Chillicothe Township

Chillicothe Township

On the 7th of August, 1837, the county court, then in session at Joseph Cox's, took the first steps toward laying out and establishing the town of Chillicothe. On this day John Graves was appointed to "lay ofif into lots the county seat, where the commissioners appointed by the State Legislature shall locate it." It was also ordered that the county seat "shall be denominated and known by the name of Chillicothe." The town was named for Chillicothe, Ohio, the county seat of Ross county.

John Graves was appointed trustee for the county to lay ofif and sell lots in the town, which was ordered to be surveyed into twenty blocks before September 4, 1837; but on that day Graves resigned, and Nathan H. Gregory was appointed commissioner and trustee in his stead, giving bond for $5,000. The work of surveying and platting was done by Mr. Gregory himself, as he was a practical surveyor.

The first sale of lots came ofif October 16 and 17, 1837. Previous notice had been given by posting five written notices in dififerent portions of the country and by advertisements inserted three times in the Missouri Republican, of St. Louis, and the Boone's Lick Democrat, of Franklin, Howard county. Every third lot in each block was sold, except in the block surveyed for the public square. The amount of all the sales was $1,082,623/2, on six, twelve and eighteen months credit. The second sale of lots came ofif May 4 and 5, 1838, when the aggregate sales amounted to $1,807.

Commissioner Gregory was at this time ordered to enter the land, the quarter section, on which the town was situated, but did not do so; and notwithstanding lots were sold and titles made by the county from October, 1837, the town site belonged to the United States and was not entered until Au-

Not until July 15, 1839, was Chillicothe selected and designated as the county seat of Livingston county, although it had been virtually the county's capital for some time. On the day named, however, the commissioners, who were E. W. Warren, Samuel Williams and Geo. W. Folger, all of Carroll county, selected the southwest quarter of section 36, township 58, range 24, as the county seat, as being "the most eligible location for said county seat," and its site according with the provisions of the organizing act, in lying "within three miles of the center of said county."

On August 13, 185 1, Chillicothe was first incorporated by petition of two-thirds of the inhabitants and the first board of trustees were W. Y. Slack, John T. Green, John Graves, J. H. B. Manning and W. C. Samuel. By an act of the legislature, approved March i, 1855, the town was then incorporated as a city. February 26, 1869, by an act of the legislature the town was constituted a corporation by the name and style of the city of Chillicothe and declaring the original charter and all subsequent amendatory acts thereto amended.

With the certainty of the building of the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad by way of Chillicothe its trade and prospects increased, and its condition was largely improved. From 1852 to 1856 there were flush times. In 1855 the business directory of the place was about as follows :

In 1858 the Livingston County Agricultural and Mechanical Association was organized and held an exhibition on its grounds, near Chillicothe, the first Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in October. The officers of the association were R. C. Carr, president; Jere Hutchinson, vice-president; L. T. Collier, secretary; Benjamin Berry, treasurer. Directors: R. E. Holland, B. B. Gill, James Hutchinson, George H. Liggett, Jere Hutchinson, Asa T. Kirtley, John Barnes, Spence A. Alexander, and Benjamin Edrington. Marshal, E. S. Darlington. Musicians, Chillicothe brass band.

In March, 1841, the citizens were allowed to use the old log courthouse, the first one built, for a public schoolhouse, and the first school in the town was taught here.

From 1,200 in January, 1859, the population increased to 1,800 or 2,000 by January, 1861. Schools and churches were established, business enterprises were inaugurated, and a full tide of prosperity set in and was fast bearing the town on to permanent fortune. In 1858 a branch of the State Bank of Missouri was established, with John B. Leeper as president and Jas. A. Shirley cashier. This institution continued until 1866, when in November of that year it was succeeded by the People's Savings Bank.

Immediately after the Civil war a tide of prosperity set in. The population was greatly increased, business interests were advanced, industrial enterprises were established, and the city flourished. It became the center of a large trade. People came from ofif the Iowa line to buy goods. The public square was thronged with teams. Additions to the city were laid out and rapidly settled. In 1870 the population was nearly 4,000, while in 1865 it had been only about 1,500. But now a sort of paralysis struck the business afifairs of the city and for years it stood still.

the present magnificent building was erected at a cost of $35,- 000. This was not effected without opposition, however, which all public enterprises expect to meet. The bonds issued to build the school finally came into the hands of one Mr. Hazelton of New York, who generously gave, in the settlement of a compromise, a considerable sum for the establishment of a library, which now comprises several thousand volumes. Many of these have been donated by citizens. Two of the most efficient friends of the school and library have been the late Hon. Chas. H. Mansur and A. McVey. The architect was C. B. Clarke, of St. Louis; J. A. McGonigle, contractor, and the board of education was T. R. May, president; J. S. Funk, secretary; R. F. Dunn, A. McVey, M. H. Smith and C. H. Mansur.

The city hall, a two-story brick structure, erected in 1869, at a cost of $20,000, was destroyed by fire in March, 1876. On the site of the ruins the present city hall was erected the following year at a cost of $25,000.

People who live here know of no place so attractive - none with greater possibilities and have heard of no city whose immediate future looks so bright as that of Chillicothe, the railroad center and coming factory city of North Missouri. Speaking of Chillicothe and Livingston county the author has endeavored rather to underestimate than to exaggerate, knowing that so much can be said of the possibilities, that the plain, unvarnished truth would seem to many an exaggeration. In the past, in spite of some circumstances that have been disadvantageous, Chillicothe has steadily grown, while other cities have stood still. Those who have selected Chillicothe and Livingston county as the best place in all the world to find a home, have used mature judgment in choosing this place above all others as a permanent home for themselves and families. Chillicothe stands today as the ideal town of the country, with all the advantages and environments that go to make life happy and prosperous.

The first thing that strikes the stranger on his tour of the city is the fact that almost every street boasts its beautiful residences. These, however, do not detract from the cozy and slightly, yet pretentious cottages which everywhere impress the visitor with an air of substantial comfort and plenty.

Her streets are broad, well paved and bordered with great trees and each householder takes pride in keeping lawn and parkway up to a high standard. The city of Chillicothe has six miles of vitrified brick and Hassam street paving, more than thirty miles of granitoid walks and twenty-five miles of public sewerage.

The plant of the People's Gas and Electric Company is located in the eastern part of the city and is one of the most efficient plants in Missouri. It furnishes power and light at a figure lower than St. Louis or Chicago and is equipped to supply manufacturers with all the power needed.

Some idea of the volume of business done in Chillicothe is shown by the receipts of the local postoffice, which are the largest in this congressional district. The postmaster is John L. Schmitz, and the assistant is Preston Randolph. There are five clerks, five city carriers and seven rural carriers employed. The rural routes traverse 167 miles and there are 13,000 patrons of the postoffice. The government has recently purchased a site at the corner of Clay and Locust streets for a postoffice and federal court building. Congress has voted an appropriation of $135,000 for the building.

In 1886 L. J. and Louis Jarrett obtained a twenty-five year franchise from the city of Chillicothe permitting them to erect a telephone plant. This was started with sixteen 'phones. Five years later it was sold to Col. W. B. Leach and Dr. A. W. McArthur. At this time all patents were owned by the Bell Telephone Company and a few years later Colonel Leach was one of the first telephone men to break away and purchase independent apparatus, putting in a new board of the American Electric Company. The growth of the plant continued steadily and in 1903 the switchboard was again renewed,

Leach and McArthur purchasing a Stromberg-Carlson visual signal board. In December, 1904, Dr. McArthur's interest was sold to W. H. Ellett and C. L. Waite. A company was organized and the property incorporated for $40,000.00. P. F. Romeiser was elected president; B. N. Stevens, vice-president; W. H. Ellett, treasurer; and R. L. Rawlins, secretary. A new departure was then made by this company, toll lines being acquired to all points in the county and every effort made to enlarge and improve the service in the city and surrounding country. So successful was the effort that in order to meet the demands and needs of the increased growth, the capital stock of the company was again increased in December, 1908, to $50,000.00 and bonds issued to the amount of $35,000 and C. L. Waite was selected as manager. All of this capital has been furnished by Livingston county people, the company now being represented by nearly fifty of the leading business men and farmers of this community. With this new capital the plant was completely overhauled and office building erected that met the further needs of the company. A full multiple common battery Stromberg-Carlson switchboard of an ultimate capacity of 2,400 lines, with dynamo and engines to furnish their own power and light, was installed. The outside construction is a full cable multiple distribution. The telephones are of the Stromberg-Carlson's new metal type. Everything has been put up in first class condition and no expense was spared to make this the best independent plant in Missouri. The Bell Telephone Company, a corporation owning and controlling most of the telephone lines in the state, purchased the stock of the People's Telephone Company a few months ago.

