Forest Township

Forest Township

The Author is indebted to Geo. Weber, Esq., Post Master at Forest ( ity, for the following description of that enterprising town importance and population in the county :

In the year 1857 a company of enterprising gentlemen purchased a tract of land on the west boundary of Holt County, adjoining the Missouri river, for the purpose of laying out a town site. Eoads were already in existence leading from the point selected in all directions and to every important settlement in the county. These roads in connection with the Missouri river which here aftbrded agood landing, lead the company to expect that their town once started would soon control a large portion of the produce trade of the county. With this view the tract of land was surveyed and the first lot sale took place on the 15th day of May, 1857. Forest City was in existence - stores and dwellings sprung up rapidly, and the expectations of the company were more than realized. Forest City became at once the mart for the principal part of the produce of the county. Hundreds of waggons brought in the hemp and corn raised in every neighborhood, and no obstacle seemed likely to prevent Forest City from becoming one of the leading trading points in North West Missouri. The rebellion broke out ; it had here as everywhere else where it was a reality, a blighting effect ; it had this effect on Forest City. Two fifths of the original inhabitants of Holt county were in sympathy with the rebellion, the most of these left the county (luring that period but few of whom have ever returned ; Tvhilst the majority of the able bodied Union men were enlisted in the Union armies. Agriculture was neglected - trade was nominal ; and as the county did not improve, certainly the towns could not prosper. But the war ended, trade slowly revived and Forest City began to resume her old place in the trade. Now the railroad from St. Joseph to Council Bluffs is completed running through Forest City, and has opened for us and brought us in connection with two of the best markets in the United States, during every season of the year : further, it has opened for us the Great West.

Hemp has been exchanged for grain, pork and cattle, and where in former years one firm doing business here bought and sold two hundred tons of hemp in one year, now, during the past year one hundred and fifty thousand bushels of grain and over five thousand hogs have been shipped North, South and West from this point.

Forest City contains at present between six and seven hundred inhabitants. Amongst its prominent public buildings may be enumerate 1 one Church - Baptist - one Public School House, ten Stores, one tine Steam Grist 31111, one Steam Saw Mill, two Hotels, two Blacksmith Shops, and some of the finest private residences in the County. Divine Services and Sabbath Schools every Sabbath, speak well for the morals ; and a fine Public Library, consisting of a choice selection of about two hundred volumes for the social cul ture ; while the Public Improvements made by the efficient City Government of the enterprise of the citizens of Forest City.

Mound City

This Village is located near the centre of the county and three and a half miles from the St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad. It is surrounded by an exceedingly fertile region of country which is well wntered and affords an abundant supply of timber at no great distance. The Village is situated at the foot of the Bluff, on one side is a cresent shaped bottom, on the other fine rolling Prairies. The road from White (loud, Kansas, to Marysville, the couur ty seat of Nodaway county passes through the Village.

Lands in the vicinity range in value from five to twenty-five, dollars for unimproved and from twelve to thirty dollars per acre for improved.

Mound City has a population of about 150. It contains two general Stores, one Cabinet Shop, three Blacksmith Shops, one Milliner, three Doctors, one Lawj-er, one Hotel and one School House. The Methodists, Reformers, and Baptists have each a' Church oi*- ganization. A Flouring and Saw Mill, and Carding Machine are in contemplation. It is also in contemplation to erect a good High School Building, and two Church edifices immediatel}'.

Mound Cit}' needs a good Harness and Saddle maker; also a Shoe maker. Lots range in value from ten to twent3'-five dollars. The location is considered healthy, and the character ofthe present population is unexceptionable. Information in regard to lands in that vicinity ma}^ be obtained by addressing D. P. Ballard, Ksq., who will, I have no doubt, cheerfully impart any desired information.

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; 6,677 words in this source stream.

Forest Township

There is no area of corresponding size anywhere in the world that can boast of greater fertility than that along the Missouri River, when the waters of that stream will leave the land to the agriculturists. The development in this particular, during the last few years, has been wonderful; where, comparatively a short time ago, blue stem grass and willows covered the ground, there may now be seen rich growing fields of corn and alfalfa. The owners have not only improved their ground from the tillable standpoint, but have also established handsome homes, serviceable barns and outbuildings, and have adopted many other improvements which makes living on the farm a pleasure.

Much of the history of Forest Township, which has to do with the early settlers, is so intermingled with Lewis Township, that reference may properly be made here to that political subdivision. Many of the early settlers in the county were very near the line that separates these two townships.

