Saline County, Missouri - Chapter 24: The Sappington School Fund, 1910

Chapter 24: The Sappington School Fund

Dr. John Sappington was Saline county's greatest philanthropist. By a deed executed in 1853, he donated and conveyed to certain trustees therein named ten thousand dollars for the education of "the necessitous poor children of Saline county," said trustees to be the sole judges of the objects of charity on which the funds should be bestowed.

Afterwards by will, Doctor Sappington directed the sum to be increased out of his estate so as to amount to twenty thousand dollars, with some additional directions for its disposition.

Doctor Sappington was not a very rich man, as was generally supposed at the time of his death. On examination of the records, they will show that it required more than one-half of his personal estate to make the school fund up to twenty thousand dollars. But his will was carried out as he directed it to be done, the fund being raised to twenty thousand dollars and placed in the control of the trustees. For some years afterwards the trustees complied with the terms and directions of his will by spending the interest of the fund for educational purposes, employing extra teachers in localities where they believed they were needed. However, some years afterwards the Legislature of our state made such liberal provision for education that it seemed unnecessary and since then the fund has increased rapidly until at the present time it amounts to more than three times the original amount so donated by the distinguished philanthropist. The last annual statement of the treasurer, J. P. Huston, shows that the total amount of the fund is now sixty-three thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars and forty-three cents.

Sketch Of Dr. John Sappington

Dr. John Sappington was a native of Maryland, born May 15, 1776, a man six feet high, of fine proportions, strong and commanding person with striking features.

After an academic education, Doctor Sappington took a regular medical course at the Philadelphia Medical College, and afterwards, in the year 1804, he commenced the practice of medicine with his father at Nashville, Tennessee, and from there he emigrated to Missouri in 181 7, first settling in Howard county. Having previously entered land, in 1819 he moved over to Saline county, building a residence and opening a farm, where he remained the balance of his life, five miles from Arrow Rock. Here he practiced medicine and conducted his farm until 1832, when he became worn out with riding. Then he arranged a partnership with Dr. George Penn, who lived near Jonesboro, himself partly retiring from practice, turning his attention to the manufacture and sale of cjuinine pills and the management of his extensive farming interests.

Subsequently a partnership was arranged by the Doctor, composed of himself, Colonel Alarmaduke, his sons, William B. and E. D. Sappington, his son-in-law, Dr. William Price, and perhaps Mr. Eddins, of Howard county, another son-in-law, for the purpose of manufacturing and selling his pills, and by this firm a very extensive business was carried on for many years after- wards and a veiy profitable business at that. The pills became very popular and a very efficient remedy or cure for chills and fever and other diseases produced by the malaria of this new country, and as well of Arkansas and Iowa, where they were in general use. In after years each of the members of this firm had acquired a handsome fortune, at least that was the general understanding in the county.

Doctor Sappington's wife was a Miss Breathitt, a daughter of Governor Breathitt, of Kentucky, and a most estimable and admirable woman. She was a mother of a large family of children, who' as men and women afterwards became ornaments and some distinguished members of society in after life.

Doctor Sappington had for sons-in-law, Governors Jackson and Marmaduke ; L. S. Eddins and Dr. William Price, his sons being William B. and E. D. Sappington, who were very extensive and successful farmers, who built and lived in the best houses in Saline county.

Governor Claiborne F. Jackson was three times his son-in-law, each of his wives having been daughters of Dr. Sappington. It was said at the time when Governor Jackson asked for his last wife, who was then a widow, the old Doctor gave his assent, but declared in the presence of Jackson that he couldn't have his wife, who was the only member of the family left who he could possibly ask for. Doctor Sappington's wife died a year or two before him. The Doctor departed this life at his old home on the 7th day of September, 1856, at the age of eighty-one years. He lies buried in the family cemetery provided by himself years before on his own land. The cemetery is now at this writing, 1909, properly and judiciously cared for by the board of trustees of the Sappington School Fund, one of the most appropriate uses it could possibly be applied to.