U. S. Pension Examiners. - The U. S. pension examining board of Chillicothe consist of Dr. W. A. Swope, president. Wheeling; Dr. Reuben Barney, secretary, Chillicothe; and Dr. B. N. Stevens, treasurer, Chillicothe.

Board of Public Works. - The Chillicothe board of public works, who now have charge of the Municipal Electric Light and Power Plant, are men of the highest business qualifications and consist of C. F. Adams, president; P. J. Dixon, secretary; John A. Ryan and Adam Saale.

Board of Education. - The board of education of Chillicothe consist of John McBride, H. B. Hogan, Chris Boehner, John H. Taylor, J. D. Brookshier, and W. G. Keath, the officers of the board being, John H. Taylor, president; J. D. Brookshier, treasurer; W. G. Keath, secretary and A. R. Coburn, superintendent of schools.

The location of the several school buildings follows : Highschool building. Third street, between Vine and Elm; Central building, Ann street, between Vine and Elm; First Ward building, corner Polk and Dickinson streets; Second Ward building, corner Polk and Eastin streets; Fourth Ward building, corner Graves and Jameson streets; Garrison building (colored), corner Henry and Violet streets. The Garrison

The Municipal Electric Light Plant

For four years the city of Chillicothe was in darkness for lack of funds to pay a private corporation, then owning and operating a plant in the city. People who had occasion to leave their homes after dark carried lanterns. This situation was alleged to have been the result of the town voting out the fifteen saloons then running and thus cutting off the revenue necessary to defray the expense of lighting the streets of the city. On the 23 rd of December, 1909, however, an election was held for the purpose of bonding the city in the sum of $50,000, for the erection of a Municipal Electric Light and Power Plant, which carried by an overwhelming majority. The bonds were sold at a good premium, but the local corporation filed an injunction to prevent the registration of the bonds. The matter was fought through the courts and the city won out. Then in June, 191 1, the contract for the erection of the plant was let to the Fuller-Coult company, of St. Louis, and on November 13, 1911, the lights were turned on. A second bond issue for $10,000 was also voted a year later to be used in the further extension of street lights.

The power house is located in the southwestern part of the city, between the Burlington and Wabash railroad tracks, and is equipped with the latest inventions in electric machinery. There are three 150 H. P. boilers, one 300 H. P. engine, one 150 H. P. engine, one K. V. A. generator and one 125 K. V. A. generator and all other equipment necessary for a first class electric light and power plant. The white way, installed in 1913, is said by visitors to excel in brilliancy any metropolitan city in the country.

Additions To Chillicothe

as Weston Heights, in the western part of the city, contains I20 acres and was platted, streets graded and otherwise made attractive and beautiful, by John A. Stewart, of Columbia, Missouri, who purchased the old Williams farm. It is a most desirable residence district and many of the lots have been purchased and homes erected.

Villa Park, in the northeast part of the city, containing thirty acres, was platted and put upon the market by Thomas B. England. Streets have been graded and the grounds beautified in a most attractive manner. This too is a desirable residence district.

The Adams addition, platted some five years ago by Douglas Stewart, is located in the southeast part of the city, and embraced twenty-five acres in all. The Jenkins Hay Rake and Stacker factory is located on the northern limits of the addition.

The John H. Taylor addition, containing fifteen acres, and lying immediately west of Edgewood avenue, was platted three years ago and is very desirable as a residence district.

Chillicothe Water Company. On October i6, 1886, the city of Chillicothe granted to Comeges & Lewis, of New York, a twenty years enfranchise for the construction of a water plant of sufficient capacity to supply the city with a liberal fire protection. The pumping station was located some two and one-half miles south of the city on'Grand river and a stand pipe 155 feet in height erected on the Curran lots in Gravesville. At present the owners of the plant are Street, Wykes & Co., of New York. Recently the stand-pipe system was abolished and direct pressure substituted. The water company is capitalized at $100,000.

Chillicothe Officials

The officials of the city of Chillicothe who were elected to office in May, 191 1, and whose terms expire May, 1913, were as follows: Chris Boehner, mayor; J. T. England, councilman-at-large; John Burch, councilman first ward; R. W. Strehlow, councilman second ward; C. E, Murphy, council- man third ward; Ed. L. Bargdoll, councilman fourth ward; B. F. Thorp, city clerk; John H. Taylor, city attorney; Maurice Dorney, chief of police; Charles Spooner, city treasurer; Frank E. Riley, police judge; Robert L. Bruce, city auditor; D. A. Taylor, city assessor; Jo Broaddus, city engineer. In addition to the chief of police there are two day and two night patrolmen and one merchants' police.

Poultry Fanciers' Association

The Northwest Missouri Poultry Fanciers' Association was organized in Chillicothe in 1905 with a few members, nothing but enthusiasm for its capital and the improvement of poultry in the county, its only aim.

Each year they held a show and each year there was a marked improvement in the quality of the poultry until when the world's greatest poultry show was held in Kansas City in 1910 (the Missouri state poultry show) Livingston county fanciers sent a special car load of fine birds to this show and each breeder entering won at least one premium. This year the local show was surpassed only by the state show in numbers and the quality was equal to that displayed in any show. The boosters from the beginning to the present have been Frank Bayles, Lulu May Weston Ott, Frank B. Norman, Geo. Walker, Jesse B. Ott, Ed Bargdoll, B. J. Mallory and Tommy Anderson. They are all well known in poultry work all over the state and have placed Livingston county ahead of any county of equal size in the United States in one of the enterprises that leads the finance of the state. Breeders are shipping birds and eggs for hatching to every state in the Union, Mexico and Canada. The present officers of the association are Dr. J. E. Callaway, Chillicothe, president, and Frank R. Smiley, Wheeling, secretary.

Chillicothe Fire Department

hand engine, rubber buckets and a few ladders. Today Chillicothe has the best equipped and fastest fire fighting company in the world. This is a broad assertion, but it is true and the present fire company of this city stand ready to accept a challenge from any town, village or city in the United States or Europe. The Chillicothe fire company carry the "Belt" and they propose to hold it. From the tap of the bell they have hitched and made a run of 580 feet, laid 100 feet of hose, attached the nozzle and had water on a fire in thirty-six seconds. No record on earth has ever beaten this. They defy boasted Kansas City, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky, who is nearest their record; they laugh at Paris, France, London, England, and all the big metropolitan cities of the eastern hemisphere. The Chillicothe fire company solicits a challenge from any town or city on the globe. At the time the Chillicothe fire company was organized, H. O. Meek was chief. Today H. E. Pringle is chief; A. J. Roe, assistant; R. D. Black, driver; H. J. White, assistant; Harry McCormick, George Eastman and Jack Smith, hosemen. The equipment consists of one hose wagon costing $900; one hook and ladder truck, costing $1,- 200; two five gallon chemicals and two two and a half gallon chemicals. The hose wagon carries 1,000 feet of hose and another 1,000 feet is kept in reserve. "Joe" - Chillicotheans all know "Joe" - the most intelligent fire-fighting horse in the state, was retired a short time ago on a pension for life. He is now twenty-five years old, after serving the Chillicothe fire department faithfully for twenty years.

