Pettis County, Missouri - Chapter 29, 1919

Sedalia In The Early Days Tory

GENERAL SMITH - FOUNDING OF TOWN - NAME - FIRST THINGS AND EVENTS - PA¬ CIFIC RAILROAD - COUNTY SEAT - CIVIL WAR - IMPROVEMENTS AND INDUS¬ TRIES - EARLY BUSINESS HOUSES - CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - PUBLIC UTILITIES - BUILDINGS - PROFESSIONAL MEN - OFFICERS - STATISTICS - RAILROAD HIS¬ TORY.

General George R. Smith, the founder of Sedalia, was born in Powhattan County, Virginia, in 1804. His father, Rev. George Smith, was a Baptist minister. While he was still an infant, his father removed to Franklin County, Kentucky, where he died in 1820. At that time edu¬ cational advantages were limited even in Kentucky, but young Smith enjoyed the best mental and moral advantages that were at hand. While yet a youth, he became a pupil of Elder Barton W. Stone, of George¬ town, Kentucky, one of the most eminent educators of the State, and under his able guidance made remarkable progress in his studies. Upon reach¬ ing the age of twenty-one years he moved to Scott County, Kentucky, and was appointed deputy sheriff of his county. In 1827 he married Mileta Ann Thomson, daughter of General David Thomson, and sister of Col. Malius Thomson of Mexican War fame. She died in 1861. In the latter part of 1833, General Thomson moved to Pettis County, Missouri, and young Smith and his wife came to Missouri with him. While in Kentucky Smith had studied law and he began the practice of his pro¬ fession in this district. Then the county was sparsely settled; there was the little litigation in consequence, and he was compelled to abandon the business. From 1848 to 1852 he engaged in government freighting and the transportation of goods overland, from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Missouri, that in 1843, he was appointed receiver of the Government Land Office, at Springfield, Mo., at the time when John Tyler was presi¬ dent. He was, from the time he came to Missouri, an Old Line Whig. So far as political preferment and prominence is concerned, fate was against him at that time. From 1843 to 1852 he was engaged in private business. But a greater honor than even the founding and building of Sedalia belongs to General Smith. It is owing to his foresight, energy and stubborn perseverance, more than to that of any other man, that the Missouri Pacific railroad left the line of the Missouri River and struck off through Central Missouri.

In 1849 the Legislature of Missouri granted the charter to the Pa¬ cific railroad. This was the first railroad west of the Mississippi River.

To the aiding of the Pacific railroad he lent all the wealth of his wis¬ dom, his influence, his time, and his determination. He became the leading spirit in the effort to locate the line on what was known as the Inland Route. He was elected one of the board of directors of the company. Day and night he labored to bring about the location of the line, almost as it is today.

In January, 1852, General Smith called a meeting of the citizens of Pettis County to consider the matter of subscribing to the stock of the railroad. A proposition to vote $10,000 in the county was defeated. Gen¬ eral Smith was called on to make a speech. The best description that can be given of his speech, is to say that after he had delivered it, the same assembly carried a resolution to subscribe $100,000 to the stock of the road. He canvassed the county, and in August, 1852, the question was submitted to the people and carried. The other counties along the Inland Route raised $300,000. In December, 1852, the Legislature passed an act selecting the Inland Route, provided the counties along the line would subscribe $400,000 more. It must be subscribed before December, 1853. In March, 1853, General Smith met thirty delegates from the counties along the line at Georgetown. A committee of two from each county was chosen, and these formed a grand committee, which arranged the assessment of the counties, towns and individuals in them, to the amount of $400,000. This proposition was submitted to the people of each county at the fall election. It was defeated in every county except Pettis, which voted to subscribe $70,000. The people in the other coun¬ ties who were opposed to the railroad scheme turned all their wrath on General Smith.

That fall the question was again submitted to the people and the county courts. In November, General Smith called the railroad conven¬ tion to meet again at Georgetown and the committee appointed to ex¬ amine the amount subscribed, reported that $412,000 was the sum.

In 1855 the slavery and anti-slavery question in Kansas was agitating the people. He was a slave owner, but an abolitionist. When General Smith got back to Pettis County in 1855, at the close of the session of the Legislature, he found the influential men banded together working with might and main to form a band of men to go over the Kansas border, "colonize" the State (temporarily) and aid the pro-slavery men to make Kansas a slave State by voting at the election. The leading men of the county called on the General and told what the public sentiment was. They tried their strongest arguments to induce him to fall in with the prevailing public sentiment. It was plausibly represented to him that if he opposed this scheme it would kill his chances for Congress. He said to his advisers: "I am a representative of the people; they have a right to know my purposes and my opinions on all subjects that effect them. They shall hear them."

In 1856, he bought 1,145 acres of land south of Georgetown, the very land upon which Sedalia now stands. He paid thirteen dollars an acre for it. That was an enormous price at that time. He died on the afternoon of July 11, 1879, and was at the time of his death in his seventy-fifth year. He lies buried at the eastern side of Crown Hill Cemetery, Sedalia, near the main entrance. General Smith left two daughters, Mrs. M. E. Smith and Mrs. S. E. Cotton, and to them an estate valued at half a million dollars. Mrs. S. E. Cotton still lives in Sedalia.

November 30, 1857, General George R. Smith filed for record the plat for Sedville. The town was so named in honor of one of his daugh¬ ters, Sarah E. Smith, whose pet name was "Sed." The plat of Sedville contained about 160 acres of land lying north of the Missouri Pacific tracks. The filing of the plat mentioned was about the only thing that happened to Sedville. At this time, Georgetown was the county seat and had a population of 1,500. There was a large pond on the square now occupied by the city hall, and it extended across the line of the present Second street, between Osage and Kentucky.