The only town in Forest Township is Forest City, which for many years has been one of the most important shipping points on the main line of the C. B. & Q. Railroad between St. Joseph and Omaha. It is connected with Oregon, the countyseat by interurban road, a complete history of which will be found in the chapter devoted to railroads. For many years, practically all the merchandise sold in the southern part of the county, was distributed from Forest City. Before the railroad was built, the town was an important point for Missouri River steamboats.

The Little Tarkio originally entered Forest Township in section 4, and running in a southeasterly direction, through what was known in the original United States surveys, as Impassable Lake, and subsequently Tarkio Lake, an extensive swamp lying to the northwest of Forest City, entered the former bed of the Missouri River, just above that town, and flowed through that channel, debouched into the bed of the river about two miles below the town of Forbes. Some years later by the shifting of the channel of the Missouri River the mouth of the Little Tarkio was moved to a point about a mile north of Forest City. This lake or swamp, according to a survey made in May, 1874, by Stephen C. Collins, who, for twenty years in the early history of the county, was its surveyor, and who was known for the unwavering accuracy of his work, contained three thousand one hundred and thirteen acres and a fraction. Thomas W. Collins, an attorney in St. Joseph, was employed to secure to the County of Holt a grant of this land, which he effected through the agency of the Hon. I. C. Parker, at that time representative in Congress from this district, and later United States District

Judge in Arkansas. The patent, granting this swamp, was presented by said T. W. Collins to the county court and filed in the clerk's office of that body on the 20th day of July, 1874. In obedience to petition the county court made an appropriation for draining this marsh, and a contract was made in September, 1874, to W. S. Cannon and H. Robinson, for cutting a ditch to serve that purpose. The drainage, however, was said to be imperfect, and the locality in consequence, unhealthful, and otherwise undesirable. The water of the Little Tarkio, where the same enters the Missouri River at the point above mentioned, contributes to form what was formerly designated as Solomon's Island.

The latter stream, at one period, flowed in a southeasterly direction below its present mouth, through the southern parts of Lewis and Forbes Townships, entering the Missouri River near the southeastern corner of the county.

The first settler on the shore of Impassable Lake was Isaac Fillmore, a cousin of President Millard Fillmore. He came from New York in 1841, and settled on the east side of the lake. The Widow May, George Wood, and others were living on its south side in the fall of 1842. Samuel, Amos and Moses Wilds settled west of the lake in the winter of 1842. These people are long since gone.

Kimsey Creek enters Forest Township in fractional section 4, township 60, range 38, and flowing in a southwesterly direction, enters the Little Tarkio about a mile and a half above Forest City.

Since the first settlement of the county, in 1838, various changes have occurred in the contour of the territory included in what is now Forest Township. These changes, confined to the western and southern boundaries, have been the result of the ever shifting course of the Missouri River, which is rarely known to flow for any extended period of time in the same channel.

Immediately following the great overflow of 1844, began to appear the growth of cottonwood, which, with a later intermingling of other timber, now, to a considerable extent, where the same has not been cleared, overspreads these bottoms, which were formerly prairie, and which may be said to be fathomless in the depths of their exhaustless fertility.

William Banks

Among the pioneers of Holt County was William Banks, who resided until his death a few years ago on a fine farm in Forest Township about a mile and a half south of Forest City. Mr. Banks was the owner of several valuable farms in the county.

He was born in the Isle of Man, October 21, 1811. When a boy of fifteen years of age he left his native home, went to Liverpool and shipped as a three-year apprentice on a westward bound vessel. His compensation was seven pounds sterling, per annum (less than $34) and out of this he was required to clothe himself. He made a seven months' voyage to Mobile and back to Liverpool, when he deserted. He subsequently shipped on board a vessel bound for St. Andrews, and thence went to Baltimore.

After various fortunes he found himself, in 1830, in New Orleans, and hired as a deckhand on a steamboat. In this capacity he reached St. Louis, Missouri, about the close of the year 1831. In the spring of 1832 he shipped as a deckhand on the steamboat Yellowstone, commanded by Captain Bennett. This boat was in the service of the American Fur Company, and was the first steamer to ascend the Missouri River as far as the mountains. He relates that, on this trip, he cut ash wood for the boat on a piece of land three and a half miles below the site of the present town of Forest City, on which he afterwards entered. He claimed to be, next to Lewis and Clark, who came up the river in 1803, the first white man who ever trod the soil of what is now Holt County. He remained three years in the service of the American Fur Company.