History has heretofore failed to chronicle a name familiar to the memory of a man whose national popularity is on the tongue of every music-loving American as well as in several countries of Europe. We refer to the composer of the music to the words of the song "Ben Bolt." A reference to the last resting place of the famous composer by a former Chillicothean, Mrs. J. T. Bradshaw, of Kansas City, must occupy a place among the historical reminiscences in this volume:

"Oh, don't you remember Sweet Alice, Ben Bolt, Sweet Alice with hair so brown?" lies buried at Chillicothe, Missouri, in Edgewood cemetery in "a corner obscure and alone."

Credit is given Thomas Dunn English for the beautiful words of the most popular song ever written, although it now differs from the original lines composed in 1842. There is no disputing authentic records that Nelson Kneass, a wandering minstrel, composed the air of the plaintive melody. But before the story is told I wish to quote an interview I had some years ago with Mrs. Renfrow of Dayton, Ohio, daughter of Nelson Kneass. She is the wife of a theatrical manager and declared that her father was never a "strolling" actor, nor an actor of any sort, but a musical genius, and that her family was a musical family, singing after the style of the family quartets of the present day. He composed the musical lines of "Ben Bolt," she said, twenty years before his death, and the version was accepted by the "Queen's Court Circular," in the reign of Victoria.

He was crowned with laurels throughout England and coming to America the song spread into immediate popularity, being as famous as "Home, Sweet Home." Mrs. Renfrow says her mother did not become an actress until after her father's death and then only played with such high class attractions as Morrison's "Faust." On the occasion of this interview she was making preparations to remove her mother's body from Dayton to be placed beside her famous singer husband at Chillicothe.

Nelson Kneass was always accompanied by his wife and she was with him when he was taken ill at Cameron, Missouri, in September, 1869. Although a very sick man, he came on with his company to Chillicothe, which was a village, and where the Nelson Kneass company was billed for a theatrical engagement. He stopped at the old Browning house, now the Henrietta hotel, but became rapidly worse soon after his atrival, and was attended by Dr. S. M. Beeman, now of Denver, Colorado. The stranded singer had an illness of only a few days. The company "went broke" on its arrival in Chillicothe. But the warm hearted people of the little town came to the assistance of Kneass and kindly hands administered to his last needs, and generous hearts saw that he had a decent burial. Prominent among those friends so kind to a stranger in distress was Captain A. McVey, one of Chillicothe's most prominent and wealthy citizens, who is still in the mercantile business there. Colonel W. B. Leach, now dead, took charge of the Kneass funeral and proved of great assistance to the widow. These two men with Z. B. Myers, until recently manager of the Luella opera house there, afterwards formed the committee of the Kneass Monument Association, Captain McVey being president.

Kneass was buried from Grace Episcopal church in Edgewood cemetery, and Mrs. Kneass after the funeral held the company together for a while, though it was completely discouraged by the death of its manager. A benefit was given her in Chillicothe and she played neighboring towns of North Missouri until she obtained enough funds to take her to her Ohio home.

The body of Kneass was buried in an obscure part of the cemetery where for years only a small slab marked the spot. When a few years ago "Trilby" revived the popular song, attention was called to the almost forgotten grave of the singer who made the song so famous. A local committee was formed and tried to get Mrs. Kneass's consent to the removal of the body to a better part of the cemetery. She was persistent in her refusal, but after her death negotiations were entered into with the son and daughter, who consented to the plan. But meanwhile the widow revisited Chillicothe and placed a headstone at her husband's grave. The inscription on the little marble slab eight by fourteen inches read:

Relic hunters chipped this little headstone piece by piece till the inscription in a short time became scarcely discernible. This lot is three feet by eight feet, in a crowded part of the cemetery. A tall tree stands at the head as if a grim sentinel and on the tree was tacked a wooden marker. The accompanying picture was taken by a former Chillicothe photographer, J. B. Hoffman, and is so far as known the only one of the first marking of the grave of the musical composer of one of the world's favorites. Later when the Kneass Monument Association was formed the cemetery association offered a fine lot for a granite column with the inscription:

Mute in death are both, the poet and the musician, and how applicable are the words that made the poor strolling minstrel famous: "In the old churchyard in the valley, Ben

Famous Empire Ball Team

From Judge A. M. Johnston's wonderful scrap book we glean some of the exploits of the famous Empire Ball Team and the victories they achieved in several states. The club was an aggregation of ball players that held the championship of several states in the early seventies when the great national game was in its infancy. Chillicothe was the home of this noted club, the members and their positions on the team being as follows: Guerin, short-stop; Jacobs, second base; Hicks, left field; Darlington, first base; Graves, center field; Eastin, pitcher; Johnston, third base; Barker, right field; Waples, catcher.

Judge Johnston officiated most of the time as the official scorer for the team, and the scoring in those days was some job. At other times "Gus" would serve as umpire, and at other times would don the nobby uniform of the club and "subbed" on the diamond or in the outfield. Sarge Braden was the financial agent of the club.

When the Empires were in their prime, the club had the reputation of being not only the strongest team in this section, but the finest looking set of men, collectively and individually, who ever appeared on a base ball diamond.

Padded gloves, masks, breast protectors and other modern equipment of bail players were unknown in the early seventies. It was nothing for the Empires to make thirty or forty hits and like number of runs in a single game.

The first game of the best-two-in-three for the silver mounted bat, held for three years against all comers by the Empires of Chillicothe, was played on the fair grounds in St. Joseph and resulted in a crushing and overwhelming defeat for the Haymakers of that city. The tally at the end of the ninth inning stood 31 for the Empires and 16 for the Haymakers.

One of the trips of the Empires was taken in August, 1871, and included games at Hannibal, Missouri; Quincy, Jacksonville, Springfield, Illinois; and Pana and Keokuk, Iowa. The Empires had an easy game with the Nationals at Hannibal, winning by a score of 66 to 16. At Quincy the Empires defeated the Occidentals by a score of 53 to 23. The Empires made something like a dozen home runs in that one game.

The only defeat on the trip was two days later when the Empires played the Alerts at Jacksonville, Illinois, where a close and exciting game was lost by a score of 52 to 54. The Empires got revenge on another team the following day by defeating the Springfield Eckfords by a score of 34 to 19.

Eastin pitched all of the games on the trip, and there were few changes in the line-up of the team. No extra players accompanied, and if a player was temporarily disabled the official scorer would take his place.

In announcing the final victory and the return of the victorious ball players, the Chillicothe Journal got out an extra. The Campaign Ended. Four Games Played and the Empires Win Three! ! ! The Boys Will Be Home Tonight at 9.40. Turn Out and Give Them a Grand Reception! ! ! And thus ended a grand "campaign" of the Empires.

Beautiful Elm Park

Elm Park, for a quarter of a century or longer, known as the Public Square, and in which the new one hundred thousand dollar court house is now under construction, was for many years sadly neglected and a wilderness of black locust trees and sprouts in which the cattle and hogs roamed unmolested until the spring of 1877. At this time Dr. Jacob W. Greene, a local dentist of Chillicothe, with his spirit of progress, conceived the idea of making the square a beautiful park. For the purpose of assisting the doctor in the work the citizens subscribed sixty dollars. Permission was then granted by the county court to cut one-half of the locust trees. This having been accomplished the Doctor again appeared before this august body and pleaded guilty to removing the wrong half of the locust trees, confessing his blunder in a way that convulsed the court with laughter, after which the doctor was told to make a general cleanup of the remaining shrubs and underbrush. This he did and sold the trees for fence posts and wood, realizing fifteen dollars from the sale. The doctor then had a park fund of seventy-five dollars. Uncle Ben Smith was employed to go to the west bottoms along Grand river and bring in enough soft maple and elm saplings to plant the park, the trees to be set one rod apart each way. Three-fourths of the trees set out were maples, which in later years were cut out.