On October 16, 1860, General George R. Smith and Col. David W. Bouldin filed the plat of a town which they called Sedalia. This town plat included all of the original town plat of Sedville, and in addition, a large section of land extending from the present line of the Missouri Pacific railroad as far south as Third street. The name Sedalia was probably chosen because the original "Sed" could be united to the more euphonious termination "alia." Lots were sold in the original Sedville in 1858, the first to Edward Powell, and the deed recorded September 4, 1858. On March 2, 1859, next year, Dr. W. L. Felix sold to Col. D. W. Bouldin an undi¬ vided one-fourth interest in a large tract of land north of the present line of the Missouri Pacific railroad, which included the original plat of Sedville. It was in October, 1860, that there was the first public sale of lots in Sedalia, and this was really the beginning of the town. A large number of lots were sold, most of them, except those on Main street, north of the railroad line. It was soon after this sale of lots began, that the first buildings were erected and the town became such in reality. The town plat of Sedalia was surveyed by Mentor Thomson, assisted by Rich¬ ard Hulland.

In 1860, John Hodges had a small store and country postoffice north of the old Garrison House site. The first house built after this was erected in the fall of 1860, by Jacob Skinner, at a point one block west of Ohio street, and about one block north of the Missouri Pacific rail¬ road. The third house was erected by Richard Hulland, not far from it. B. H. Offutt kept the first hotel, which was located just north of the old Garrison House, and owned by General Smith. The first passenger train pulled into Sedalia on the 17th day of January, 1861, and with the railway facilities opened up and the road in actual operation, the large stores and establishments at Otterville and Syracuse were moved to Sedalia, not only the stocks, but in many cases the buildings or por¬ tions of them. Houses and portions of them were moved from George¬ town, then the county seat.

In 1861, except three or four houses already mentioned, Sedalia was confined to the two blocks between Ohio and Kentucky avenues and all of the store buildings and business houses were on Main street. On March 9, 1861, the store of C. F. Lohman & Company opened its doors on the northwest corner of Main and Kentucky streets. Jacob Nussberger and Henry Vitt were in charge. Ben B. Lyon, Sr., and his son, Ben B. Lyon, Jr., were clerks in the house. John L. Hall was for three months a member of the firm and in the house a short time. When the house was opened the prairie grass around the store was high enough to reach a man's feet when on horseback. The sum of $999 was paid for that lot then. Five doors west of them was a small frame storeroom occupied by John A. Reed. Just east of C. F. Lohman's building was a small store¬ room run by William Gundlefinger. Still further east of these two build¬ ings, on the corner of Osage and Main, was the large store and com¬ mission house of Cloney, Crawford & Company. This house and store¬ room covered three lots. Just north of the last mentioned house stood the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot.

The next house east was on the northeast corner of Osage and Main, a small store run by David Phillips. About three doors east was a small store room, a grocery owned by William Nichols and Mr. J. R. Barrett. Charles Lesher also had a small frame shanty on the square, in which he had a photograph or art gallery. Next to him was the drug store of William E. Bard. On the northwest corner of Ohio and Main streets was a large grocery house run by Dr. Logan Clark. Just across the street from it, on the northeast corner of Ohio and Main, was the general com¬ mission house of W. G. Wear & Son. On the south side of Main between Ohio and Kentucky were the following business houses:

Southeast corner of Osage and Main, David Hancock's store; west corner of Osage and Main, Roderick Gallie and Samuel Ford's butcher shop; three or four doors west of the corner, James G. Tesch, groceries and liquors ; five or six doors west of Tesch, was the store of William and Theodore Bloess ; next, Bixby & Houx's store, tinware and hardware ; one door west, on the present site of Rod Gallie's grocery store, was the large dry goods and grocery store of William Beck. These were the principal houses on Main street, and constituted the business portion of the town. During the year Richard Hulland and a number of other parties put up small box houses on the rising ground near the corner of Lamine and St. Louis streets. One was an old log house occupied by negroes. There was not a business house south of Main street, east of the corner of Ohio or west of the one on the corner of Kentucky. But the war advanced with such rapidity that after the first three months all impi'ovements stopped.

When the railroad first came business was very active here; the trade from the southwest, which had hitherto been held by Boonville, had begun to come to Sedalia, and for a brief period of three months or three months and a half, the streets presented a scene of unusual activity.

In 1862, Abraham Meyer came here. Adam Ittel came in 1863. Elias Laupheimer came before 1863. Louis Kumm was in business in 1863. 0. A. Crandall was here in '63, one of the earliest lawyers.

At the close of the year 1861 the town did not contain, all told, three hundred residents, and not over twenty-five families, all of which resided north of the Missouri Pacific railroad, with the exception of two or three. There were, in all, only about twenty or twenty-five business houses. There were no churches or schools within the city limits.

It was during the latter part of the summer of 1861, after the ar¬ rival of troops, that a huge cattle corral, or yard, was built on the ground just south of the alley in the rear of the Globe Clothing Store. It covered about five acres.

Pearl River was then a prairie stream. There was a thick hedge fence running along Massachusetts street, and another along the present Third street. A man could have stood at the Old Garrison House, the site occupied by the Missouri Pacific Depot, and throw a rock to most every house in Sedalia.

During the months of April, May and June, 1861, the first mili¬ tary companies, then properly denominated as "home guards," were or¬ ganized. The first company was raised in Georgetown by Capt. Samuel Montgomery and the first one in Sedalia by Capt. F. L. Parker. Dr. J. M. Fox organized the first Confederate company.

After the two first Union Home Guard companies were organized. Captain Montgomery, the father of Gen. Bacon Montgomery, and Captain Parker went to Boonville and got their arms. Capt. D. M. Williams and Maj. J. C. Wood raised companies for the Confederates.

There was no such thing as civil government, no corporate body in Sedalia from the breaking out of the war, early in 1861, until the granting of the charter in 1864, and the installation of the first officers in the same year. From the early part of 1861 to the latter part of 1864, the State of Missouri was under martial law; Pettis County was a part of a militia district, and during the war, until 1864, Sedalia was a military post, and the head official was the commander of the post.

As soon as Sedalia was really founded it became evident at once that it must become the county seat, instead of Georgetown. The question of the removal of the county seat was agitated and talked about, but the war came on and all such questions were swallowed up in that excite¬ ment and turmoil. No definite action was taken in the matter until 1864, when by an act of the Legislature, passed February 15th, the county seat was removed to Sedalia. The actual removal did not take place until a year later. The act says:

"Section 1. The seat of justice of the county of Pettis is hereby removed from Georgetown, the present county seat, to the town of Se¬ dalia, on the Pacific railroad.