When he first shipped as a deckhand his compensation was fifteen dollars a month. In the service of this company he soon rose to be mate of the steamboat Howard, with a salary of one hundred dollars per month. He had continued uninterruptedly to follow the river from New Orleans to the mouth of the Yellowstone for a number of years, and in his day enjoyed the reputation of knowing the Missouri better than any man who at that time followed it.

Determining, at length, to embark in a less laborious calling than the business of steamboating, in which he had been so long engaged, he concluded to try merchandising. Accordingly, in partnership with John C. McIntosh, clerk of the Thames, he chartered that steamboat, loaded her with cypress shingles, and other material for erecting a house, and a seven thousand dollar stock of merchandise. With this cargo he landed, on the 9th day of August, 1841, on the spot below Forest City, above referred to as having so forcibly attracted his attention on his first trip up the then almost unknown stream.

This was on a quarter section of land, on which a mulatto, by the name of Jeffrey Dorway, had squatted. From this squatter he purchased his pre-emeption, paying him therefor the sum of six hundred dollars, one-half in merchandise and the other half in cash. Mr. Banks, in mentioning this Jeffrey Dorway, speaks of him as a person of unusual intelligence for his class, as well as a man of incorruptible integrity. He spoke fluently English, French, and five Indian languages, and was interpreter between the whites and Indians. He had been at one time a slave of Joseph Robidoux, the founder of St. Joseph, but was at the period of his settling, in what was afterwards Holt County, a free man. It appears that "Dorway" was a corruption of his original name, Dorine. The spot where Banks settled was called, from this man, Jeffrey's Point. It was a projection included in southwest quarter section 15, township 59, range 38.

Banks and McIntosh, on taking possession of the claim, named the spot Iowa Point. Here they proceeded, immediately after landing, to erect their store house. It was a building of hewed logs, thirty-six by twenty feet in dimensions, and one and a half stories high. This they stocked with the goods which they had brought with them and commenced business. Theirs was the second mercantile enterprise started in the county. At the end of fourteen or fifteen months the venture proved a failure, and Mr. Banks was a heavy loser by the result.

In the summer of 1844 he started, at Iowa Point, Missouri, where his old store and warehouse stood, a flat boat ferry across the Missouri River. Except the people at the Indian Agency and the Mission there were, at that time, no white people residing west of the Missouri River, and this was the only ferry on its waters above Robidoux Landing. His enterprise was regarded as a wild experiment, but it was ultimately crowned with success. In the summer of 1844, just as he had completed his boat, a command of three hundred United States cavalry appeared on the river bank. For transporting these across, which undertaking he effected in the course of half a day, he was paid the sum of fifty dollars. This was the first money received by him for ferriage, and with it he entered forty acres of land.

Iowa Point was for many succeeding years a noted crossing on the Missouri River, and William Banks long enjoyed the reputation of being the most expert ferryman on its waters. During the great California emigration Banks' Ferry, though propelled by hand power, did an immense business, frequently paying in a single day over one hundred and forty-four dollars clear of all expenses. Banks continued to operate the ferry till 1856, when he sold it. He also, for many years, cut and supplied wood to the boats passing up and down the river. The original quarter on which he settled in 1841, when he first purchased the preemption of Jeffrey Dorway, he entered in 1844. Nearly, if not all, the original tract has long since been engulfed in the encroachments of the Missouri, and with it, of course the original Iowa Point.

By permission of William Banks, the point in Kansas opposite the original Iowa Point, Missouri, was so named by John Pemberton and Harvey Foreman.

Mr. Banks' landed possessions in Holt County at one time extended from a point below the present site of Forest City, two and a half miles along the bank of the Missouri River, and included a tract of eight hundred and forty acres.

On the tract which Banks finally selected for his home, about a mile and a half southeast of Forest City, and about the same distance southwest of Oregon, is a remarkable fountain, known as Banks' Spring. The water here gushes from the base of the rocky bluff in a stream of considerable volume and remarkable purity, flowing in a westerly direction. This stream for many years supplied a tank of the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad, which runs diagonally through the southwest corner of his quarter section, number 4, of township 59, range 38, Forest Township, about a quarter of a mile from the residence and the source of the spring. This residence is strikingly peculiar. It is a small, two story structure, and would be scarcely worthy of mention, but from the enormous thickness of its walls, which are of limestone, two feet through. Mr. Banks was the owner of several hundred acres of valuable farming land in the bottom and uplands. He was never married.

