sticks, cooking utensils, dish-pans and crocks, all neatly arranged - nothing is seattered about in confusion. The hermit is his own housekeeper, landlord and farmer. He has lived on the little estate so long that he never feels at home when away from it. Once or twice, during the rigors of mid-winter, his New Cambria friends have tried to get him to eome to town and await the passing of the severe season. On such occasions he has tried it in town for a few days, but invariably gets homesick and walks back to his little thacked structure. When the story of Mr. Jones's life was printed in some of the papers a while back, a few women, possibly as much interested in his money as his kindly disposition, offered to share his lot, but Mr. Jones shook his head and said he preferred to enjoy a condition where he would be the boss.

William P. Beach, a lawyer and real estate agent of Macon, attracted a good deal of interest to himself by the peculiarity of going without his hat. It was not a matter of economy because he always earried in his hand an up-to-date serviceable headpiece. In summer time he carried a straw hat and in winter time the ordinary dark felt or stiff hat, but never were one of these hats allowed to rest on his head even for a moment. Most people supposed that Mr. Beach's eccen-

"I am not a crank, and I have a pecliar aversion to notoriety," said Mr. Beach, **but as I have nothing to be ashamed of I will say this; I have a brother who has always been a devoted patron of all manner of men's headwear. He has a full assortment of everyday hats, Sunday hats, smoking caps and sleeping caps; but indignant nature protested against these intrusions upon her beneficence by removing from his scalp every vestige of its original covering, except a ragged fringe at the base of the skull. The assumption, however, that my hat was discarded as a head ornament through an apprehension of baldness is a mistake. In the years when I wore a felt hat I discovered that catarrh was developing, and feared that it might become chronic, offensive and perhaps dangerous. It was to get rid of that incipient nuisance, that I abandoned the felt and the wool hat, and for a year or two wore a light straw hat winter and summer. I soon decided that I was better off without any hat at all. I am happy to state that the catarrh departed soon after its chief promoter, my hat, was discarded and now I can enjoy heaven's breezes and sunlight with a healthy, safely covered head."

Mr. Beach died March 12, 1904, after a very short illness with pneumonia. Some thought the latter was occasioned by his going without a hat. Mr. Beach's practice of going without a hat covered the last twenty-five years of his life. In bad weather he carried an umbrella to protect his head from rain and snow, but no matter how severe the weather or how far away he was from an umbrella, he never even thought of putting his hat on his head.

Mr. Beach was born in Newark, New Jersey, April 19, 1840, and at his death was nearly sixty-four years of age. The Newark News shortly before his death wrote to Macon and secured a picture of Mr. Beach and a full story of his life. At fifteen he started westward afoot, earrying a small square valise containing notions of various kinds, which he sold for a small sum here and there, making expenses and continuing his tramp. Once he walked all night long on his way to the West. He did this in preference to jumping on freight trains, which he regarded as illegal. Six hundred miles west of New Jersey, Mr. Beach obtained a position as teacher in a distriet school. After having made a little money, he went to Iowa and then moved to Missouri, where he married a good woman who survives him.

Mr. Beach was a Republican and was always very much interested in politics. At one time, while living at Macon, he announced himself as a candiate for governor, as a ''stand-patter, old line Republican,' opposed to a movement of the Republicans to affiliate with the Third Party people, and the newspapers of the city treated the matter rather extensively. They spoke of Mr. Beach and the two or three other members of his party who met here as ** Beach's Convention,"

Thomas Benton Robertson, better known perhaps as aw-mill Robertson,'' made a pledge to a cousin, Charles Winfield of Quincy, Illinois, for 1896, directly after William J. Bryan had been nominated for President by the Democrats, that he would never eut his hair or allow a razor to touch his face until Mr. Bryan or some other good Demoerat had been eleeted President of these United States. As the Republieans have been uniformly vietorious since that time the hair about Mr. Robertson's head and face has grown to rather extensive proportions. But the old gentleman is keeping the faith and living in hopes that he will some day get to eut that wonderful head of hair. During the last Presidential campaign, when the Democrats began to feel hopeful, quite a number of barbers of Macon and in other places urged Mr. Robertson to give them the privilege of trimming him up, which they offered to do free of charge for the sake of the advertisement. But the election went by and no barber has been ordered to take the job. In addition to the satisfaction of having kept his pledge until vietory came Mr. Robertson will draw $100 from the Quiney Bank in the event of the election of a Demoeratie president. This money was deposited there in 1896 by Mr. Winfield, and is to be paid to Mr. Robertson if he sticks loyally to his curious vow. Mr. Robertson was born near Quincy, Illinois, in 1840. During his active years he operated sawmills in various parts of northern Missouri, and from that employment came the name, "Sawmill Robertson." He was married in Knox county, in 1862. His wife died in 1901, leaving three children. Mr. Robertson is a familiar figure on the streets of Macon and he says he will be a eonspieuous one some of these days because he has the idea that the Lord will lengthen out his years until the Demoerats put up a man who proves to be a winner.