"Sec. 2. The commissioners hereafter appointed shall, immediately after the taking effect of this act, proceed to select a site for the location of the county buildings, and shall obtain by purchase, gift or donation, the conveyance to the county of Pettis in fee simple, such tracts of land and town lots as they may deem best for the interest of the county, and such purchase, grant, gift or donation, when approved by the Countv Court, shall be binding upon all parties concerned, and said commissioners shall regulate their own time of meeting.

"Sec. 3. The public records and moveable property shall be removed to the new county seat as soon as practicable, after the passage of this act, and all courts hereafter to be held for said county shall be held at the new county seat; provided, however, that the County Court shall not be required to hold their sessions at the new county seat until suitable buildings are perfected for their reception."

After various other provisions to provide for the payment of money expended for lots, and the appointment of three commissioners to select a site for county buildings, comes the ninth section, which says :

"Sec. 9. Joseph C. Higgins, J. J. Monahan and John M. Sneed are hereby appointed commissioners to locate the site of the county buildings under the provisions of this act; provided, however, that the citizens of Sedalia and vicinity shall furnish the means for the erection of a court house, and the tax payers of Pettis County shall not be taxed for the purpose of paying for the building of said court house, nor shall the commissioners herein appointed enter upon the discharge of the duties

Some time in the fall of 1864 or the spring of 1865 the commissioners before mentioned had erected a large frame court house, which -was near Ohio street and the alley between Second and Main streets. Here the first terms of the circuit court were held in the spring and summer of 1865.

In the early part of December, 1863, the party of citizens, who are mentioned hereafter as the first officers and aldermen, met in the par¬ lor of the old Sedalia House, north of the railroad, and discussed the matter of drafting a charter. Theodore Moses, brother of R. H. Moses, was chosen to act as secretary. The members present discussed each point, and then one of them dictated to Moses and he wrote the matter down section by section. When the work was completed it was pre¬ sented to the Legislature, which met in January, 1864. Upon this draft was prepared the present charter of the city of Sedalia. The bill grant¬ ing it was passed February 15, 1864. By the provisions of the charter the citizens who had prepared the original draft were appointed the first officers and aldermen. Their names, and the positions they held are as follows : George R. Smith, mayor ; James G. Tesch, marshal ; C. P. Townsley, assessor; aldermen, Frank L. Parker, William Beck, Ira C. Pierce, R. Waltenspeil, Richard Hulland, Eli Laupheimer, Francis Mc¬ Cabe. These constituted the officers, a mayor, marshal, assessor, and seven aldermen.

The charter provided for the appointment of a registrar by the mayor. This set of officers held their position until the first Monday in April, 1864, when the first city election was held. At this election the following officers were elected: James G. Tesch, mayor, and the old board of aldermen mentioned above.

The first meeting of the city council under the charter was held in a little frame building near the site of the old German House, East Main street.

In addition to those already mentioned as business men of 1861-64, there were the following persons in business in June, 1865, in Sedalia: Lawyers - Col. John F. Phillips, Judge Foster P. Wright, George Heard, M. Hilton, 0. A. Crandall, Chan. P. Townsley; Dr. J. S. Brackett, dentist; T. W. Moses, collector of soldiers' claims; Hart and Bob Barnhart, car¬ penters; Parker House, kept by Hungerford & Wilson; A. Moses, grocer;

J. T. Brown, grocer; Henry Suess, saddlery; Hughes & Ellis, dry goods; J. G. Beck, druggist; E. Davis, livery stable; Elias Laupheimer and Wil¬ liam Bloess, dry goods and groceries; F. L. Parker, livery stable; Vick¬ ers & Landes, dry goods and groceries; Taylor & Company, E. Bixby & Company, firm, Elias Bixby & John W. Houx, Christina Landmann, fancy groceries, wines, beer and cigars; Mrs. Faulhaber & Sister, fashionable milliners.

In the summer of 1865, bids were asked for, for the grading of West Main street. The work was done and this was the first street im¬ provement in the city. The first flouring mill was built in Sedalia, in June, 1865. William and Theodore Hoberecht built it. A. J. and I. W. John¬ son, a new firm of carpenters, came to the city that year. Keberman and Gabriel Vogler received a new stock of furniture. Charles Hartenback then owned and conducted the Eagle Hotel on Main street. The delinquent tax list filled four columns of fine type in the paper for June.

In the summer and fall of 1865 the first brick buildings were erected in Sedalia, and the material to build them was brought from Washing¬ ton, Missouri.

Messrs. Stafford & Magann erected the first, a one-story brick, on the southeast corner of Second and Ohio streets, for a newspaper office. That point was then in the business suburbs of the town.

Col. John F. Philips' residence was the next built. At about the same time James G. Tesch and his brother erected two two-story brick storerooms, on the north side of Main street, between Osage and Ken¬ tucky. These were the first two-story brick buildings built in the town.

Work was begun upon the first church building in the town the same year. The Independent Presbyterian Church erected the edifice on the corner of Lamine and Second streets.

The first two additions to the city were made this year. Smith & Martin's First Addition, extending from Third street south to the alley south of Fifth street; from Washington street on the east to Missouri avenue on the west, containing sixteen blocks, was laid off June 23, 1865.

C. Sinnet, J. M. Glasscock, C. C. Bassett, Arch. J. Sampson, John S. Coch¬ rane, P. C. Hughes, lawyers; Drs. A. Y. Hall, J. H. McGirk, A. Condee, Thomas J. Montgomery, John W. Trader; Carman & P. G. Stafford, real estate agents; John Walde, book store; John R. Stewart and John F. Jenkins, wholesale hardware and agricultural implements; H. C. Smith & Brother, hardware; Vogler & Nussberger, hardware and furniture; J. R. Veeters, drug store, Yolney and Frank Mason, druggists; Staley, Vinton & Company, A. P. Morey, of Shields, Milliken & Morey, dry goods ; Charles C. Taylor, jeweler and watchmaker; E. Lungstras & Company, William Latour, Christopher Demuth, W. B. Adams, brickmakers ; R. H. Moses, bricklayer and architect; John Stryker, builder and bricklayer; Cyrus Newkirk and Col. A. D. Jaynes, the founders of the first bank, the First National Bank; Col. Richard Ritter, James M. Mills, Clifton Wood, J. G. White, lumber dealer; Jamison & Oates, wagon manufacturers; W. S. Baker, John J. Yeater, groceries; John F. Antes, Joseph E. Hillis, cooper shop; S. H. Beiler & Company, grocers; W. C. & J. J. Weiler, livery stable; C. E. Smith, clothing; J. H. Mertz, druggist; S. L. Highleyman, John S. Landes, John D. Crawford (born and reared in the county) , James P. Leake, John Burkhardt, B. G. Wilkerson, lawyer, and nephewT of Gen¬ eral George R. Smith.