At the time of removing the old locust trees and underbrush, some opposition was met with on account of leaving the square so barren and even the county court was severely censured. The planting of the elms and maples was mostly done by Doctor Greene and Hiram F. Woodford, assisted by Scipie Davis, a colored man. The doctor says Mr. Woodford staked off the ground and he and "Sip" dug the holes and set them out, the former "chouncing" the earth about the roots of the young trees. - -4

On the 2ist of April, 1877, after the planting was finished, Doctor Greene and his two assistants joined hands about a small forked tree, and here made a solemn vow to stand for and protect the trees they had planted as long as they or any of them should live. That forked tree, large enough for a sawlog now (January 15, 1913), stands just east of the present band stand.

at its height and the new structure was to be erected in the park, thus destroying many of the trees and naturally the symmetry of this favorite resort, Doctor Greene, on the thirtyfifth anniversary of the planting of the trees, decorated with flowers the last resting places of his colaborers, H. F. Woodford, Benjamin Smith and Scipie Davis. This he did in memory of their good work and in moral protest against what he denounced as "wicked folly and destruction of the beautiful park for the purpose of erecting a court house just where it ought not to be."

For ten years after the trees were planted Doctor Greene was made park commissioner, the late Dr. R. Barney, Sr., succeeding him and acting in this capacity until his death more than a decade ago. Only a few of the original friends of the park enterprise are now living, but the Doctor says that he and the few remaining ones can sorrow and weep for them all because of the partial destruction of the stately old trees which have been removed to make room for the magnificent new court house now under construction.

Our Manufacturing Interests

The Chillicothe Ice & Fuel Company's plant was erected in 1909 with a capital stock of $35,000. The plant has a capacity of twenty-five tons of ice every twenty-four hours. The officers of the company are C. H. Hackney, president; W. Turner, vice-president; L. P. Coblentz, secretary; W. J. Wiley, manager and treasurer. Directors: R. L. Isherwood, I. M. Timbrook, W. J. Wiley, C. H. Hackney, W. Turner and J. J. Turner.

The Chillicothe Iron Company, incorporated, is one of the successful and prosperous young manufacturing plants of Livingston county. The buildings were erected on the site of the Frank Way foundry and machine shop and the machinery and equipment are up to date. The company was incorporated September i, 191 1, and is capitalized at $8,000. The officers are men of push and enterprise. C. T. Botsford, president; F. B. Wheeler, vice-president; R. L. Rawlins, sec- retary, and W. H. Ellett, treasurer. The company gives employment to from ten to fourteen men. The capacity of the foundry is one hundred tons per annum. The machine shop is equipped with electric driven motor machinery with all metal working tools necessary to complete almost any machine job. The main building of the plant is a new and substantial brick structure 58x120 feet and the warehouse 30x112 feet. The company manufacture emery stands, portable cranes, combination rip-saw, planer machines, sash weights, post mauls, municipal castings, sled runners, etc. They also carry a full line of brass goods, belting, packing, engine supplies, etc.

The Crow Cigar Company was established in Chillicothe in 1879 by Messrs. Ball and Michaels, incorporated in 1893 by F. R. Ball, Andy White and W. B. Leach. The present capitalization is $4,000. The cigar factory is District No. 100; the smoking tobacco factory No. 49. The present officers of the company are J. R. Wilson, president; W. D. Wilson, secretary, under whose management the factory has been operated since 1902. The annual output of the factory is one-half million cigars and one and one-half tons of cigar clipping smoking tobacco. The factory gives employment to twenty-five hands who are paid $11,000 annually. The products of the Crow Cigar Company reaches a territory one hundred miles east, west, north and south of Chillicothe.

The P. E. Burgy Cigar Factory of Chillicothe was established in the year 1903. The district number of the factory is 96. Four cigar makers find employment here. The output of the factory, which supplies the local merchants exclusively, amounts to 128,000 cigars annually, valued at $4,500.

The W. H. Booth & Company's Cigar Company of Chillicothe was organized in 1893. The district number of the factory is 26. The factory gives employment to four men. They manufacture exclusively for the local trade, their annual output being approximately 130,000 cigars, the gross value being about $5,000.

of confectionery and ice cream and jobbers of chewing gum and cigars, was established some twenty years ago in a store building on North Washington street. Later the firm purchased the three buildings on West Jackson street which they now occupy and remodeled them into a factory, storeroom and offices. Their trade zone extends in all directions within a radius of loo miles of Chillicothe and a force of twenty people is necessary to manufacture and prepare the goods for shipment. Both the members of the firm are hustling young men full of twentieth century push and enterprise and are alive to the possibilities of the city as a manufacturing center.

The M. B. Hamilton & Co., Glove and Mitten Factory, Chillicothe. - This is a branch of the glove and mitten factory of Leavenworth, Kansas, established in Chillicothe in 1912. The factory is located on South Elm street and fifty or more people are given employment.

The J. E. Andrew Broom Factory, Chillicothe. - This factory was established in Chillicothe a quarter of a century ago. The factory gives employment to a number of men and their products find a ready market throughout North Missouri.

The Jenkins Hay Rake and Stacker Factory, Chillicothe, Marion R. Jenkins, proprietor, is the largest and most extensive manufacturing plant in the county. The plant was established in Chillicothe several years ago, coming here from Browning, Missouri. The factory and foundry combined cover several acres and their products, amounting to many carloads annually, find a ready market in the central and western states. From seventy-five to a hundred men are given employment in the factory.

Milbank's Flouring Mill. - The City Mill was built in 1867 by George Milbank, who at that time also owned a small mill at Troy, Illinois; his limited means only permitted him to start in a small way by installing two run of stone and three bolts; as his business grew and prospered this number was increased to five run of buhrs, and the necessary bolting machinery. As the improved methods developed, among which the purification of middlings were adopted, using a purifier of his own invention, the products of the mill were always of the highest quality. In later years the roller process of milling proved itself superior to the buhr or stone system for making flour, and in the year 1883 the mill was remodeled to the roller process, and the capacity increased to 150 barrels per day. In that year Mr. Milbank wishing to retire from active business sold the mill to his sons, John T. and H. S. Milbank, who remodeled the mill again in 1905, installing the latest system of bolting by means of the swing sifter, so that the mill has always been kept up to the highest state of efficiency. In 191 1 H. S. Milbank sold his interest in the mill to John T. Milbank, who is now the sole owner of the property. Previous to the building of this mill in 1867 there was very little w^heat grown in this county, as there was no ready market for it, but after the mill w^as built and started it made a market for wheat at all times for cash, which encouraged the growth of same, so that at the present time Livingston county ranks among the largest wheat growing counties of Missouri.

Mooresville Saving Bank, Mooresville, Missouri

Directors: Homer Kirtley, J. A. McMillen, W. E. Hudson, C. E. Vadnais, Albert Rockhold, A. T. Rockhold, L. F. Hudgins, A. S. Ireland and J. H. Cusick.

Recapitulation

When the first summarized statement of this kind was prepared on April 30, 1902, the local papers featured the fact that the deposits of the county were $1,010,000.00. The fact the million mark had been reached was noteworthy. It is interesting to note that in the ten years that have intervened those deposits have more than doubled. The capital stock has also doubled and the item of surplus and profits has more than trebled. A proportionate increase is seen in all the other items except overdrafts which have been held down in a most commendable manner.

There are now fifteen banks in the county, four national and eleven state, and the increase in deposits alone since February 1909 has been $333,000.00 The loans show a corresponding increase during the same period. There are few counties with the banking facilities of Livingston and there are certainly very few where the per capita deposit is over $90.00, as is the case with us.

The Peoples' Bank Robbery

From the present president of the Peoples' Bank of Chillicothe, Mr W. H. EUett, and some additional data from the county's history published by the O. P. Williams Company, the attempted robbery as it actually occurred on the night of the 2ist of June, 1873, ^^ herewith given. It was about the hour of eleven o'clock on the date named when four men approached the home of Sidney McWilliams, in the outskirts of the town and attempted to kidnap the president for the purpose of getting possession of the keys to the bank. Mr. Mc- Williams, however, was prepared to give the would-be "yeggers" a warm reception. A brisk fusillade of bullets was opened by several friends of the president, who had been forewarned of the attempt on the bank, the robbers returning the fire on the inmates of the house.