John Henry Griffin, for many years a successful real estate, loan and insurance agent of Macon, and for years county recorder, was born in Ten Mile township, October 31, 1840. He died at his residence in Macon, March 29, 1910. Mr. Griffin had never walked a step in his life. In his infaney he was attacked by a malady which left him with both of his lower limbs paralyzed from the hips down. Above the limbs, however, his body was strong and his mind vigorous. Mr. Griffin determined that his handieap should not cause him to be an object of sympathy. He was somewhat sensitive about it, however, and would indignantly refuse any favor or consideration on account of the fact that he was unable to walk. Early in life he learned to ride a horse and to handle a gun. He was said to have been one.of the most accurate shots with the rifle and the pistol in Ten Mile township, and was a great squirrel hunter. He went to school and at the age of fifteen began teaching. From that day on down to his death, save for the time he was in the Confederate Army and in a Federal prison at Macon, he worked steadily. His first teaching was at the Moody school house. He did his work satisfaetorily, winning the approval of the school board, and the patrons. When the war came on Mr. Griffin was among the first to enroll his name with soldiers of the South. To the Confederacy he brought his fine black horse, Ceilim, a earbine and two revolvers purchased with his own money. Mr. Griffin joined Price's army in time for the fight at Lexington; took part in that engagement; went on to Lone Jack, fought and was slightly wounded there, and continued with the army to Wilson's Creek; took part in that great battle, riding out on the firing line, discharging his carbine at the enemy and proving himself as good a soldier as any man in the command. After Wilson's Creek, Price's army was reorganized, and the officer refused to accept Mr. Griffin as a soldier because of his physical handieap. Mr. Griffin protested that he was as good a soldier as anybody and that he wanted to continue with the army. "They told him it would never do, because there was lots of hard work ahead and the soldiers would have to walk as well as to ride. Mr. Griffin was taken sick at Springfield and laid up in an old mill, used as a hospital there. The report got out that the Jayhawkers from Kansas were coming to raise trouble and Mr. Griffin got out of his bed and took to the woods, riding his faithful horse, Ceilim. Ceilim was trained so that when his master wished to alight he would lay down gently; when he approached him to mount the big horse would understand by a tap on the foreleg and prostrate himself so that Mr. Griffin could climb into the deep saddle. Jack Richardson accompanied the young soldier in his long ride from Ozark region to Macon county. They arrived home safely but Mr. Griffin had hardly been weleomed by his parents when some militiamen from Macon went out there and arrested the returned soldier on the charge of being a "Rebel."

Other Democ

Mr. Griffin was taken to Macon, where Major Foster was in command, and held in prison three or four weeks; his offense being that he had borne arms against the Federal government. Of course the young man's father made frequent efforts to have him released, on the grounds that he was not a very dangerous enemy, but the authorities evidently eonsidered him so. Finally Mr. Griffin took an oath that he would never bear arms against the Union cause again and his father gave a bond of $10,000 that his son would keep the oath. Mr. Griffin was then released and went to teaching school. He followed that occupation until 1872. It is said that he was a very strong disciplinarian, frequently whipping the big boys and girls for infractions of the rules. One of the girls he had occasion to chastise was Miss Mary A. Coiner, who afterwards became Mrs. John Henry Griffin.

In addition to teaching school Mr. Griffin learned to be a first-class farmer. He drove the plow, gathered corn, planted and even chopped wood. He was married in 1862 to the young lady referred to. In 1880 Mr. and Mrs. Griffin eame to Macon, where they located. For two years following Mr. Griffin operated a farm near town. "Then he was eleeted county recorder, served four years and afterwards went into the real estate, loan and insurance business. He proved himself a most eapable business man. No man in the county was a better judge of land and property values than John Henry Griffin Sometimes he made mistakes in men. At one time he was pretty heavily involved because of the failure of a party he had backed in business, and the defalcation of a eounty officer whose bond he had signed. Mr. Griffin paid these debts, manfully, without a complaint against anybody. He was regarded as a straight-forward, honest, business man and his eredit was good in Macon to almost any amount. Of course in getting about he rode horseback or in a buggy. An interesting friend that he had was a black shepherd dog, Robert by name, who seemed to realize his master's misfortune and to take a brotherly interest in protecting him from harm. He would never permit the horse to start up in the buggy until he saw that Mr. Griffin had his hands on the lines and was ready to go. No man dare lay his hands on his master while the shepherd dog was about. The day of Mr. Griffin's death he had written a large number of letters on his typewriter and had just been assisted into his buggy, preparatory to going down town and mailing the letters. He had hardly pieked up the lines when he fell over dead. Mrs. Griffin called some neighbors and they undertook to remove the body from the buggy. but the shepherd dog flew at the men and would not suffer any one to touch his master. Then one of the men went to the horse and sought to lead it to the barn, but the shepherd dog leaped out of the buggy, ran around to the front of the horse and would not let it move. Finally they unhitehed the horse. By that aet the dog understood that the journey had been abandoned and ceased to make objections.