In 1866, the war clouds having drifted by, the building era of Sedalia began. Demuth & Adams established a brick yard, the first in the city. The first kiln was ready in June. This firm made the brick for the Stew¬ art & Jenkins building on Main street, later occupied by W. S. Mackey; for all the buildings on the north side of Main, between Osage and Ken¬ tucky streets, but three; for over half those on the north side of Main, between Osage and Ohio; for Charles Lesher's building on the south side of East Main; for Louis Kumm's residence in East Sedalia; for the Bazoo office on Ohio street; for the Old Red Store on West Main; for the Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church. All were erected in 1866. They also furnished the brick for the residences of Col. A. D. Jaynes,

D. T. Hartshorn bought Mr. Adams' interest in the yard. The firm con¬ tinued to furnish the brick for nearly all the brick houses which were

On the present site of the Pacific depot was erected the McKissock House, a frame hotel, depot and eating house. Cyrus Newkirk and Col. A. D. Jaynes founded the first National Bank, with a capital of $100,000. The bank was opened in a small frame building on the west side of Ohio street. The first Baptist Church was completed early in the spring, with the Rev. E. T. Brown, the founder, of East Sedalia, as pastor. The first church concerts for the benefit of the Episcopal and the Baptist churches were given in June and July.

Today, September 28, 1918, Col. John S. Banks, now of Hartshorn, Oklahoma, raised on the old Brown farm, five miles northeast of Sedalia, and lived in Pettis County from 1850 to 1905 (57 years), called on the writer of this work and furnished him with much valuable information which concerned Sedalia of the early days. The Colonel is seventy-three years of age and hale and hearty.

In the winter of 1866 the Christian Church was completed. In the latter part of December, 1866, the Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church was completed. R. H. Moses was the builder, assisted by Mr. Hubbard. On Christmas Eve, 1866, the ladies of this church gave an entertainment for the building fund of the church. The Congregational Church was almost completed in December, 1866; at that time it was away out in the suburbs and there was only one house on the west side of Ohio street, from the Ilgenfritz block to the church.

Sedalia Lodge No. 236, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was in active working oi'der in this year; G. R. Kull, Worshipful Master. The I. O. G. T. had an organization, of which P. G. Stafford was the chief officer. Neapolis Lodge No. 153, I. O. G. T., was organized and in active working order; Dr. Thomas T. Montgomery, N. G.

The Sedalia Brewery, F. Zelleken proprietor, had been started in 1865. In August, 1866, a Fair Association was formed: Maj. William Gentry was elected president; Cols. John F. Philips, A. D. Jaynes and Capt. F. L. Parker, vice-presidents ; Dr. J. F. Tobias, secretary, and O. Harris, treasurer. On the farm of Clifton Woods, grounds of a temporary char¬ acter were prepared and a fair was held in the following September. This was the first fair that was held in the county after the war. When the last one was held at Georgetown the site of Sedalia was open prairie land.

Radicals. The registration law was in force and ex-Confederates could not vote. P. G. Stafford, elected Representative to the Legislature; W. H. Porter, sheriff ; Bacon Montgomery for Circuit Clerk ; S. A. Yankee, county clerk ; Florence Crandall, recorder of deeds ; J. G. Beck, treasurer ; C. C. Crawford, assessor; William I. Pace, surveyor; John S. Cochrane, W. P. Jackson, supervisor of registration.

Four additions were made to the city in 1866, as follows: Cotton Brothers' First Addition, April, 1866; Lyons' Addition, April 20, 1866; Cotton Brothers' Second Addition was laid off in July, 1866 ; Heard's Addi¬ tion, in East Sedalia, was laid off August 1, 1866. These additions were not only laid off, but there was an active and steadily increasing demand for the lots. One year before an acre of land could have been bought for just about the price that the choice lots now sold for, that is, $100.

The preliminary steps for the establishment of the public school system were taken in 1866. In March of that year, the Legislature passed an act authorizing incorporated towns and chartered cities, to become separate school districts. A number of prominent citizens of Sedalia, headed by Maj. William Beck, began in the spring of 1866, to agitate this matter. These citizens worked among the people until the city council passed a special ordinance ordering an election to be held on August 29, 1866, when the question as to whether the public school system should be adopted in Sedalia, was submitted to a vote of the people. The proposition was favored by a large vote. In September fol¬ lowing, the first board of education was elected. It consisted of the fol¬ lowing gentlemen: William Beck, Florence Crandall, A. Ensell, Doctor Thomas J. Montgomery, E. W. Washburn, and William Bloess.

On September 19, the officers of the board were elected, as follows: President, E. W. Washburn; treasurer, William Beck; secretary, F. Cran¬ dall. Nothing further was done in a formal manner until March 19, 1867. On this date the board met, and it was decided to issue $25,000 worth of city bonds, the proceeds of which were to be used in the erection of public school buildings. At a subsequent meeting the sum was increased to $30,000. Efforts were now made to secure the best plans for a building. The board finally concluded to erect it themselves. A. Ensell and William

Bloess, not agreeing with the plans of the majority of the board, resigned. Maj. A. C. Marvin and Col. Richard Ritter, were elected to fill their places. The erection of the large two-story Broadway building was begun in the fall, and by February 10, 1867, it was ready for occupancy. It cost about $24,000. This was the magnificent beginning of one of the finest systems of public schools in the State, outside of St. Louis. In 1869, the Franklin School building was erected at a cost of $10,000. In 1873, Wash¬ ington school, a frame, was built at a cost of $5,000. Richard Ritter and F. Crandall were the building committee.