Manx Men

Mr. Banks was not the only Manx Man in the county. In the spring of 1847, Thomas Cottier arrived from the Isle of Man, and settled in Forest Township, on the southeast quarter of section 9, township 60, range 38, on the waters of Kimsey Creek. This is now one of the best farms in the county. He planted an apple orchard, of twelve acres (six hundred trees), besides a peach orchard of as many trees ; also pear trees and a vineyard. Through the influence of Mr. Cottier, more than five hundred people have been induced to leave the Isle of Man and settle in Holt County, besides those who, on arriving in the United States, selected Kansas for their new homes.

Camp Meetings

In the early days of the county's history, when the population was scattered and neighborhoods were widely separated, camp meetings were a recognized necessity. One of the earliest, if not the first, was held by the Methodists, in the summer of 1844, up a hollow leading from the old mill in the north part of Forest City. Its site was a farm at that time, owned by Thomas Edwards, later the property of Mr. Smith. The attendance at this meeting, though small compared with the gatherings of the present time, included, for those days, a very large attendance.

Forest City

An important commercial town of the county, and, as late as the summer of 1868, a well-known shipping point on the Missouri River, was laid out by a company composed of Tootle & Fairleigh, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Zook & Patterson, and Nave & Turner, the two latter firms from Oregon, Missouri.

The land on which this town was laid out, a tract of 520 acres, was purchased by the company of the original proprietor, Joel Baldwin, for about ten thousand dollars. It is now in Forest Township, twenty-eight miles north by west of St. Joseph, on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and occupies a surface 877 feet above the sea level. The first sale of lots occurred May 15, 1857, and the place, forthwith, began to be settled and improved rapidly. The first store building in the place was put up by Tootle, Fairleigh & Co. It was a large two story frame building, on the northwest corner of Commercial and Holt streets, fronting on the latter, and later occupied by Joseph Groves, dealer in general merchandise. It is now occupied by the Forest City News. It was built in the summer of 1857. In the same year, Nave, Turner & Co., put up the store building afterward occupied by J. M. Ford & Smith. Others followed in rapid succession, and the town was built up. The first building in the town, a two-story business house was commenced in 1857, and completed in the following year, by Zook & Baldwin, and occupied by them as a drug store, the first established in the place. The senior member of this firm, Daniel Zook, was a prominent lawyer of the county, and until his death a few years ago was a resident of Oregon. The building is now, and has been since 1872, occupied by the drug store of John France & Company.

The first hotel in Forest City was kept in a two story frame house near the northern extremity of Commercial street. It was built by the town company in 1859, and was opened by George W. Glasgow, who continued to keep it about one year, at the end of which period he was succeeded by L. B. Green, who purchased the property of the town company.

The first blacksmith established in Forest City was John W. Moody, formerly of Independence, Missouri. He removed from Oregon, Missouri, to Forbes City, where he opened his shop in the summer of 1857.

The first postmaster in the town was Daniel Zook, appointed in 1857. He was succeeded by Alvin Conklin, who, in 1860, was succeeded by George Weber. The fourth in succession was Hon. H. K. S. Robinson. He became postmaster on the resignation of George Weber, in 1877. Miss Mary M. Canon was appointed to succeed the former in 1881, at which time Messrs. Weber and Robinson accepted positions in the Frazer & McDonald Bank.

Miss Canon was succeeded by the following named gentlemen: William S. Canon, 1885; George Baldwin, 1889; John France, 1893; H. L. Everson, 1897; Neville Dickson, 1901; Thomas Meyer, 1908; Nelson R. Cook, 1913.

The first school taught in Forest City, was during the winter of 1857-58, in a small frame building. The first teacher of this school was James Walden, from Kentucky. He was succeeded, in 1858, by Miss Mary Hart. This was a private enterprise. About ten years after, a brick public school building was erected on the summit of the abrupt hill-range, which divides the business from the residence portion of the town. This was a house fifty by twenty feet in area, with a hall through the center. The cost of the building was about two thousand dollars. The first who taught in this school was Prof. Thornton, assisted by Miss Mary Canon. The building was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1874-75. The location of this house was not a little remarkable, and about the only claim to be advanced in favor of the site was the fact that, in the summer season, when schools were not generally in session, it was, from its extraordinary elevation (about one hundred and fifty feet above the level of Commercial street, an airy situation, and one that commanded an extensive perceptive of the surrounding country. The ascent from the level of the town to the summit of the elevation on which this house was perched, is exceedingly abrupt and, in some conditions of weather, must have been impossible from more than one way of approach.