A few days before the attempted robbery, a young man named J. W. Brunk, who had been in the employ of Rambo and lived in his neighborhood, came to Sid McWilliams' house and told him that Rambo and certain others, who were named, had formed a conspiracy to rob the bank and that the time fixed upon to do so was the next evening. Brunk said that he himself was included by Rambo in the party that was to engage in the robbery, and he gave all of the particulars of the plan. He said that Rambo was to come up to the house of an acquaintance near town, apparently on a social call as he was to bring his wife with him. This was for the purpose of proving an alibi after the deed was done. At a certain hour in the night he was to come up to town, meet his confederates, accomplish the robbery, and return to his friend's house in good time before morning.

Rambo did come up at the time stated by Brunk; but some accidental circumstance prevented the carrying out of his plan that night so the matter was postponed.

Brunk again posted Sid McWilliams in regard to the time of the postponement and the change of plans for that occasion; and everything happened as he indicated, except that something again caused Rambo to postpone the time.

Sid McWilliams, after full consultation with a few trusty friends, planned his mode of meeting the emergency. He had learned from Brunk that Rambo and his three confederates, namely, Jim Manso, George Munro and Brunk himself were to go out to the McWilliams' house a short time before midnight; that one of them was to rap at the door, inquire for McWilliams, ask for an interview on business, and when he came to the door, seize him, menace him with weapons, disarm him if armed, and take him and his father-inlaw, Mr. J. H. Ware, prisoners; that Rambo was then to take McWilliams and Ware, securely bound, down to a secluded part of town, while Mrs. Ware and daughter, Mrs. McWilliams, should proceed to the bank with the other three men and bring the money from the vaults; the inducement for them to do so being that in case they did not come with the money or in case they made an alarm in town, McWilliams and Ware would be shot by Rambo.

Seven men were stationed at McWilliams' house, well armed, namely: Joseph Cooper, cashier of the People's bank; Wm. B. Leach, assistant cashier; W. H. Gaunt; Ben Grant;

The plan was, that when the robbers came McWilliams was to appear at an upper window and hold parley with them. Meanwhile the blinds of a window on the first lower floor were to be opened from within, and Brunk was to enter by mounting a box outside for the purpose. Then circumstances were to govern the further procedure.

A few minutes past eleven o'clock the four men came, and Brunk acted as spokesman. Rambo was thoroughly disguised; he had on a gun coat; an old piece of coarse tow cloth was tied about his neck; he wore a dark colored slouch hat, instead of the light straw hat which he had worn during the day; his face was blackened with common blacking; and besides all this he had a dark veil drawn over his face. His accomplices said that he tried every way to avoid going with them to the house; but they insisted that he should do so, and finally he reluctantly consented. When he did go, he skulked under the portico, so as to be out of the sight of Mc- Williams, although the night was dark and he could not have been detected through his disguise.

When McWilliams appeared at the window in answer to the summons of Brunk, the other three men outside moved off a short distance, but Brunk came up to the lower window which he had previously selected as the one he was to enter; the window blinds were thrown open and he hastily entered. Immediately upon his entering firing began. The first shots were from the inside. The robbers, however, returned the fire, and Manso and Munro fled, but Rambo was shot down dead, three balls at least having entered his side near the arm, and another in the upper and back part of the head.

When the firing began, the other parties who were stationed at convenient points with horses, rode hastily up toward the scene of action, and by some mistake were fired upon by those who had been defending the house. Fortunately, the mistake was discovered before anybody was ser-

Before morning a large number of the citizens of Chillicothe were apprised of the event that had occurred, and another posse of competent men went in search of the two robbers that had escaped. Munro was found at home in bed, his home being about four or five miles south of Chillicothe, and he was arrested and brought to town, and was of course lodged in jail. He confessed of having been engaged in the attempted robbery, and gave an account of it, which substantially confirmed the statements of Brunk.

Rambo was in town a considerable part of the day previous to the robbery; but in the evening started out in his wagon. It was ascertained the next day, that he unhitched his horses in the woods about a mile and a half or two miles south of town, where the wagon and one of the horses were found . The other horse he rode on his robbing expedition.

Rambo was a farmer and lived in the south part of the county, about eight or ten miles southeast of Chillicothe, where he owned about four hundred acres of land. He had, however, been in pecuniary difficulty for three or four years, and the general opinion was, that when his affairs came to be settled he would be a bankrupt. It was supposed that this condition of affairs induced him to engage in the desperate undertaking in which he lost his life. He was a large, portly man, with a well formed head and intelligent, though sinister-looking face. He was fifty-four or fifty-five years old.

He left a family of the highest respectability, for whom the deepest and sincerest sympathy was felt. The deed of the father worked no attainder; his ill fate has not been remembered against his posterity nor his shame made a part of their inheritance.

Manso and Munro were indicted, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to the penitentiary. Each served his time, returned to the county, and has ever since conducted himself in an upright, honorable and exemplary manner, winning the respect and esteem of the community.

Chillicothe made and published in i860. The little book containing the original in manuscript is in possession of Clayton Keith, Louisiana, Missouri. Judge Wm. C. Samuel and Dr. William Keith were two of the trustees of the public school of Chillicothe in the years 1859, '60, and '61. At Doctor Keith's request his son, Clayton Keith, took the enumeration of the children of school age in the fall of i860 for the western half of the city and two weeks later in passing Judge Samuel's office he called young Keith in and said, "Clayton, I guess you'll have to take my side of the town, the east half, for George Warder, my stepson, don't seem to have time to do it." "Why he's got as much time as I have, Mr. Samuel, for we are in the same class." "Yes, but he's too busy writing poetry to attend to a little thing like that." So young Keith took the east half of the town and wrote out the report and handed it to Mr. Samuel on the following Saturday for which he was paid a two dollar bill. This was the first money the boy had ever made with his pen. Here is the report:

Annual report of the trustees of district No. i in township 58, range 24 in Livingston county, Missouri, including the City of Chillicothe, Missouri, for the year ending the first day of December, A. D. i860.

The Jackson University

It requires teachers of experience and ability to prepare young men and women for the business affairs of the world. Remunerative office positions, whether in the capacity of stenographer, bookkeeper, short hand, typewriting, penmanship, letter writing, or along other lines, cannot long he held unless the student has taken a full and thorough course of training. Any one of these requirements may he had at the well known Jackson University of Business of Chillicothe. This institution of learning was established in 1898 and from its modest beginning it has been one of advancement and progress. Since its establishment hundreds of the graduates from this school have stepped into positions of trust and prominence in the commercial world.

The university is located in one of the finest and most substantial buildings of the state, and the several department rooms of the school are handsomely fitted up for the comfort and convenience of the students.

The university is a compromise between the standard business colleges and the schools of higher learning. Here are condensed the good points of the former, the schools of advertising, salesmanship, boys and girls preparatory schools, and other lines that emphasize the development of the mind and character. The subjects taught are bookkeeping, banking, shorthand, typewriting, pen art, business penmanship, letter writing, punctuation, grammar, commercial law, commercial arithmetic, rapid calculation, advertising, philosophy of history and literature, business philosophy, salesmanship, voice culture, character development, best thoughts of best thinkers, the art of making friends, piano, dancing, physical culture, parliamentary law, debating, etymology, and commercial geography.

This college differs from other business colleges in many respects. Some of the points of difiference are as follows: night school free to day school students; strongest English department of any other business school in America ; finest quarters; a free correspondence school for the benefit of the students; the world's desire bureau, which is free to the regularly enrolled students; only school of business in this country that has a dancing hall and a dancing teacher; a broad-gauged and sympathetic manager who neither suspends or expels students.