This year the people and the newspapers began to call for a court house, a city hall, a jail, additional sewerage, more sidewalks and the grading and macadamizing of Osage and Kentucky streets. Tthe city council took up the question of building a city hall, market house, etc., and the addi¬ tional question, whether the city should take $30,000 in bonds of the Tebo & Neosho railroad. Late in the summer a special election to submit these two questions to a vote of the people was ordered. Both questions were carried by the following vote: Whole number of votes cast on the railroad bond question, 235; for, 212; against, 23. For issuing bonds to erect city hall, etc. Total vote cast, 211 ; for, 182 ; against, 29.

In September a special election was held to decide whether $60,000 in bonds should be issued to build a court house and county jail. The proposition was carried.

On the night of November 6, 1867, occurred the most destructive fire that had befallen the city. The loss was estimated at the time at $90,000. In this fire, all the buildings on the north side of Main street, from the middle of the block, westward to Osage street, and the handsome and spacious McKissock House, which was also the depot, were consumed, with a great portion of their contents.

The following additions were made to Sedalia in this year: Lesher Brothers' Addition was laid off March 7, 1867. McVey Brothers' Addition was laid off March 26, 1867. Woods' Addition was laid off July 2, 1867. Meyers' Addition was laid off September 7, 1867. In all these additions, lots were sold and a few houses erected, but the great bulk of buildings were still confined to the central portion of the town.

On January 27th the second great fire - exclusive of the burning of the Missouri Hotel in 1861 and the Sedalia House, 1867, occurred, and it destroyed $50,000 worth of property and the half block of frame build¬ ings on the north side of Main street, from the center of the block east¬ ward to Ohio street. The Sedalia Savings Bank, with a capital of $50,000, was organized. The Sedalia Gas Light Company was organized and the building of the works begun. The Broadway school was opened and had an attendance of 500 pupils during the year. The Ilgenfritz Opera House, on Ohio street, was completed and opened, December 21, by George D. Chaplin, the actor.

The great fire of January 27, originated in the dry goods store be¬ longing to L. S. Florsheim; John B. Gallie, the city marshal, discovered it when it was in full progress, broke open the front door and permitted Mr. Florsheim to escape, which he did in his night clothing, and with barely time to save his life. The buildings were all of frame, and even the aid of two good fire engines, which the city did not have, could not have saved them.

The Sedalia Savings Bank was started in February, by Mentor Thomp¬ son, Elisha Brown, formerly of Boonville, as the principal stockholder. Adam Ittel was the bank's teller.

On January 11, 1868, General Smith laid out the addition, in the northern suburbs of the city, and called it Negrotown, or Lincolnville. In 1882 it contained 300 negroes.

On March 3, 1871, the matter of building water works in the city came up before the Library Association, which was then the substitute for a board of trade. On October 2, 1871, the city ordinance was passed authorizing the issue of $100,000 in city bonds for their construction, and on October 11, 1871, the contract for digging ditches for the mains was given to Russell & Chaney.

The first Presbyterian Church was built the same year ; also the resi¬ dences of Gen. George R. Smith, Col. A. D. Jaynes, Cyrus Newkirk and Albert Parker, on Broadway. The Southern Methodist Episcopal Church on Third and Massachusetts, and fifteen brick storerooms on Main and Ohio were erected.

The Library Association was organized, and the Franklin school built. The Ilgen House and first Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops were erected.

In 1874 the court house was moved to White's Hall; the Farmer's Mill was started; the city limits were extended so as to include East Sedalia ; Rev. E. T. Brown built the East Sedalia Baptist Church ; Catholic Church was erected; October 23, the corner stone of the City Hall was laid, and the building completed before the end of the year.

In 1880 the city spent $500,000 for general improvements. Large additions were made to the Missouri Pacific shops, the dispatcher's and superintendent's offices were built. The same year the waterworks reser¬ voir was built. In 1881, $615,000 was spent for general improvements. The General Railroad Hospital was built, and so was the old Missouri Pacific brick shops. The site for Missouri Pacific (then Union) Depot was chosen and also their yards laid out and built.

The only legal existence that Sedalia had in 1860 consisted in the fact that a plat of the town had been filed with the county recorder. So far as any civil government was concerned it was still only a part of Mount Sterling township.

F. L. Parker, Ira C. Pierce, R. Waltenspeil, Richard Hulland, Elias Laupheimer, Frank McCabe, and James G. Tesch formed themselves into a citizens committee. They assembled in the parlor of the old Sedalia House, with T. W. Moses as their secretary, and drew up the outlines of a charter. When completed it was sent to the Legislature with a petition to grant Sedalia a city charter, containing the substance of the draught sent with the petition. Very few changes were made in the original copy, and on February 15, 1864, the Legislature passed a bill granting Sedalia a city charter.

G. Tesch was appointed Marshal by the mayor. This was the first civil government, and it was still tacitly aided by the military power. These officers continued in power until the first election under the charter. This was held in April, 1864. James G. Tesch was elected mayor, and the seven aldermen above mentioned as appointed such by the charter, were elected by the people to fill the offices for the first term. T. W. Moses was appointed Register, and Chan. P. Townsley assessor.

The office of city treasurer was created in 1867. The office of treas¬ urer was separated from the marshal's office in 1870. In 1873 all of the officers were serving by election. The city hall cost $15,000 in 1877 when it was built. In these times the fire department consisted of ten men, who received as salary $150 per year. The chief received $200 per annum.

Population in 1882, according to the number of school children listed by the agent of the school board, 15,584; number of school children, 3,667 ; expended on grading, etc., of streets and alleys in 1881, $35,079.95 ; on new water mains, $5,700 ; by Sewer Companies, $4,000 ; for new water¬ works dam, $10,000 ; assessed value of real and personal property in 1881, $2,373,124; same in 1882, $2,681,310; increase in assessed value of real and personal property in one year, $308,186; paid into the city treasurer for special licenses alone, 1881, $10,304.39.