The present graded school of Forest City was commenced in July, 1875, and completed in October of the same year. It is a two-story brick building, containing at the time of its erection four rooms, two of which were on the first, and the others on the second floor. The building was remodeled in 1912 by the addition of two large rooms, a basement and other improvements. The building stands on Grand avenue, in the eastern part of the town. Its cost has been about $10,000.

The first session of the public school in this building opened in November, 1875. Prof. Samuel Ruley was principal, assisted by Miss Helen Lehmer, now Mrs. Emil Weber. The school opened in the fall of 1876, with the same teachers. In the fall of 1877, Lee Helsley became principal, assisted by Miss Helen Lehmer and Mrs. E. F. Welch.

The colored school is taught in a frame building at the north end of Commercial street. This first opened January 4, 1878, with William Barnes as teacher. He also taught the session which opened September, 1878. October, 1879, the school opened in charge of Miss Lizzie Patterson. September, 1880,

Early Business

As early as 1857, Nave, Turner & Co., started a grocery jobbing house in the store room later occupied by Ford & Smith, on Commercial street. This they continued till about 1859. In those days whisky was abundant, cheap and readily obtainable anywhere, and it was not till 1858 that James S. Simpson opened the first saloon in Forest City. Whisky in those days sold at from eighteen to twenty-five cents per gallon.

Forest City, from the period of its foundation, till the summer of 1868, when the Missouri River suddenly turned westward and left the town two and a half miles inland, was a place of no inconsiderable importance as a shipping point, and it early became the port from which a vast amount of produce of all kinds was shipped by water. The great staple in those days was hemp, and as many as thirteen steamboats have been tied up at one time, at the wharf, awaiting freight. By the caving of the river banks, before that uncertain stream left the town, a considerable portion of Forest City, amounting, probably, to one-third its original area, which was spread over the bottom, had disappeared.

In the summer of 1868 the last boat landed at Forest City, and was moored to the rails of the then Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad track, which, on the 10th day of August of that year, had been completed from St. Joseph at that point. This was the Carrie P. Kuntz. On this boat W. and J. W. Zook made their last shipment, by water, of a lot of corn from this point. This shipment amounted to three thousand and seven sacks of corn. By the following day the Missouri was flowing two and a half miles west of the town, and naught remained but the sluggish sediment of the forsaken river bed to tell of the late bustle and animation of thronging boats, which were to visit her port no more.

In its palmiest days the mercantile business of Forest City amounted to not less than $300,000 a year, to say nothing of the vast shipping interests of the place. The original heavy dealers of the town were Turner, Frazer & Co., and Tootle, Fairleigh & Co. In 1865, the heavy firms doing business there were Frazer & Brittain and W. & J. W. Zook. Dr. H. M. Wilson was the first physician to locate in the town. He came in 1857, as did also George Weber, the banker. Of those who came in the following year, were J. M. Ford, a merchant; M. T. Collins, carpenter; William Burgess, G. W. Hitt, an undertaker and builder. W. H. Williams came in the succeeding year.

ningham, started near the north end of the town a pottery, which they continued to operate for some time, but finally abandoned for more directly remunerative pursuits. Among the early business men of the town was Orville Graves, later of the firm of Graves & Weber, and in 1865, a member of the firm of Graves & Faucett.

One of the early enterprises of the town is the Forest City Brewery. This was first started in a small frame building, put up for the purpose in 1859 by a man by the name of C. Krauss. In the beginning of the following year Krauss & Engel erected the brick structure on stone foundation which now constitutes the brewery building. The parties pursued the business here four or five years. Capt. Albert Roecker, a prominent citizen of the county, and later engaged in the banking business in Oregon, was at one time identified with the interests of this brewery. Jacob Schweinfurth purchased it of William Zook, of St. Joseph, into whose hands it had subsequently fallen, and in January, 1881, commenced the manufacture of beer. The original cost of the building was about $15,000. It was sold to Jacob Schweinfurth for $2,500 and the manufacture of beer was discontinued.

The first mill in the town was established by Gabriel and George Mauck in 1867. It was located in the northern part of the city on block 88. This mall was destroyed by fire November 8, 1884, the loss being about $15,000. W. S. Canon owned the mill at the time of its destruction.