The Chillicothe Business College

The year 1890 was a very important one in the history of Chillicothe as it witnessed the location, erection and beginning of the Chillicothe Normal School, of which the present institution, the Chillicothe Business College, is the successor.

It was quite an undertaking, a big undertaking in those days, to raise the money necessary to erect buildings adequate for such an institution as was promised and given Chillicothe. The founder of the institution, Allen Moore (senior) came to Chillicothe early in 1890 from Stanberry, Missouri, where he had successfully been conducting a similar institution, but having disposed of his interests there, he was looking elsewhere for a location. His attention was called to Chillicothe because of the progressive spirit displayed upon every hand, the great agricultural wealth of the surrounding country, the superior railroad facilities and the fact that many of his family connections lived in the adjoining county of Linn.

school similar if not greater in success and reputation than the school at Stanberry. That he could do this, he asked the citizens of Chillicothe and Livingston county to organize a corporation, purchase desirable grounds and erect thereon a building for school purposes. He agreed to erect upon these premises a dormitory of three stories as a guarantee that he meant good faith and would conduct the school. He agreed further to pay a certain rental for the use of the college building.

The citizens accepted the proposition and started out with the most united and determined effort ever displayed in this section of the state. The soliciting work was directed by W. B. Leach, Thos. McNally and Moses Alexander, but committee after committee of earnest and enthusiastic workers visited every part of the county, house after house was canvassed and recanvassed and business man after business man was waited upon. It was a gigantic undertaking but none too gigantic for the determined citizenship of Livingston county. Chief among the contributors to the fund of $25,000 were the following who bought stock in the corporation amounting to $500.00 each: John H. Abshire, Jas. M. Davis, Jas. A. Grace, Wm. E. Gunby, G. G. Henry, A. Lowenstein, Thos. McNally, Sidney McWilliams, Geo. Milbank, P. H. Minor and Henry Walbrunn.

Never was there a building in Chillicothe, considering its size and importance, built as hurriedly and substantially as the old Normal building. Every available space was occupied by a workman and in a few months' time, the splendid edifice was completed.

The institution was incorporated in 1890 as the Chillicothe Normal School and Business Institute and the following composed its first board of directors: Jas. M. Davis, Wm. B. Leach, Thos. McNally, Moses Alexander, John L. Schmitz, Jas. A. Grace, John Morris, John Atv\^ell, Wm. E. Gunby, John H. Abshire, Geo. Milbank, A. Lowenstein and Jos. C. Minteer.

The building was completed in the early days of autumn. During the busy summer. President Allen Moore (senior) was v/ithout doubt the most active man of all North Missouri.

He had to dispose of his interests at Stanberry, overlook the erection of his buildings, organize his school work, gather about him a faculty in keeping with such an institution, give the proposition the advertising it demanded, etc. In fact, there were a thousand and one things calling upon him for attention.

The day for the opening arrived. It was a great day for Chillicothe, one which had been anticipated with much interest and enthusiasm for months. The large auditorium was packed, many of those much interested in the success of the institution could not gain admittance. Among the crowded listeners were many students, pioneers as they are called by the loyal alumni. Addresses were made by President Moore and a number of the citizens most prominently identified with the realization of Chillicothe's great hope, to become an educational center. Chief among these addresses was one by Col. W. B. Leach, who perhaps gave more time and untiring effort to this great undertaking than any other citizen.

The scope of work was at first confined to courses in the common school branches, pedagogy, science, classics, bookkeeping, stenography, penmanship, elocution, music and photography.

The school enjoyed an enrollment of more than six hundred the first year, a great achievement, a splendid reward for the untiring efforts expended during the few months before. The attendance grew, the reputation of the school spread, the faculty became larger and stronger, more courses were added, more graduates declared the institution their Alma Mater as an inevitable result, more room was needed.

The corporation did not feel able to erect the additional building necessary, so finally consented to sell the property to President Allen Moore (senior) so that the third building could be built and the growth of the big institution not hampered. The third building was erected in 1900, ten years following the founding of the institution and fully eight years following its urgent need.

The work done in the Chillicothe Normal School was of the highest merit, as shown in the readiness with which the state university, state normals and colleges accepted its grades and allowed full credit for its work.

It was a sort of pioneer in the normal field and hence during its early days the normal work predominated. Many a successful teacher points with pride to the work done in this noble institution and to the assistance it proved to be to him.

But conditions changed. The spirit of progress influenced matters educational as well as industrial. Our state university received a large income from the state; biennial appropriations were largely increased; the university introduced more academic and normal work; and state normal schools received more liberal appropriations from the state. Not onlv this but two new state normals were erected. Colleges aided by liberal endowments introduced more academic work into their curricula. But this was not all. High schools enlarged, became more efficient and offered better courses than they had been offering before. All this tended to supplant the private normal.

Again, the spirit of commercialism rapidly grew. The commercial spirit of the people manifested itself in the increased attendance of the commercial departments in this and all private normals. Not only this, but there was a demand for telegraph operators, and the Chillicothe Normal School, true to its progressive spirit, introduced telegraphy and railroad work into its curriculum, the first institution to introduce telegraphy into a normal college.

During the years following the beginning of the institution, many teachers gave a good part of their life work to imparting knowledge to those who came in quest of truth. Many of their names have become as a part of the walls of the gallant and revered old building that still occupies its place upon the old campus, as impressive as of old. Among these teachers may be mentioned: G. A. and E. H. Smith, Fred B. Brady, D. S. Robbins, G. M. Billmeyer, W. F. Canaday, Lee Maupin, J. D. Carter, E. E. Reed, R. E. Moss, Jno. D. Rice, W. W. Chenoweth, F. L. Maxwell, Elmore Lail, Geo. W. Becker, F. W. Hallett, W. A. Vandegrift, Misses Viola Millay, Neva Hunt, Margaret I. Wilson, Sadie Bradford, Carrie M. Brant and Minnie B. Hale.

On January 9, 1907, Allen Moore (senior), founder of the institution and to whose untiring effort and unsurmountable energy may be attributed the glowing success of this school known throughout the nation, passed to his reward. His whole life was centered in the institution he had founded and had built to its great proportions. He had planned for its continuation and had reared his sons with this idea ever before them, that they should continue his life work. Consequently following his death, Allen Moore, Jr., became president and Roy Moore became vice president.

Upon assuming these duties, the faculty which had labored so faithfully with their father was retained and much of the responsibility was borne by Professors Fred B. Brady

The institution continued for almost three years along the lines originally laid out for it, but as the demand for business education grew, the business departments became more and more important until in the fall of 1910, the normal department was abandoned and the institution turned into a strictly business college. At first, only the advanced work in the normal department was dropped, classes still being maintained in all the branches required on the different grades of certificates in Missouri, but with the opening of the school year in September, 191 1, this work was also dropped. With the changing of the big sign upon the tower over the entrance to the main building, the transition of the Chillicothe Normal School to the Chillicothe Business College, the style of the present institution, was completed.

The Chillicothe Business College is concerned with training its students in those branches of study best calculated to fit young men and women to cope with the business world.

Since the change was made, the institution has taken unto itself a new and marvelous growth surpassing the fondest hopes of those most interested in it. The growth has been such that during the two years it has been running as strictly a business college, its attendance has increased to such proportions that an additional building became a necessity. This led to the erection of Dryden Hall, a thoroughly modern dormitory of twenty-four rooms for young men.

The college enjoys the distinction of occupying the largest plant in America devoted exclusively to business education. Its patronage has not only become national in scope, but each year a few students are enrolled from foreign countries.

The following courses are now offered: Banking, bookkeeping, auditing, stenography, stenotypy, typewriting, court reporting, civil service, telegraphy, railway mail clerk, agriculture, salesmanship and pen art.

mation to enable the farmer to make the best use of his natural resources and his labor. So far as we know, this is the first agricultural school to be conducted without aid of public funds.