City and county assessments and commercial value was as follows: Assessed value of real and personal property in the county in 1881, $7,139,774; assessed value of real and personal property in the county in 1882, $8,102,011; increase in 1882, $962,230; assessed value of real and personal property in city in 1881, $2,681,310; increase in one year,

$308,186. Commercial values of personal and real property in this city and county are double the assessed values. Commercial value city prop¬ erty in 1882, $5,362,620 ; commercial value of same in county in 1882, $16,204,022.

The Missouri Pacific was the first railroad commenced and first finished in the State. Incorporated March 12, 1849 ; authorized capital $10,000,000 ; opened to Cheltenham March 23, 1852; amount of State aid, $7,000,000; St. Louis County aid, $700,000; land sold, 127,209 acres; entire length from St. Louis to Kansas City, 382 miles; total cost, $14,382,208.

The successive stages of its construction were: Chartered, March 12, 1859; first ground broken, by Mayor Kennett of St. Louis, July 4, 1851 ; road opened to Cheltenham, December 23, 1852 ; to Kirkwood in May, and to Franklin July 23, 1853 ; completed to Washington, February 11, 1855; to Hermann, August 7, the same year, and to Jefferson City, March 12, 1856 ; completed to California in Moniteau County, May 14, 1858 ; to Tipton, July 26, same year; and to Syracuse, August 1, 1859; opened to Cedarville, August 24, 1860; to Smithton, November 1, same year; and to Sedalia in February, 1861. Here it stopped during the first two years of the war. But Pettis County voted $75,000 to aid it, and Jackson County $200,000. Commenced running trains to Dresden, May 10, 1863; to Warrensburg, July 3, 1864; in 1865 the road was opened to Holden May 28 ; to Pleasant Hill, July 19 ; to Independence, September 19. Mean¬ while work had been going on from Kansas City westward, the two gangs of workmen meeting at Independence ; and on this 19th day of September, 1865, the last rail was laid and the last spike driven, which connected Missouri's two principal cities with iron bands unbroken from east to west line of the noble commonwealth. On the next day, the president of the road, Mr. Daniel R. Garrison, left Kansas City at 3 a. m., and arrived in St. Louis at 5 p. m., thus making the first through trip over the com¬ pleted line. The trip is made at the present time, by the road's mail trains, leaving St. Louis at 2:20 a. m. and arriving at Kansas City 9:30 a. m., a little over seven hours' travel. The average through passen¬ ger train makes the trip in eight and one-half hours.

November 1, 1855, a large excursion train left St. Louis to celebrate the opening of the railroad through Medora station, about twenty miles beyond Hermann. It was a long train filled with business men of this city and their families, and the occasion was one of great festivity and rejoicing. But while the train was crossing the Gasconade River the bridge gave way, and plunged cars, bridge and people in one mixed and horrible wreck into the gulf of waters fifty feet down. The president and chief engineer of the road, and thirty prominent citizens of St. Louis were killed, while scores of others were more or less injured. It was the first railroad accident that occurred in the State.

The first railroad of any importance, projected in Pettis County was the Missouri Pacific. The question of its location began to agitate the people in 1850. There was a fierce struggle carried on in the State Legis¬ lature, as to whether the road should be located on its present route, called the Inland Route, or along the river counties. Prominent among the men who contributed much to bring the road through Pettis County is Gen. George R. Smith. At the beginning of the war, 1861, the Pacific railroad was completed to Sedalia. For about three years the road was not pushed farther west. In 1865, after the close of the war, work was resumed.

that the president of this court sign the bonds of Pettis for $100,000, heretofore ordered to be issued to the Pacific Railroad Company; and the agent of the county is hereby authorized to make a supplemental con¬ tract with said company, requiring that no interest shall be charged on said bonds whilst they remain unsold. It is further ordered that the clerk of this court attest said bonds and sign the coupons attached thereto." Upon the same day Gen. George R. Smith was appointed by the County Court to cast the vote of the county of Pettis for directors of the Pacific Railroad Company at the ensuing election. At this time A. M. Forbes was president of the court. The following order appears on the County Court record for March 6, 1855:

"Ordered, that the collector of Pettis County pay over to C. & W. Wood, George Heard, William H. Powell and David Thompson, the amount borrowed of them by the county to pay a call on the county made by the Pacific Railroad Company, with interest, as soon as he shall collect suffi¬ cient of railroad tax for that purpose."

On the tenth of this month Gen. George R. Smith was authorized by the County Court to cast his vote in the next election for directors of the Pacific railroad. On July 3, 1865, it was ordered by the court "that a tax of one per cent be levied on all property set forth in the assessor's book for railroad purposes for the present year." Taxation continued to be quite heavy until the Pacific bonds were paid.

One of the most noted railroad men who had given time and influence in building up Sedalia and Pettis county, benefiting and adding thousands of dollars in value to real estate of Central Missouri was Cyrus Newkirk who cast his lot with the interests of the people of Pettis county in 1865. Here he at once inaugurated a project whereby the Tebo and Neosho railroad could be completed, extending from Sedalia to Fort Scott. Nine years previous a charter was granted, but the board of directors was not organized, and it was the principal object of taking hold of this rail¬ road and pushing it through that induced Mr. Newkirk to come west. When the board of directors was organized, Col. A. C. Marvin was presi¬ dent, and Cyrus Newkirk treasurer. Active work commenced in 1866, and the charter being a very liberal one, allowing the road to extend into and through every county of the State; and the county courts could by subscriptions encourage, grant, and issue bonds for the construction of the road. Mr. Newkirk continued to work for this project with alacrity until its completion. He succeeded in negotiating in behalf of Pettis county with the Land Grant Railway and Trust Company of New York, whereby the people could have a highway opened up for them which amounted in dollars and cents to far more than all the bonds voted. This road was the Missouri, Kansas and Texas and was a part of the Gould combination. Col. A. D. Jaynes, Major William Gentry, J. R. Bar¬ rett, Reece Hughes, and others of the county had done considerable for this enterprise. Gen. George R. Smith was the agent to dispose of the bonds of the Tebo and Neosho railroad for Pettis county.

