Lexington Township (part 3 of 3)

Source changes here: from Young's History of Lafayette County, Missouri, by Young, William, published 1910; 5,756 words in this source stream.

Lexington Township

Away back in the days when Lafayette county was yet called "Lillard county," and bearing date of August 6, 1822, the name of Lexington as applied to the county seat of this county appears of record. This record refers to certain road commissioners appointed "to lay out a road from Lexington by way of the upper ford of the Big Sniabar creek to Stokely's Ferry, on the Missouri river." The next place it is mentioned is in the record speaking of John Nelson, Markham Fristoe, Ira Bidwell and Jacob Catron, who "shall lay out a road from Lexington to intersect the road leading from the Salt works to Jack's Ferry." This ferry had been established by William Jack, in 1819, its landing place being a short distance below the mouth of Graham's branch, or near the foot of what later was made Commerce street, which part of the bluff was paved and graded down to the boat landing of that date. But the river had changed so greatly in its channel by 1880 that it was fully a half mile north from this point and solid land intervened, as it does today. The Missouri Pacific railroad now runs for more than a half mile where then flowed twenty feet of water.

The legal beginning of Lexington, as a platted village, referring to "Old Town," and which was located about a mile and a half from the river at Jack's Ferry, is described in the first pages of the first plat book of Lillard county as follows : "State of Missouri, County of Lillard, ss :

"We, James Bounds, Sr., John Duston and James Lillard, commissioners in trust for Lillard county, do certify this to be a correct map and plan of the town of Lexington, as surveyed and numbered and sold according to the numbers, and sold on the 8th day of April, 1822.

Mt. Vernon, the original county seat, was situated on the southeast quarter of section 23, township 51, range 26, on the bluff half a mile east of the Tabo creek and about three-fourths of a mile from the Missouri river, at a point (probably) where had once stood Fort Orleans, an old French trading post, from which point ran the trail on west into what is now Kansas, and which at the date it was made the seat of justice for Lillard county was but a small collection of rude cabins. This place was where the four Indian tribes and French traders were wont to meet and smoke the pipe of peace. In the French it was "Terre Bonne," good land, or good place. The Americans named it Mt. Vernon, after the home of the illustrious president, George Washington. This place, however, was never platted. Within one month after the county seat commissioners had been appointed they had selected and platted the new county seat and sold many of the lots. The last term of court was held in Mt. Vernon in November, 1822; the first held in Lexington was in February, 1823, in Doctor Buck's house, which was the first structure erected in Lexington ("Old Town," as now styled).

As a large proportion of the early pioneers had emigrated from Kentucky, the new town was named in honor of the city of that name in Kentucky. Hence it will be observed that the city of Lexington dates back eighty-eight years, and while there is much to be written of it, yet the unwritten history - that forever lost - would fill volumes of interesting matter, had the true record of transpiring events been carefully kept by the generations of busy builders in the thirties, forties and fifties. Much concerning the first decades of the history of this city will be found in the various chapters on county organization and county government.

What was styled "Wetmore's Gazetteer of Missouri" (by Harper Brothers, New York), published in 1837, says that Lexington was one of the towns from which outfits were made in merchandise, mules, oxen and wagons for the Santa Fe or New Mexico trade. The land office was also located at Lexington in those days and this brought many travelers and home-seekers here.

The Old Town, however, did not long hold sway, for it was found best to locate another platting to the west of the original town site. On June 5, 1849, tne county court ordered that the public square in Old Lexington, together with the county buildings, be sold at auction the following August. In 1847 tne present court house was erected in part. A city charter was granted to Lexington in 1845 and a State Bank (branch) was established here. The first addition to the town of Lexington was laid off by General

Graham and George Houx, who measured the lots with a level made of a plank with a small vial on the end. Heavy timber was then standing where Lexington now stands, and it was believed that as Wellington was immediately on the river front and had already gained some prominence as a good landing for boats, that unless something was speedily done it was destined to outstrip Lexington. Hence this addition and a subsequent one were platted.

Prior to the Civil war Lexington enjoyed a very extensive trade. It was the outfitting point for western trains and there were no railroads within the county, hence the greater portion of the produce consumed in this section was sold or exchanged at this place. The river boats were very numerous and well-filled crafts of heavy merchandise, especially groceries, were billed to this point and from here distributed throughout the county. When the Civil war broke out Lexington was accounted one of the liveliest business centers in all western Missouri, but that great conflict gave it a setback which in some ways it has never fully recovered from, while in other ways it has steadily marched along with the proud strides of our latter-day civilization. It certainly has been long noted as a fine educational center, and is today one of the foremost in its public and semi-public schools. For a complete account of these schools and colleges the reader is referred to other chapters in this volume.

Municipal History Of Lexington

A charter was secured for a city government in Lexington in 1845, and Eldridge Burden was elected the first mayor. It operated under this special charter until 1902, when by a vote of the citizens it was made a city of the third class, and has so remained. The last mayor under the special city charter was O. Winkler, and the mayors under the present city system have been O. Winkler and the present incumbent, Thomas Walton.

The present city officials are: Thomas Walton, mayor; James N. Price, city marshal; John Hedge, police judge; Joseph Tribble, assessor; John M. Price, city attorney; Albert Fegert, clerk (his father, Jacob, served eight years before him and was stricken with blindness and his son was appointed, serving till the present date) ; Jacob Fegert, treasurer ; William C. Duncan, street commissioner; Joe A. Wilson, city engineer; