Bigelow Township

Bigelow Township

Bigelow is a new town of only a few months' growth. It is located on the line of the St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad, three and a half miles West of Mound City, and eleven miles North of Forest City. It is on a level bottom prairie, with an abundance

St. Joseph will be interested in visiting the immense Wagon and Carriage Works of the 5IE.SSES. Stodebaker Bros , on fourth Street. They have an imraense Establishment containing Wagons enough to supply a dozen counties, aud Carriages to furnish an easy conveyance for all the Beaux and Belles of the Platte Purchase. Their manufactory has earned a national reputation by putting up only the very best work. Give them a call.

National Insurance Company

of excellent timber in the immediate neigliborhood. Tiie adjacent country is as fertile as any portion of the West, and when properly developed must of itself give Bigelow an important position among the tows of Holt County. Bigelow is the nearest station on the Railroad to Whig Vallej', in Holt Count}-, and the South-western portion of Nodaway County, including the town of Graham ; also to Falls City and Rulo in Nebraska. Bigelow was laid out in October, 1868, and has already grown to quite, respectable dimensions. A good Hotel has been erected. There are also two general Stores, a Livery Stable, Saloon, and some twelve or fourteen dwelling houses. All kinds of Mechanics would do well here, among which the following are especially needed : A Cabinet Maker, a Tinner, a Harness Maker, Blacksmith, Shoe Maker, and Tailor. This town being surrounded by a well populated county, presents a good opening for almost any kind of Lusiness. There are two tine Saw Mills in the immediate vicinity.

Craig

Craig is another of the thriving new towns that hp.ve sprung up, as if by magic, on the line of the St. Joseph & Council liluffs Kailroad. It was laid out a few weeks after Bigelow, at a point between the two Tarkios, nine miles above Bigidow, and some four or five miles from the North line of the County.

The location in some respects is the most desirable of any of the new Eailroad towns in the County. West, South-west and North-west is a fine, fertile and well settled portion of the Missouri bottom. The two Tarkios emerge from the bluffs, and enter the bottom in the immediate vicinity, and the valleys of both are settling up with unexampled rapidity, These settlements are connected with Craig by excellent roads. The town is in the bottom, but at a point not snbjecttothe annual overflows, while near enougli for town purposes, for private residences on the bluffs at a point

NOTE. - Persons having claims against the United v'^tates or State of Missouri ; Also persons desirous of obtaining Pa^p??ts. or any information relative to the same should apply nt once to Parker & Hedenberg, St. Joseph, Mo., as their facilities Air exceed any other Agency in North West Missouri, and we heartil}'' recommend them to all interested.

The Baptist Church Forest City, Mo

Meets for worship at their Meeting House, on Grand x\ venue, on the First and Third Sundays in eafh month, at lOV^. A. M. Sabbath Seliool every Lord's day at 9. A. M. Prayer meeting every Wednesday night. 4®~A11 are cordiaUy invited to attend.

easily accessible. From the bluff at Craig, there is a magnificent view of the bottom for miles, and of portions of Kansas and Nebraska. Craig has two general Stores, one Hotel, one Blacksmith Shop, one Saloon, one Harness Maker, and a number of other Mechanics. Another liotel and several business houses are now in process of erection, or under contract. Eighteen buildings have already been erected, and more than that number in addition are under contract. It is believed that Craig, from the character of the surrounding country, must at no distant day, become one of the most important towns in the county. All kinds of Mechanics can find employment here, and the immigrant will find good soil, good water, and plenty of good timber contiguous.

There is a fine Flouring and Saw Mill nearly completed, within two and a half miles of Craig, owned by C. 5l. Guilliams, Esq. This Mill, in all its appointments, is first class, and will be of much value to the neighborhood.