Looking over the big institution during its twenty-three years of history, it has meant much not only to the city of Chillicothe, but to the educational interests of the central west. On an average i,ooo students have been enrolled annually. This means that approximately 25,000 men and women throughout the nation point to this school as their Alma Mater. Many of them have attained positions of no little renown, many have become prominent in the professions, while others have become powers in business. The institution is a towering monument to the efforts of one man, Allen Moore (senior), aided by the cooperation of a faithful and loyal citizenship.

Lodges And Clubs

Friendship Lodge, No. 89, A. F. & A. M., was first organized in Chillicothe in 1847. The present officers are: Henry S. Adams, W. M.; William Walsh, secretary. The lodge meetings are held the first and third Friday evenings in each month.

Chillicothe Council, Royal Select Masters, No. 28, meets the first Monday in each month. The present officers are: J. Wm. Reynolds, Th. 111. master; Reuben Barney, recorder.

Lone Star Royal Arch Chapter, No. 30, meets the second and fourth Tuesdays in each month. The present officers are: William A. Summerville, H. P. ; John W. Toppass, secretary.

The Masonic Temple is one of the finest and most substantial buildings in Chillicothe. It was erected and completed in the fall of 1895 ^^ ^ cost of $18,000.

I. O. O. F., Chillicothe. - A meeting was called January 14, 1856, for the purpose of organizing an Odd Fellows lodge in Chillicothe. At this meeting H. T. Grill, then district deputy grand master, presided. The following officers were elected: R. R. Mills, N. G. ; George Pace, V. G. ; U. T. Green, rec. sec'y; H. W. Lansing, sec'y; B. F. Carpenter, treasurer. The charter was granted to Lodge No. 91, I. O. O. F., May 21, 1856, with the following charter members: V. W. Kimball, R. R. Mills, M. W. Yeager, G. W. Call, U. T. Green, George Pace, Jesse Hoge, John Ewing, D. H. Kenny, Rev. Wiley Clark, B. F. Carpenter, H. W. Lansing and John Henderson. The lodge held its meetings in Waples' hall, the present site of the Mohrs furniture store, until the Civil war, when on January 12, 1863, ^^ '^vas disbanded, the late Hon. Chas. H. Mansur taking charge of the books and the soldiers occupying the hall. A soldier from Harrison county clandestinely appropriated the lodge Bible and later pawned it to a barber named James Grubb, whose shop was under the old Harvey house at the northwest corner of the public square. The barber kept the Bible until the close of the war and when the lodge v/as reorganized in 1865 ^e became a member and restored the book to the lodge. The reorganization took place July 18, 1865, in Masonic hall with C. H. Mansur, E. H. Bement, R. R. Mills, J. W. Hearne, J. L. Malkin and D. W. C. Edgerton present, at which time the following old members were reinstated: J. P. Moore, James Leeper, M. A. Thornton, John McDonald, John Henderson, A. Rogers and F. P. Hearne, and the following officers elected: J. W. Hearne, N. G.; D. W. C. Edgerton, V. G. ; E. H. Bement, secretary; John McDonald, treasurer. July 2, 1866, the lodge moved to Bell & Moore's hall on the east side of the public square, where they remained for a number of years, removing thence to the Gunby hall on the west side, where they remained until the completion of their new hall on Washington street, which was erected at a cost of $9,172.52 and was occupied August 17, 1 89 1. The building was unroofed by a wind storm January 29, 1909, entailing an expense of $1,400 in repairs. The lodge, however, has been prosperous, its present membership being 191, and on January 27, 1913, a jubilee meeting was held, at which time the total indebtedness against the lodge was reported liquidated and the bonds burned in the presence of the members and a large number of visiting brothers from other lodges.

The Daughters of Rebecca, Lodge No. 43, Chillicothe, was instituted in Chillicothe, August 3, 1889, Mrs. R. A. Debolt, district deputy, presiding. The charter was granted May 23, 1890, with the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Z. B. Myers, D. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Tanner, Mrs. Jennie Voris, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Benge, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Missman, Mr. and Mrs. S. England, Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Richards, Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Mormon, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Huffman, Mr. and Mrs. H. Cunningham, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Pratt, S. Shook, Mrs. Mary Burberry, R. Stewart, B. A. Rapp, J. J. Nellis, Miss Sallie England, Miss Lillie England, Miss Josie Clem, Miss Sadie Henderson, S. A. Stone, W. B. Caston, D. Hargrave, Charles Gitner, R. H. Haddock, W. R. McVey, O. W. Edmonds, C. W. Missman and wife and C.

Elks' Club House. Chillicothe

A. Loomis. The following officers were elected : Mrs. Emma Tanner, noble grand; Miss Annie Stewart, vice grand; Mrs. Jennie Voris, recording secretary; Mrs. Marinda Turner, financial secretary; Miss Sallie England, treasurer. The lodge now has a membership of 121 in good standing. The present officers are : Mrs. Margaret Laney, noble grand ; Mrs. Carrie Dice, vice grand; Miss Edna Hood, secretary; Mrs. Nannie Mitchell, financial secretary; and Mrs. Victoria Miller, treasurer.

The Chillicothe Lodge, No. 656, of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks was organized March 9, 1901. The charter members and first officers were as follows : Virgil Dillon, exalted ruler; Wadsworth D. Leeper, esteemed leading knight; Arthur J. Simpson, esteemed loyal knight; Fred B. Brady, esteemed lecturing knight; Burdette V. Gill, secretary; J. H. Mansur, treasurer; B. F. Wilkerson, esquire; George E. Braun, tyler; H. M. Grace, chaplain; D. F. Cronhardt, inner guard ; C. F. Adams, E. H. Moss and Chris Boehner, trustees; Wm. A. Eylenburg, D. M. Hamlin, Jos. Wallbrunn, R. S. Hall, John F. Hawley, W. E. Scott, C. A. Faus, J. W. Stone, Jr., Herman Berg, Paul D. Kitt, Wm. J. Mohrs, Frank Sheetz, E. K. Hunter, and G. H. Lawson. The lodge used the third floor of the Wallbrunn building for their lodge meetings and club rooms for almost nine years. In February, 1907, the England lots at the corner of Jackson and Elm streets were purchased and in the spring of 1909 w^ork was begun on the erection of the present building owned by the Chillicothe order. This home was built at a cost of about $20,000.00 and is considered one of the finest in the state. The building was completed in January, 1910, and Chillicothe Lodge moved into its new home. This lodge now has 215 active members. The present officers are as follows: John L. Schmitz, exalted ruler; Robert L. Williams, esteemed leading knight; Allen Moore, esteemed loyal knight; Forest M. Gill, esteemed lecturing knight; Karl M. Blanchard, secretary; Fred B. Brady, treasurer; Malcomb Ferryman, esquire; John W. Williams, tyler; Edwin M. Switzer, inner guard; and Charles

Charm Council, No. 628, Knights and Ladies of Security, Chillicothe, was organized February 24, 1899, by Deputy and Mrs. C. W. Hawkins, when the following officers were elected: president, Lillian Beal; first vice president, Mrs. Adams; second vice president, George Pinkley; prelate, J. D. Rice; financial secretary. Dr. Henderson; treasurer, John Adams; trustees, Edgar Edwards, Eugene Packard and J. D. Rice. There were 23 charter members. The order now has 183 members. The present officers are: Robert Nuttall, president; Mrs. T. G. Jones, first vice president; Rilla Sprague, second vice president; Mrs. John Wilcox, prelate; Mrs. Robert Nuttall, secretary; A. R. Bowman, financier. The national order now has a surplus of $2,175,000 reserve fund.

Chillicothe Tent, No. 31, Order of Maccabees, is enjoying a satisfactory degree of prosperity. From the organization of the order in Chillicothe the membership has steadily increased from year to year. The officers of the lodge for 1913 are: W. W. Dunn, commander; S. H. Marr, lieutenant commander; Charles Gibbs, record keeper; D. O. Smith, finance keeper; J. C. Williams, chaplain; W. L. Gibbs, sergeant; James Snook, master-at-arms; James Teeters, first master guards; J. Smith, second master guards; William Adams, sentinel; James McCormick, picket; and William Walsh, trustee.