The mill now standing in the southern part of the city was established by John A. Richardson, L. M. Kaull and O. C. Plummer. They conducted it for several years when Mr. Kaull retired and a number of prominent grangers became interested. In 1881 it passed into the hands of a company composed of J. P. Adams, William Kaucher, J. H. C. Curtis and others. It finally went to sale under an execution and S. T. Lucas and Levi Oren became the owners. These gentlemen conducted the business for several years when they moved the machinery to Mound City. What remained of the plant stood idle for several years and in July, 1893, a company with $10,000 capital was organized and purchased the buildings and grounds. New machinery was installed. John Morris was general manager.

The mill did well for a time, but eventually the milling trust got in its work and this enterprise, like nearly all others of the kind in small towns, was forced to quit. But it did not remain idle long. The interests of John Morris and his associates were purchased by the Forest City Milling and Elevator Company, of which A. H. Bailey is president; W. E. Richardson, vice-president; G. L. Penny, secretary and treasurer and H. L. Everson, manager. This company does a general elevator business and

The Forest City Canning Company was organized in 1898 and began operations in August of that year. The plant was built by Allen Brothers, wholesale grocers of Omaha, at a cost of $7,000. The citizens of Forest City subscribed $2,500 toward the enterprise. Mr. Allen died in 1915 and the same year the plant was purchased by John Speer and L. P. Watson who had been manager for Mr. Allen. The plant is still in operation (1916).

Forest City's first telephone exchange was a rather unpretentious affair. In fact it hardly could be considered an exchange at all as that word is understood nowadays. It was a private line between Oregon and Forest City and was built in 1890. John France, Jr., was the owner, manager, board of directors and all at Forest City and Wilbur Thorpe filled a corresponding position in Oregon. It served the admirable purpose of a means of communication between the two towns until the Oregon & Forest City Telephone Company, of which D. M. Martin of Oregon, was president and M. R. Martin superintendent, purchased the line. The history of this enterprise will be found under the head of Oregon in the chapter on Lewis Township.

The electric lights and water service are furnished by the Oregon municipal plant, which has its power station here. The towns are located in close proximity and it makes easy the arrangement which they have perfected for dividing the expense of such utilities, thus making the burden easier for each.

W. E. Bennett started an excelsior plant in Forest City in 1892 which for a time was one of the important industries of the town. He sold the plant in 1897 to W. E. Richardson and W. M, Hitt. For several years a large number of men were given employment converting the virgin cottonwood logs into excelsior. There was always a good demand for the product of this factory, but eventually the supply of cottonwood timber became too scarce to make the operation of the plant practicable. About 1902 it was converted into an ice manufacturing plant and is still operated as such. It was sold in 1915 to J. E. McCoy.

Among the important business enterprises of Forest City should be mentioned the Farmers' Elevator Company, which was organized in September, 1915, and began business in December the same year. It has a capital stock of $6,000, divided among thirty-seven stockholders. The company deals in wheat, oats, flour and coal. The officers are Philip Schlotzhauer, president; Jacob E. Raiser, vice-president; Omar A. Williams, secretary; Henry E. Combs, manager.

The first venture of this kind was the Forest City Monitor, which was started by Van Natta & Colvin in 1858. In 1859 the name was changed to the Courier and A. R. Conklin took charge. It lived but a short time. Daniel Zook came next with the Sentinel, which he launched in 1863. After a few issues he graduated from country journalism into more lucrative fields. The same year, however, S. M. C. Reynolds and D. O. Wasson began issuing the Missouri Express. The firm seems to have dissolved in 1868, for the records show M. *C. Reynolds as the publisher of the Express in that year. The Holt County Journal, published by T. H. & R. A. Frame, made its appearance in February, 1869, and survived for two and a half months. The Independent was established in the winter of 1869, by Bowman Brothers; they sold in 1870 to D. P. Ballard who kept the paper alive but a few weeks. The plant was removed to Rockport. John M. Hasness, afterwards active in the newspaper business in Holt County, being one of the purchasers. The Sun was founded by H. H. Hoskins in 1889 who stayed until August, 1892, when he removed the plant to Oregon. The Independent was established the same year by a Mr. Briggs. It passed into the hands of a Mr. Munson and then into the control of Edward S. Hayes, who in the fall of 1894 moved the plant to Oregon and consolidated with the Democrat then being published there by J. S. Rigdon. Clara B. Dobyns established the Record on January 30, 1897. It continued for about one year. In May, 1899, the Journal was entered in the newspaper field by A. J. and F. Ulsh, who weathered the journalistic storms until June, 1900. The Messenger of Love, a religious paper, was published by W. P. Haynes and G. P. Keeling from the Journal plant.