Corning

Corning is the most Northern town in Holt County, and is also one of our new Railroad towns. It has in addition to its Railroad facilities, a good river landing, which gives to it many advantages as a shipping point. Corning is just South of the North line of the Count}', six miles North of Craig. The adjacent country is settled principally by Germans, who are noted for their thrift and energy. Some of the wealthiest citizens of Holt County are German farmers in this vicinitj'. Corning will be the chief trading point for a considerable district in the Northern portion of Holt County, and al^o for Irish and English Groves, and Fancy Bottom, in Atchison County. Corning was laid out in the Fall of 1868, and is less than six months old ; yet it already is doing a large and remunerative business. It contains some twenty buildings, among which may be enumerated one Hotel, three Dry Goods Stores, a Saddle, Harness

Mackoy &, Cottrell And All Kinds Of Country Produce

There will l)e a h^rge amount of building done here during the present Summer, and the friends of the town believe that it will at no distant day become one of the leading shipping points on the Railroad. All kinds of Meehinics are needed, and would find ^profitable employment. The location is flat, as are all the towns along the line of the road in this County, except Forest City, butis entirely tihove high water. The character of the population of the adjoining country is good.

Source changes here: from History of Holt County, Missouri : from the Time of the Platte Purchase to the End of the Year 1916 : Preceded by a Short History of Missouri : Supplemented by Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, by Historical Publishing Company, published 1917; 2,430 words in this source stream.

Bigelow Township

however ,over a considerable surface, occupying in its irregular area portions of sections 18, 19, 30 and 31 or range 40, in township 61. This body of water was once known as Higgins' Lake. It is now called Bik Lake, and abounds in fish, wild geese and ducks. On the southeast quarter of section 13, township 61, range 40, bordering on its banks, William and Harmon Higgins, brothers, from Ray and Platte Counties, Missouri, settled in November, 1841. Stephen C. Collins, for twenty years surveyor of Holt County, assisted them in putting up their house. The Iowa and Sac Indians were then numerous in the neighborhood.

Early Settlers

Besides those above mentioned, among the earliest settlers of Bigelow Township were Joshua Kelso, constable in 1855, when it was included in Benton; Joseph Scott and his sons, William and John Scott; Daniel David, who came from Switzerland County, Indiana; Jeff. Campbell, Wade Whitney and John Stone, from Virginia; Jack Chaney, Joel Chaney and Fields Chaney, from Ray County, Missouri; John L. Morris, from Kanawah, Virginia, whose wife was a daughter of John Hinkle, who died in 1853, came from Randolph County, Virginia, to Bigelow Township in 1848. He was an uncle of J. C. Hinkle. Nelson Rodney, C. G. Hopkins and A. Galloway were early settlers. Among the earliest to locate in what is now Bigelow Township was a man by the name of Wagle, who settled just west of the present site of Bigelow, and lived there till the year 1844, when he was forced to move, in consequence of the flood of that year. Elijah Duncan and William Farmer were also among the earliest settlers of this township. Thomas and John Duncan, and James, Elijah and Andrew Farmer, sons of Wm. Farmer; Jacob, James and Alex Fitzwaters, from Franklin County, Missouri. A large number of the settlers of the western portion of Bigelow Township were from Franklin County, Missouri.

First Mercantile Enterprise

The first merchants who sold goods in Bigelow Township were Drury T. Easley and R. J. Poindexter. They came from Franklin County, Missouri, in 1849, and settled in what is now Minton Township, just across the line from Bigelow Township. They shortly after went to California. On their return, in 1852, they started a store on the river bank, above Langdon's place, opposite Rulo, Nebraska. This was the first store ever established within the limits of what is now Bigelow Township. It was destroyed by fire in 1857. Easley & Poindexter, the pioneer merchants, enjoyed the distinction of being the first to introduce cockle burrs into Holt County. These they brought in the tails

Timber

Fully four-fifths of the area included within the present limits of Bigelow Township was originally heavily timbered, and the entire expanse of this territory, which is bottom land, level as a floor, was covered with a growth of rushes almost as thick as grass. The trees which towered above this growth, attained, many of them, to enormous size, and it was not unusual to find cottonwoods six feet in diameter, as well as walnut, hackberry, mulberry and other indigenous growths of corresponding dimensions.

The rushes which grew here in such vast profusion, sustained, during the winter season, thousands of cattle which, supplied with no other food, came out fat in the spring. As many as ten thousand head have been wintered on these rushes in the bottoms in one season. These were often brought from as far south as Clay and Jackson Counties.

Judge J. T. V. Thompson, of Liberty, Missouri, had, among his cattle in these rushes, twelve buffaloes. They were sent there in 1842. Long after he had removed the rest of the herd, there remained one cow buffalo which boldly attacked people whom it chanced to encounter. It was finally killed by an enthusiastic sportsman.

