Switzler, Missouri

Calvary Episcopal church was organized May 25, 1855, with the following members : - Rev. John W. Dunn (missionary), E. N. O. Clough, Rebecca N. Clough, Thos. C. Phillips, Margaret Phillips, Robert Willis and Margaret Willis. The church building was erected in 1872, and dedicated December 8 of that year by Rt. Rev. C. F. Robertson, D. D., Bishop of Missouri. The building is a frame, and cost about $3,000. It stands on lot 209. The pastors of Calvary church have been : Revs. J. W. Dunn, W. R. Pickman, C. F. Loupe, F. R. Holman, J. C. Jackson, R. C. Wall, Dr. C. P. Jennings, W. H. Hopkins, Wm. C. Dawson, A. T. Sliarpe and Joseph R. Gray. The present membership is forty-eight. For fifteen years after its organization the church struggled along with only from three to five members. In 1870, however, it took new life, and its condition gradually improved until now (although without a rector) it is out of debt, flourishing and prosperous.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

For the first five or six years of its existence the members of the church met for worship in the colored public school building. It was mainly due to the untiring efforts of Elder Henry WilUams that the present church was built.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

The subject of this sketch is the son of John L. and Mary Pace (Irvin) Ammons, and was born near Kichmond, Madison county, Kentucky, February 5th, 1818. His father emigrated to Missouri in October, 1822. They lived about four years in Montgomery county, where his wife, the mother of John W., died. John W. and the next oldest boy lived with a gentleman named Baker for about three years, and then went to Old Franklin, Howard county, where their father had preceded them. In September, 1835, John W. went to Fulton, Callaway county, and commenced to learn the cabinet maker's trade. In February, 1836, he returned to New Franklin and worked at the trade he had commenced to learn. His sight becoming impaired, he abandoned the idea of learning a trade, and went to work upon the farm of Simeon Switzler. He next went to Rocheport and worked for a short time at the carpenter's trade ; then removed to Fayette and assisted in rebuilding Central College which had burned. By an accident, upon the 21st day of April, 1842, he broke his leg, caused by a falling scaffold, and was unfitted for regular work for six years. He then taught and went to school alternately until April 1st, 1848, when he went to the Indian manual labor school, about seven miles from where Kansas City was afterwards built. He started to California, but stopped at Kansas City, and assisted in building the first grist mill ever put up in that city. He next opened an extensive lumber yard in the city, and prospered finely for a few years, when failing to make collections to meet his large obligations, he lost everything under the sheriff's hammer. He was elected a member of the city council in 1855, and was elected its president upon its organization. The mayor resigning, Mr. Ammons became ex-officio mayor until he ordered a new election to fill the vacancy. He was mayor of Kansas City during the turbulent times of the border troubles, and did much to prevent open rupture between the factions. He opposed secession as a matter of policy, but never doubted the right of a State to withdraw from the Union. He went to Chicago during the war, as he was lame and not fit for military duty, and worked at his trade several years, then returned to Missouri. His handiwork is seen upon many of the large buildings of Kansas City, Fulton and Columbia, and of late years he has done only light work at his trade. He has invented several useful articles, among which is a revolving bookrack. He has been married three times. The first time to Miss Julia Franklin, of Howard county, June 30th, 1846. The second time to Miss Isabel Kelsoe, of Decatur county, Iowa, on the 23d of March, 1864. She died September 28th, 1865. The last time he was married to Miss Mary E. Herndon, of Boone county. Mr. Ammons has had an eventful life, few men having had the experiences and seen the changes he has. He is still in possession of his faculties and enjoys the confidence and respect of all.

Passage source: History of Boone County, Missouri. Written and Comp. from the Most Authentic Official and Private Sources; Including a History of Its Townships, Towns, and Villages. Together with a Condensed History of Missouri; the City of St. Louis ... Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Prominent Citizens .., published 1882.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Columbia Township - it names this place 26 more 26 times.