Early in 1901 H. Boyd & Company brought forth the New Century which lasted but a short time. The first issue of the Star, by J. W. and J. O. Morris, came from the press October 11, 1901. This paper ceased publication in April, 1903. It was bought by O. R. King in June of that year. King continued on the job until January, 1904, when he sold to Fred R. Barkhurst, now managing editor of the St. Joseph Gazette. Barkhurst changed the name to the Press. He continued the publication until November 9, 1906, when the paper suspended and the material was sold to Tice Speer, who moved it to Watson. The News was established by Henry Williams June 14, 1907, and suspended October 31, the same year. It was revived by a Mr. Deckers in December following. O. M. Gilmer bought the paper August 13, 1909, and sold it to Fred Beavers September 1, 1910. The News is still being published by Mr. Beavers (1916).

The first sale of town lots in Forest City was held May 15, 1857, and the town began to fill up rapidly with a thrifty class of citizens. The town was incorporated by a special act of the legislature passed March 12, 1861, and George Weber was chosen the first mayor. It became a city of the fourth class March 30, 1888.

The original town plat was filed May 16, 1857 ; the second plat was filed June 2, 1858; the third plat September 30, 1868. Baldwin's addition was platted August 3, 1860.

The following named have served in the office of Mayor of Forest City, since its incorporation, the dates given being years in which they were elected :

Secret Societies

The Forest City Masonic Lodge was the first secret society organized in the town. It came into existence under a special dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri and was set to work July 8, 1860. Under this dispensation Milton S. Moodie was W. M.; Levi Zook, S. W.; and Hiram Patterson, J. W. The lodge continued under dispensation until June 17, 1861, when they assembled under charter. On June 24, 1861, occurred the first election of officers.

The first Odd Fellows Lodge in Forest City was organized June 19, 1899. The officers elected were: A. J. Ulsh, N. G. ; E. M. Austin, V. G. ; C. G. Landon, secretary ; L. R. Watson, treasurer. In November the following year the lodge occupied its new quarters over the city hall. January 14, 1901, the Rebekkahs perfected an organization with Mrs. Vine Hovey, Noble Grand. An Encampment was organized November 26, 1902, and the ninety-first anniversary of the order was celebrated.

The Bank of Forest City was first organized as a private bank in 1873 and was known as the Frazer & McDonald Bank, the partners being B. B. Frazer and Dr. D. McDonald. In July, 1878, it was incorporated with a capital stock of $20,000. George Weber, one of the prominent and respected citizens of Forest City, was president of the bank from 1881 to 1894. He was succeeded by E. M. Austin who served until the reorganization in 1898. H. K. S. Robinson, who figured prominently in the early history of the town, was also cashier or teller for a number of years. He was succeeded by W. M. Hitt, who held the office until 1898. The bank's present home was built in 1874. In 1898 it went into voluntary liquidation because of the expiration of its charter. It was at once re-incorporated for fifty years with a capital of $25,000. Thomas Cottier was elected president, but died in a short time and the vacancy was filled by the election of John France, Sr. He served until 1902 when he was followed by Emil Weber. Mr. Weber resigned in 1916 and was succeeded by W. E. Richardson. E. M. Austin assumed the duties of the office of cashier upon the reorganization in 1898 and served until 1902, when he was succeeded by B. G. Austin, who gave way to H. L. Everson in 1904. Mr. Everson was followed in 1913 by O. W. Mullen. Dr. F. E. Bullock served as vice-president from 1902 to 1907 when he was succeeded by W. E. Richardson, who became president in 1916 at which time Emil Weber became vice-president. In addition to its working capital this bank has a surplus and undivided profits account of $11,000.

The Home Bank of Forest City was incorporated in March, 1910, with a capital of $20,000. It opened for business in June following. The stockholders were: John France, Sr., president; Phillip Schlotzhauer, vice-president; W. N. Sawyer, cashier; W. J. Lunsford, John D. Glass and R. B. Bridgeman. John France, Sr., was succeeded as president by Philip Schlotzhauer in 1911. He still holds the office (1916). L. L. Teare took the place of vice-president made vacant by the promotion of Mr. Schlotzhauer. W. N. Sawyer, the first cashier, resigned in 1911, and the duties of the office were performed by Miss Mary Haley and Harry C. Teare, assistant cashiers. They were succeeded in 1913 by Neville Dickson, who gave way the following year to Russell H. Sheffield, who is now cashier (1916). Bertram S.