This bottom land was homesteaded in the early days, and a vast acreage has been cleared and placed in cultivation. The rushes which once grew here in such boundless profusion, from the action of fire and other causes, have entirely disappeared. At present much less than one-half the area of the bottom is timbered. This is included chiefly in the southern and western parts of the township. In point of fertility, there is no more excellent country on the continent, the products of this latitude growing, with slight attention, in vast profusion. John C. Hinkle, a representative farmer and reliable resident of this section, whose farm, the southwest quarter of section 7, extends to the southern limits of what is now Minton Township, raised in 1879 a crop of wheat which averaged upwards of forty-five bushels to the acre.

In 1861 the Hoover saw mill was moved from Mound City and set up on Big Tarkio, in the northeast quarter of section 17, township 61, range 39, one mile and a half south by west of the present town of Bigelow. In 1864 L. Hoover sold this mill to T. W. and E. D. McCoy, who operated it till 1869, when they sold to R. P. Lewis, who ran the mill alone till the year 1870, when E. A. Brown became interested with him. Lewis & Brown continued at this point till the fall of 1876, when they moved the mill to the northwest quarter of section 7, township 61, range 39, three miles west of the town of Bigelow, where it was operated for many years. The output of this mill averaged about one million feet of lumber per year, chiefly cottonwood, elm, walnut and basswood. The receipts from sales of walnut lumber alone, sawed at this mill, in the year 1881, amounted to $5,889. With the passing of the timber the mill went out of business. Another permanent or stationary sawmill of Bigelow Township was owned by Jacob Book. In 1870 it was moved by Johnson & Chambers to the northeast quarter of section 32, township 61, range 39, on the waters of the Big Tarkio in what is now Minton Township.

Shiloh M. E. Church, South, was the first house of worship built in what is now Bigelow Township. It was a frame structure, and stood on the bank of the Missouri River, in section 23, township 61, range 40. It was a building thirty by forty feet in extent, and was erected in 1873, at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. The principal members who built this church were George H. Walker, A. I. Griffin and Robert Adkison.

Bigelow is the only trading point within the limtis of the township. It is located on the Chicago, Burlington & Quinck Railroad, in the center of section 10, township 61, range 39, thirty-eight miles from St. Joseph. The town of Bigelow took its start in November, 1868, at which period Captain H. L. Williams opened in the place the first store within the limits of the township. The business of this enterprise was conducted by W. A. Bostick till March, 1869, when H. C. Haines took charge of the same and continued to operate it till 1875, when he bought out his employer and continued the business on his own account till August, 1878, at which period he moved to Sabetha, Kansas.

In March, 1869, T. D. Frazer & Bro., opened in the place a general stock of goods. The firm continued under this name till the year 1873, when B. F. Fleming became a partner in the concern, and the business was thenceforth transacted in the firm name of Fleming & Frazer. January 1, 1882, B. F. Fleming purchased the interest of his partner and continued the business in his own name for several years. He was one of the most successful buiness men in the county.

Dr. J. P. Jackson opened in 1870 the first drug store in Bigelow. He commanded a large practice as a physician, and continued the business of his store by deputy till 1875, when he sold out and was succeeded by C. S. Armstrong. In 1877, Simpson & Chuning bought out the establishment and conducted its business till 1879, when they sold to Muir & Campbell.

In 1875, Holt Bros, started a drug store, which they sold in 1877 to James McLean. He afterwards sold to Edmund Anibal, who sold out December 29, 1881, to John C. Hinkle.

The first blacksmith to locate in the town of Bigelow was C. H. Graves, who settled there and opened his shop in the spring of 1869. Disgusted with the untoward consequences of the high water of 1881, he sold out to John L. Spohn, blacksmith and wagonmaker, and emigrated. W. E. Preston was the first wagonmaker to locate in Bigelow. He moved away in 1881.

William Perry started in 1868 the first saloon in the place. His successors were James M. Smith in 1869, John Smtih in 1875, and J. N. Westfall, 1882.

Robert Notley built and opened in 1869 the first hotel in the town. He remained in the business two years. His hotel was the Bigelow House, later owned and kept by I. B. Courier. The Star Hotel was built by J. L. Moffit in 1872. Several parties at different times kept the house. It was closed in 1877.