It ought to be interesting to Andrew Carnegie to know that one of his war-time comrades of the telegraph key is living in Macon, and doing well. Mr. Carnegie, sometime ago, announced that he was going to remember all these faithful friends of the government. During the Civil war the names of 1200 persons appeared on the rolls of the telegraph eorps. Some newspaper writer estimated that in 1909 there were less than 200 of the military telegraphers living. One of these is Tom Smith, an energetie old gentleman who harvests a big ice erop in Macon every winter and drives a wagon around town delivering it in summer. They used to call him **Depot Smith" to distinguish him from several other Tom Smiths who lived in and about Macon. For many years following the Civil war Mr. Smith run a restaurant at the Hannibal & St. Joseph depot.

Mr. Smith first took hold of a telegraph key for the government in 1861, soon after the Conseript Aet, and was assigned to Bardstown, Kentucky, a place which for the next few years was full of incident and danger. "There was a soldier's hospital at Bardstown and for a while a strong government force maintained there. Later on the government withdrew its soldiers and left Smith the operator to play a lone hand in a country infested with guerrillas. Captain of one of the bands was Sue Monday, said to be mereiless and unsparing. Sue's outfit swooped down on Bardstown one day, cut the wires, carried away the telegraph instruments, and set on fire the depot and the ears in the railway yards. Mr. Smith hid out; he didn't think his duty to the government required him to fight the redoubtable Sue Monday and her erowd singlehanded.

part of the night and I knew that the ground would make a good conduetor. I pieked up the two ends of the severed wire, and, striking them together, managed to get the news of the raid in to the Federal authorities at Louisville. Then I held Louisville end of the wire to my tongue, receiving a reply from the operator there, announcing that my improvised method had worked satisfactorily and the message had been received,

"Late in the war I was on duty at Louisville, working at night. There was a feeling of approaching momentous events in the air. Something was going to happen. Everybody seemed to understand that, but no one could guess just where, nor what was going to break loose. Sherman and Grant were planning some great thing to crush the Confederacy. There were politicians in Washington who feared the growing influence on the voters of these great generals, They were seeking to handicap them by various orders and red tape. At two o'clock one morning the operator called me and repeated this confidential message from Sherman to Grant.

**T understood the significance of the dispateh. It meant that the march to the sea was under way, and that General Grant would immediately begin on the last act in the great war tragedy around Richmond. How wonderfully excited would the people of Louisville have been that night had they only known! Brokers and syndicates would have paid big money for the information known only to the telegraph corps of the government. But there was not a leak anywhere. The boys of the service were as loyal and patriotic about their duties as were the soldiers at the front."

Mr. Smith was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, January 29, 1834, and though a few years older than the Scoteh philanthropist. bears a striking resemblance to the pictures of that gentleman. He is short, stout and wears a well-trimmed beard just like Mr. Carnegie does. Mr. Smith's life has always been full of activity and he stands well among the people of Macon.

Soon after the Iowa and St. Louis railroad was construeted into Macon county. rival townsite companies hurried to establish a couple of towns in the northern part of the county. The location was in the heart of the Chariton valley, right near the river and was most picturesque. Indian hill loomed to the northward and on all sides was rich bottom land. Both settlements were called Gifford. They were distinguished as North and South. Later on, the North was dropped from the norsh town and it became known simply as Gifford. The towns were separated by a bluegrass meadow, belonging to J. A. Urquhart. In both places buildings were rapidly erected, town lots sold and industries of all sorts established. Then came the big fight for the postoffice and the depot. A postal inspector went up, talked with the people of both towns and returned, unable to make a decision. He said it was the most trying problem he has had put up to him during his service with the government. The railroad company felt the same way about it, for it hesitated a long time before establishing the depot, hoping that the towns would settle it themselves. The feeling was naturally somewhat strained, and for a while there was but little intercourse between the two thriving towns lying so close together. At one time the manager of the Iowa and St. Louis railroad, Mr. Brimson, furnished a private ear for one of his ministerial friends to go to the Giffords and eonduet religious services in a tent. The car was kept at the north town and the preacher put up his tent in the south town. The meetings were largely attended and much good resulted, it is said, but the preacher was not successful in causing the glad hand to be extended across the Urquhart meadow.