The Narrow Gauge railroad, extending from Sedalia to Warsaw, in Benton county, was accomplished by Cyrus Newkirk, the prime factor in the movement, working about two years before its organization; he was also treasurer of this company; Major William Gentry, president; D. H. Smith, vice-president; and Col. John D. Crawford, secretary. Later sur¬ veys of this road extend to Springfield and Pierce City, Missouri. The object that Mr. Newkirk had in view when he was working for this road was to checkmate the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas railroad, and take charge of the old road-bed in Benton county, which was pledged to the company that would make the first road to that county. The bonds of this company were held by St. Louis parties, issued by the company, whose headquarters were in Sedalia. The road was also in the Jay Gould combination.

The city of Sedalia gave to the Pacific Railroad Company twenty acres of land and $40,000 in bonds to permanently locate the machine shops near the city.

The subject of railroads was strongly urged upon the people till 1860. In March, 1857, the court has: "It is ordered, that A. M. Barret be and is hereby appointed agent of the court to grant certificates of stock to persons paying railroad tax under the various subscriptions of stock by Pettis County to the capital stock of the Pacific Railroad Com¬ pany for the amount so paid."

The Missouri Pacific railroad enters the county from the east on the line of the counties of Morgan and Cooper, passing through Smithton township, the village of Smithton and thence northwest to Sedalia, con¬ tinuing in a northwesterly direction to Dresden, thence to LaMonte, thence west through Johnson county, thence west and north to Kansas City.

The Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad extends from Sedalia in a southwesterly direction, passing through a portion of Prairie, Washington and Greenridge townships. From Sedalia, the road extends easterly, through Bowling Green township, and into St. Louis.

a part of the Pacific, extends south from Sedalia, through Flat Creek town¬ ship and on to Warsaw. This road was chiefly the work of Sedalia. In 1869 the Osage Valley and Southern Kansas Railroad Company built a piece of roadbed from Warsaw to Cole Camp. It was intended that this road should intersect the Missouri Pacific railroad at Tipton, Missouri. The scheme fell through and the company forfeited its charter. In 1879 the citizens of Sedalia began to agitate the proposition to build a narrow gauge road from Sedalia to Warsaw, Missouri, a distance of forty-five miles due south of Sedalia. Benton County agreed to give the old roadbed it had graded from Warsaw to Sedalia. In September, 1879, the Sedalia, Warsaw and Southern Railroad Company was organized in Sedalia with the following officers: William Gentry, president; Gen. George R. Smith, vice-president; James H. Lay, secretary, and Cyrus New¬ kirk, treasurer. The new constitution of the State forbade counties issuing bonds beyond a certain limit. As neither Pettis nor Benton County could issue any more bonds, it was necessary to build the road with money raised by subscriptions of the people. During the year 1880 the citizens of Sedalia subscribed about §55,000. About $40,000 of this was collected.

In November, 1879, work was commenced on the road. It was com¬ pleted and ready for the cars in 1881. The first regular freight and passenger trains ran over it during the summer of 1881.

In 1858 a corporation, known as the Lexington & St. Louis Railroad Company, secured a charter from the State to build a road from Lexington, Lafayette County, to a point on the Pacific railroad, at or near George¬ town, then the county seat of Pettis. When the charter was granted, it was the general belief that Georgetown would be on the line of the Pacific road, but when the road was located where it runs, leaving George¬ town three miles to the north, it was determined to run the Lexington & St. Louis railroad through Georgetown to intersect the Pacific railroad at Farmers City, six miles east of Sedalia. Considerable work was done upon this route in 1859-60, and Farmers City bade fair to be what Sedalia is now. When the war came on the work was abandoned.

In 1867 the old Lexington & St. Louis Railroad Company was reor¬ ganized, and after a long and bitter contest, Sedalia was fixed upon as the point of intersection on the Pacific railroad, and in June of 1869 the matter was finally settled and a complete organization effected. The unexpended bonds of Lafayette County issued to the old corporation were transferred to the new, and a liberal fund subscribed by the County

Court. On the 6th of March Pettis County voted for an ample subscription to build the roadbed through Pettis County to the Lafayette County line. April 11 ground was broken in Sedalia, a grand demonstration made, and a large force put to work and good progress made before the winter of 1869 set in. The road was finished and opened to the public in 1871. It runs from Sedalia to Independence and then takes the main line into Kansas City. When Gould bought the Missouri Pacific it became a part of that system, and is now known as the Lexington branch of the Missouri Pacific.

By an act of the Legislature of Missouri, passed March 20, 1860, a charter was granted the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company. The project¬ ors of this road hoped to build a road from Neosho, Newton County, then a prominent point in the southwest, to run in a northeasterly direction, and intersect the Missouri Pacific at a point somewhere near the "high points of the Tebo," which it was then thought would be the line of the river route of the Pacific. The war came on, and during the excitement and turmoil this project was forgotten.

The Legislature in March, 1866, so amended the charter as to author¬ ize the Tebo & Neosho Railway Company to build a line from Fort Scott, Kansas, to run northeast, and cut the Missouri Pacific at a point west of the Lamine River, which is eighteen miles east of the present city of Sedalia, and Muddy Creek, which is due north and east of Sedalia. Col. Thomas L. Wilson was the leader of this scheme, and made a horse¬ back survey of the proposed line. After a great deal of preliminary figur¬ ing the citizens of Sedalia voted to subscribe $50,000 to the stock in the year 1866. Col Wilson, the first president, did not seem to have the neces¬ sary confidence of the people, and the city refused to turn over the $50,000 until they knew what would be done with it.

In 1866, in the month of May, Col. Asa C. Marvin, of Sedalia, was elected president of the company. The people of Sedalia knew Colonel Marvin so well that they at once turned over to him the $50,000 in bonds. Work was actually begun on the road in June, 1867, at Fort Scott, Kansas. In September, 1867, "ground was broken" at Sedalia. A small force of men was kept constantly at work in Pettis and Henry Counties, Missouri, until more money could be produced from the other counties. The presi¬ dent made a report in September, 1868, telling what had been accom¬ plished and this report was most encouraging.