Dr. J. P. Jackson, the first physician to settle in the place, moved there in 1869. He afterwards located in Mound City and later became an active practitioner in Kansas City. Doctor Rhodes and W. S. Allen were located in the town previous to 1876.

The only lawyer who ever settled in Bigelow was M. A. Duff, who located there in 1872, in the practice of his profession. He afterward moved on his farm in the township.

The first postmaster of Bigelow was H. C. Haines, appointed in 1869. He was succeeded in 1870 by L. Sloan. Dr. J. P. Jackson was postmaster, who held the office till 1877, when H. Simpson received the appointment for the second .time, January 1, 1882.

In 1880, John L. Chuning, an enterprising citizen of the county, put up, in the town of Bigelow, the second brick residence in the township. This was a spacious and handsome twostory building, and was completed at a cost of three thousand dollars.

Mr. Chuning, in the following year, put up the first brick business house in the township. This was also in the town of Bigelow, and was completed at a cost of five thousand dollars. The dimensions of this structure, which is also a two-story build- ing, are twenty-six by ninety feet. In November, 1881, W. H. Bell & Co. opened, on the lower floor, a large stock of general merchandise. The upper floor was approached by an inside stairway, and used as a public hall. The balance of this floor, 26x30 feet, was divided into offices.

Bigelow, at one period, was one of the best shipping points on the line of the K. C., St. J. & C. B. railroad (now C. B. & Q. R. R.), between St. Joseph and Council Bluffs. The completion of the Nodaway Valley Branch line in 1880 across the often wet and scarcely passable bottoms extending eastward to the bluffs, transferred the bulk of this business to Mound City. It is still, however, an important trading point, commanding the patronage of the wide extent of bottom land extending westward to the Missouri River.

The red tongued fire demon has visited Bigelow on several occasions, leaving behind him each time losses that were hard to bear. The principal fires which the history of the town records began in 1906. August 12, that year the large store building owned by J. L. Chuning and occupied by Frank Friede, as a general store, was destroyed, the loss being about $8,000.

February 14, 1907, fire started in the Catron drug store, just south of the bank, destroying the stock owned by Mr. Catron and the building owned by Sherman Noll. The fire continued south, destroying the Hogan restaurant, Osborn's meat market, the Commercial boarding house kept by Charles Yount and a small residence. The loss was estimated at $10,000.

The most destructive fire in Bigelow was discovered about 3 o'clock a. m. Sunday morning, December 3, 1911. It looked for a time like the greater portion of the town would be burned, but prompt action on the part of the citizens prevented. The fire originated in the frame store building, located at the north end of Front street, just west of the railroad track, and owned by Henry Ideker of Corning. It was occupied by the J. P. Waters Mercantile Company, whose loss was $5,000. The building was valued at $2,500.

The building occupied by the Bank of Bigelow was destroyed as was the store of Poynter & Walker and the barber shop and residence of G. M. Larrabee. The total loss from this Sunday morning fire was estimated at $25,000. By the following December the newspapers announced that the buildings which had been burned had all been rebuilt.

For a number of years the town supported a frame school house in which the youthful minds were trained for the activities of their mature years. But the progress and development of the times demanded something better. The school patrons recognized that their children needed the best that could be provided in the way of educational advantages. In consequence of this a consolidated school district was formed by action of the voters at an election held May 14, 1914. The consolidated district embraces the town of Bigelow and parts of Elm Grove, Summitt, Wildrose, Kelso, and all of Cottonwood School Districts. The following named were elected directors of the consolidated district: W. M. Troxell, Frank Walker, C. S. McKee, eGorge Courier, J. M. Wilson and G. A. Conway.

The purpose of the consolidation of the several districts was, of course, to provide a high school course of study for the pupils in the district. December 29, 1914, the taxpayers authorized a bond issue of $12,000 for the erection of a high school building. It was dedicated October 8, 1915, with appropriate exercises.

Bank

The Bank of Bigelow was organized November 22, 1901, with a capital stock of $10,000. A. W. Chuning was president when the bank was started and served until 1903, when he gave way to J. F. Bridgmon who still holds the office. John C. Hinkle has been vice-president and G. W. Poynter cashier from the day the bank began business to the present (1917). This institution has prospered under the able management of the gentlemen named. It now has a surplus of $20,000 which adds greatly to its efficiency as a banking house.