At last the railroad put up a very nice depot at the north town and placed an agent in charge. At this time the south town was really the larger place, but the north town claimed that it had a contract with the railroad and that established its right to the depot. This settled the postoffice question, the rule of the department being that the office had to be near the railroad depot. For quite a while the south town received its mail largely through rural route service out of Elmer, preferring that to going to the north town for it.

During all the years of rivalry the two towns grew in spite of it. Both of the towns had banks and large business houses. Residences were also numerous. The south town had a good newspaper, The Gifford Gazette. The north town had a box faetory which worked a large force of men.

In May, 1907, there was a notable meeting on the Urquhart meadow by the representatives of the two Giffords. Following are the men composing the committee; North town - John Saddler, H. C. Surbeck, T. I. Murray, Dr. Foster, J. G. Magers. South town - Samuel Gash, Jose Bradley, W. A. Robinson, Levi Thompson, J. C. Bradley.

The proposition was to join the two places and have one good large town under the same organization. Following were the concessions offered by the north town: To move its bank a short ways to the south; to assist in defraying expenses of moving the Greenstreet building; to move the depot down to the corner; to consolidate lumber yardst

Concessions offered by south town: To merge bank into the north town bank; to move Bradley poultry house up on Urquhart forty, bewteen towns; to centralize the school building between the towns; to open street through to north town and encourage building up so as to conneet the two towns; to work together to make united Gifford the best town in North Macon county.

The two committees met as per agreement and diseussed the preliminary points in a friendly way, but when it eame to moving the depot the North Giffordites could not see the practicability of it. On that proposition the committees hitched and the pacification proposition fell through.

Tt will not be long, however, it is thought, before a street is run through the center of Mr. Urquhart's meadow and that will result in a practical union of the towns. There is greater harmony now then at first and farmers do their trading at both places. With the completion of the railroad on through to the main line a united Gifford is almost a certainty, which means a large and prosperous community.

Macon county enjoys mail facilities unexcelled by any community in the state. There are thirty-six Rural Mail Routes traversing all the more populous sections, radiating from the following towns; Macon, 7; Excello, 1; Bevier, 2; Callao, 4; New Cambria, 4; Anabel, 2; Ethel, 3; Elmer, 3; Atlanta, 5; La Plata, 5; Rural Route carriers cover about twenty-five miles. They receive $900 per annum.

Following are the postoffices where mail is received and delivered: Anabel, Ardmore, Atlanta, Axtell, Bevier, Callao, College Mound, Elmer, Ethel, Evelyn, Excello, Gifford, Goldsbery, Kaseyville, Keota, La Crosse, La Plata, Lingo, Love Lake, Macon, New Cambria, Nickellton, Redman, Tullvania, Walnut - 25.

These are the villages which appeared on the records in 1884 as postoffices, but are now served by Rural Delivery: Beverly, Barnesville, Bloomington, Barryville, Economy, Ettle, Goldsberry, Seney, Maple, Mercyville (Elmer), Lyda, Narrows Creek, Nickellton, Kaseyville, Ten Mile, Woodville - 16.

Congress has, within recent years, appropriated $60,000 for a Federal Building at Macon. The site has been located on Rollins street, three bloeks south of the Court House, and the lots paid for. It is expected eonstruetion work on the building will begin soon.

Free city delivery in Macon was established in 1902. At that time the postoffice inspeetor, Mr. W. L. Reid, said Macon was tlie smallest town in the United States that justified city delivery. The postoffice receipts were over $10,000 per annum. "They have steadily increased since then. In 1909 the Macon office's patronage brought $14,000. There are four uniformed carriers, making two deliveries daily in the residence distriets and three in the business section. Including the seven Rural Route Carriers, seventeen persons report for duty at the Macon postoffice. Charles Farrar is postmaster; Thomas MeKay, assistant postmaster; Miss Nelle Wilson, money order and stamp clerk.

Cleveland, Democrat. . . 3,274 Harrison, Republican. 2,122 Weaver, Third Party. > "22 esse RESI ae 739 Bryan, Democrat. iors crave ev cT MeKinley, Republican : Palmer, Gold Tickel.....:.....:- nen nata lala alta

1900. Bryan, Democrab. ssion eds eise sive EPIS IEEE Mete Giles SE EET 4,177 MeKinley; Republican serae ste ee settee Eee ee areas 3,565 Debs; Social 'Gabor Wick abs 002er ae 128