Broadway Presbyterian Church, Sedalia, Mo

In July, 1867, the following amounts had been subscribed for the road : Bourbon County, Kansas, $150,000 ; Henry County, Missouri, $150,000; Sedalia, $50,000; private subscriptions, $60,000; Fort Scott, Kansas, $50,000; Clinton, Missouri, $25,000. Total amount, $615,000. All this sum was expended in grading the roadbed, and as yet no provision had been made to purchase iron and rolling stock.

It now became necessary to do something for the extension of the road northeast from Sedalia to intersect the then North Missouri railroad at or near Moberly, Missouri. The counties along the proposed north¬ eastern extension all subscribed with prompt liberality and gave their county bounds to the road. In 1868, work was commenced on this exten¬ sion.

Over one hundred miles of roadbed had been completed at the begin¬ ning of 1869. But still no provision had been made for buying the iron and rolling stock.

In October, 1869, the Union Trust & Loan Company of New York entered into a contract to complete the road, iron and stock, and operate it. The name of the road was at the same time changed to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway. This name it held for ten years, until 1881, when it was bought by Jay Gould and called the Kansas & Texas Division of the Missouri Pacific railway.

This company had a grander scheme in view than the mere comple¬ tion of the road, between Moberly, on the north and Fort Scott on the south, as shown by their subsequent acts. They laid their plans to run it north to Hannibal and the Mississippi River, there to connect with the great northwest system of railroads that run to Chicago and the great lakes.

On the 23rd day of July, 1870, the first excursion train out of Sedalia ran over the Missouri, Kansas & Texas line to Clinton, Missouri, fortyfive miles southwest.

on this division was ready for the ties and iron on March 13, 1872, and on that date the first were laid. In a little over one year the greater portion of the track was laid. On May 4, 1873, the first excursion train, on the northern extension, ran from Sedalia to the Lamine River, a distance of twenty miles.

Some time in November, 1873, the first through trains over the Mis¬ souri, Kansas & Texas ran from Sedalia to Hannibal and from Sedalia to Denison.

In the latter part of 1873 the company established their general offices in Sedalia. The following gentlemen were the general managers of the road while its headquarters were in Sedalia: Col. R. S. Stevens, Maj. A. B. Garner, William Bond and A. Mitchell. James D. Brown, for many years the general passenger agent. Col. A. D. Jaynes was for a number of years the treasurer of the road. In 1872, the Union Depot was built in East Sedalia. The shops grew gradually until 1873, when more additions were made and they continued to increase their dimensions until 1875.

The Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops are situate in Southwest Seda¬ lia, and are worth their weight in gold to this city. The oldest shop men in Sedalia work in these shops and it can be said to their credit that a majority of men working there own their own homes. These shops do general car work, both building and repairing all kinds of cars, from the average box car to the finest passenger car seen on any of the western railroads. The value of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas properties here is is approximately $1,000,000. Their monthly pay roll is about $72,500. The number of men employed at the present time is 800. In any war enterprise undertaken by the Government these men have never failed to raise their full quota.

Mississippi River. When the management of the road decided to build the shops they began first to cast about them for a location. Others towns, such as Atchison and Kansas City, bid twice as much in money met the requirements fixed by the officials of the company, raising the bonus of $200,000 and 125 acres of land within the time set by the com¬ pany's officials.

We, as Sedalians, are very greatly indebted to Mr. Russell Harding, who was a former vice-president and general manager of the Pacific. From the very beginning Mr. Harding was our friend and through his efforts and influence Mr. Gould, then president of the railroad and the executive board decided to place the shops here. The securing of these shops for Sedalia is valuable history and from "Sedalia of Today," a publi¬ cation in 1904, by the Sedalia Sentinel under the editorship of Mr. George H. Scruton, we quote the following concerning the efforts of our citizens in securing this industrial enterprise:

"The first citizens' meeting was called and held in the law office of Montgomery & Montgomery. It was a representative meeting. Hon. J. T. Heard presided and splendid talks were made by Hon. J. H. Bothwell, Mr. Louis Hoffman, Mr. Charles Hoffman, Mr. W. J. Letts, Mr. Joseph Huckins, Mr. W. L. Porter, Chairman Heard and others, and the consen¬ sus of opinion was that the sum must be raised. At this meeting an executive committee was appointed to have charge of the work and to formulate plans.

"In a very short time the required amount was raised and the com¬ mittee so reported to Mr. Harding at St. Louis. Then came another blow to the citizens when the committee was informed that the Missouri Pacific would not receive individual notes for the sum specified, no matter how good, but wanted nothing but the cash. Returning to Sedalia un¬ daunted by this new set-back, the committee this time converted the notes into money, and $165,000 in cash was raised, the balance of the sum being taken care of by the Citizens' National Bank, Third National Bank, Sedalia National Bank and the Sedalia Trust Company. Then followed the long wait for the official news that the company had decided upon Sedalia as a location. The railroad company did not authoritatively give out the decision until the afternoon of March 27."

It is hard to overestimate the value of these shops to Sedalia. Hun¬ dreds of men are employed, many of whom have moved their families here and bought their homes, becoming a part of the industrial life of the city. In the war enterprises undertaken by the Government the Pacific men have always raised their quota.

Railroads have made Sedalia what it is today. The city has pros¬ pered and so have the railroads running through the county. Trains laden with merchandise pass in and out of the city, leaving their goods here and taking cattle, hogs, sheep, wheat, corn and oats from the rural district to other cities, are looked upon with pride by Pettis Countians. It is not an unusual occurrence to see a single engine pulling 110 freight cars through the railroad yards here. A train passed through the Mis¬ souri, Kansas & Texas yards during the month of August carrying a like number of cars and later another carrying ninety oil tanks. During the year 1918 the scenes have changed somewhat around the rairoad depots, offices and yards. Trains, without number almost, are now seen carrying "Our Boys," the soldiers of the Republic, Pettis Countians among them, doing their full share, "Over There" to fight for a World's Democ¬ racy.

The railroads, for the first time, are operated and controlled by the United States Government. The roads have been taken over and the Government operates them under a war-time measure passed by the Con¬ gress of the United States.