The Depot

The old depot was one of the landmarks in Forest City and Vine Hovey became famous all over the Burlington system for the long terms of years he served as agent. After doing duty as a business house for a great railroad corporation for thirtynine years, the depot was moved and rebuilt - being placed about fifty feet east of its original location. There have been but six agents in charge of the Forest City Station : Frank Briggs, June to October, 1868; Charles Sloane, to December, 1870; R. N. Howell to September, 1879; Vine Hovey to October, 1905 ; R. C. Fredericks to November 1, 1907, when j. L. Birmingham, the present agent, took charge (1916).

Park

Through the generosity of George Weber, for many years one of the leading business men of the town, Forest City enjoys the pleasures of a beautiful park, situated immediately west of the railroad depot. It is about five acres in extent and was donated to the community in 1912. The tract has been immensely improved by grading and sodding and the erection of suitable buildings, fences and walks. A small cannon of the type used in the Civil war is one of the objects of interest.

The first church built in Forest City was erected by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. It is a brick structure on Grand avenue, thirty-four by fifty-one feet. It was built in 1860, chiefly by means of the material aid and through the exertions of Hiram Patterson and L. Zook, then selling goods in the town. These gentlemen contributed $500 toward the enterprise. Joshua T. Sedwick was also a liberal contributor, and superintended the erection of the building, which cost about $4,000. In 1860, the M. E. Church, South, sold this building to the Missionary Baptists.

The first to preach the gospel in Forest City was the Rev. Benjamin Baxter, of the M. E. Church, South, and an active organizer of the same in the town. This was several years before the erection of their house of worship. The records of this church are incomplete and unsatisfactory, and it is impossible to provide anything like a complete history of the organization. In 1869, less than three years after the sale of their church to the Baptists, the M. E. Church, South, erected another building. This was a gothic frame, on Walnut street. H. Patterson, of St. Joseph, and J. T. Sedwick, of Craig, in Holt County, were espe- cially active in the building of the church, and succeeded in raising in a few days, the necessary funds (about $2,200) for its erection. Among the other organizers of this church were Hiram Wiggins, L. B. Green, H. Patterson, and their wives.

The first minister of this church was the Rev. G. W. Huntley. He was succeeded April, 1870, by Rev. R. M. Rhodes. In 1874, Rev. E. S. Irely was pastor. Rev. S. J. Cook succeeded to the ministry of this church in 1877, and served till 1879.

The Christians began in 1875, the erection of a frame church near the eastern extremity of Grand avenue. It was not entirely completed till the winter of 1881-82. Its cost was about $1,500. Elder T. J. Williamson was pastor.

The third ecclesiastical edifice built in Forest City was the Roman Catholic Church, near the northern extremity of Commercial street. Its erection was superintended by the Rev. Father Welch, of St. Joseph, in 1869. It was a frame building, completed at a cost of $1,500. The dedication sermon was preached to a large congregation by the Right Rev. Bishop Hogan of St. Joseph.

The old School Presbyterians have an organization in Forest City. They are without a church edifice of their own ,but occupy the M. E. Church, South.

Indian Burial Ground

On the summit of the abrupt elevation of about one hundred and fifty feet, which divides the town of Forest City, were some years ago found, but a short distance below the surface, numerous human bones, and in some instances, complete skeletons, supposed to be the remains of Indians, whose bodies were buried there at a period long anterior to the arrival of the whites in the country. Some of these relics are in the possession of Dr. H. M. Wilson.

Shipping Interests

Forest City, in the days of its early and vigorous prosperity, was as before intimated, a noted shipping point by steamboat on the Missouri River, which left it shortly after the completion of the Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs Railroad to that town. Though its shipments by rail amount, in the course of the year to no trifling figure, they are inconsiderable compared with the amount of produce hauled by wagon, every year, through its streets, northward, southward and westward. In the matter of apples alone, of which Holt County has an immense acreage, as many as one hundred and sixty wagon loads have crossed the White Cloud ferry to Kansas, in a single day. In the fall of 1880 John Lyons, the ferryman at this point, took in over four thousand dollars for