Chillicothe Hive, No. 41, Ladies of the Maccabees of the World, was organized March 30, 1898, by Mary Metier of Brookfield, Missouri, with only thirteen charter members, but the charter was not closed until July 2, 1898, at which time

Omega Lodge, No. 6i, Knights of Pythias, Chillicothe, was instituted August 24, 1880, with the following charter members: James L. Buford, John F. Sherman, Jesse E. Hitt, John P. Sailor, George T. Sailor, John C. Hanson, Joseph C. Minteer, Jr., Nat Cooper, Louis Sherman, Green B. Sherman, James G. Wynne, Charles Asper, John Mohrs, W. F. Browning, Jr., Frank Platter, W. E. Crellin, Charles G. Vann, A. M. Johnston. The present lodge officers are : Harry W. Miller, P. C. ; L. A. Martin, C. C. ; O. F. Randall, V. C. ; Walter D. Wilson, prelate; N. P. Stephenson, K. R. S.; H. A. Millhouse, M. of Ex.; J. E. Watkins, M. at A.; Max Jenkins, I. G.; Anthony Butcher, O. G.

Model Camp, No. 1650, Royal Neighbors of America, Chillicothe. - This camp was organized in 1897 with eighteen charter members. The first officers were : Mrs. E. M. Swartz, oracle; Miss Dade Himmel, recorder, and Mrs. Carrie Murray, receiver. The officers for 1913 are: Mrs. Ella Curry, oracle; Mrs. Gertrude Cheyney, recorder; and Mrs. Minnie Cover receiver. The camp now has a membership of one hundred and three and is the largest ladies' fraternal order in senior commander ; and Chas. Gillidette, secretary. At present the organization has one hundred and fifty members, all of whom make their homes in Chillicothe.

The Travelers Protective Association, known as Post K, in the state, was instituted soon after the organization of U. C. T., and all are residents of Chillicothe. Fifty members are enrolled in the order. W. L. Tunnell is president and Chas. Gillidette, secretary. Every member of these two organizations are "boosters" for Chillicothe and the wonderful tales they relate between trains and in the lobbies of hotels about the future prospects of the city, would cause Kansas City to stand up and take notice.

The Loyal Order of Moose, No. 1267. - This order was instituted in Chillicothe, on the 14th day of February, 1913, with eighty-seven charter members, by State Organizer H. H. Stewart. The present officers of the order are: S. Carlton, past dictator; John Williams, dictator; Frank Brown, vice dictator; Clifif Carnes, prelate; J. M. Seiser, treasurer; Chas. G. Goodner, secretary. The order is increasing rapidly in membership and the officers anticipate three hundred active and honorary members before the close of 1913.

ized in 191 1 by the state regent, Mrs. Oliver, with a membership of thirteen, twelve being the required number to organize. The officers were: Mrs. M. P. Barney, regent; Mrs. B. V. Gill, vice regent; Mrs. Jos. Rensch, secretary; Mrs. Paul D. Kitt, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Ethel Welch, treasurer; Mrs. Seymour Wigely, registrar; Miss Anna Broaddus, historian. The chapter has doubled its membership since its organization, has offered prizes to the public schools for the best essays on patriotic subjects, contributed to the Ozark fund, had the name of "Cemetery Lane" changed to the name of "Edgewood Avenue" and hopes to have the avenue paved to Bryan street the present year, a project that has been in contemplation for the last two years. Eligibility to membership in the D. A. R. must be one who can trace direct descent from ancestor who had served in the war of the Revolution. Meetings are held the second Monday in each month, except July and August, at the residence of the members.

The Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce was organized two years ago at which time C. F. Adams was chosen president. The organization includes in its membership every "live wire" in the city and they are pulling together as one man for a greater Chillicothe. Already the work of the chamber has resulted in securing two or more factories, and they are now in correspondence with others seeking locations with a fair prospect of landing one or more soon. Their united efforts are also directed towards making Chillicothe a model city of beautiful homes. A helping hand is also extended all good roads movements and with the present officers and large membership, all of whom are "boosters" for a city of twenty thousand population in 19 15, there is assured a vast improvement along every line looking to a bigger and greater Chillicothe. The present officers are: W. H. Ellett, president; T. D. Jones, vice president; Lee Clark, vice president; Chas. E. McWilliams, secretary; Joseph Wallbrunn, treasurer. Directors: W. H. Ellett, Lee Clark, T. C. Beasley, J. H. Gier, W. A. Eylenburg, P. T. Abell, R. L. Isherwood, R. F. McNally, Wm. Scruby, B. J. Meek, Chris Boehner, J. H. Barclay, John Atwell, C. E. Murphy, O. P. Clark, Jos.

The Anti-Horse Thief Association, Chillicothe. - This order was originally organized on the 21st of October, 1886, with the following charter members: B. A. Cox, G. G. Brown, H. O. Meek, W. V. Platter, O. H. Gale, Jesse Wilson, Ben Craycroft, T. B. Anderson, I. T. Evans, T. A. Ryan, W. J. Miller, G. G. Henry, J. T. Johnston, D. R. Jones, M. C. Hill, T. J. Turner, P. E. Minor, C. A. Adams and J. D. Johnston. On the 26th of January, 1910, the order was reorganized and a new charter granted. The organization has the reputation of bringing many offenders of the law to justice.

Sorosis. - The club was organized in 1900 by the president, Mrs. Jonathan Hawley, who has served in that office each year. The study of art has predominated with the crafts and nature subjects interspersed. The first officers of the club were: Mrs. Jonathan Hawley, president; Mrs. Myron Coad, vice president; Mrs. Frank Davis, secretary; Mrs. W. H. Sipple, critic. The present officers are: Mrs. Jonathan Hawley, president; Mrs. H. D. McHolland, vice president; Miss Veral Reynolds, secretary; Miss Georgia Walsh, treasurer; Miss Helen Schmitz, critic. The club joined the State Federation of Clubs in 1904, and has always been active in city, district and state work.

The Chillicothe Culture Club, one of the oldest women's study clubs in Missouri, met first as a reading circle when the members took knitting and embroidery and busily worked while listening to the prepared programme. It was formally organized as the Chillicothe Chautauqua Circle in 1890. Eight years later it changed its name to the Chillicothe Culture Club and adopted an elective study course. It is one of the first clubs in the state to be federated, entering the State Federation in 1896 and the General Federation in 1904 The present officers are: president, Mrs. A. R. Coburn; first vice president, Mrs. J. F. Heger; second vice president, Mrs. J.

P. E. O. - The P. E. O. Sisterhood, the largest secret society for women not dependent on, or auxiliary to, one organized by men, was organized by seven college girls in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, January 20, 1869. These girls were anxious to have seven chapters, one chapter for each girl, but the P. E. O. has prospered until not seven but four hundred and fifty-seven chapters and more than ten thousand women wear the star. Chapter T, P. E. O., was organized in Chillicothe May 25, 1901, at the home of Mrs. Halsey I. Spence, by Mrs. Dora Hallock of Monroe City with eight charter members: Mesdames T. Milbank, Charles A. Loomis. T. C. Campbell, Mary Milbank Fulkerson, Decimund Minor Sulzbacher, S. R. Wales, Halsey I. Spence and Miss Minnie Nesmith, Mrs. John T. Milbank being president. The present officers are: Mrs. Don Palmer, president; Miss Alice Grace, vice president; Mrs. Hugh Mansur, recording secretary; Mrs. Will Keith, corresponding secretary; Miss Bebe Sheetz, treasurer; Miss Clara Elting, chaplain; Mrs. Ed Moss, guard; Mrs. A. R. Coburn, pianist; Mrs. John T. Milbank, critic. This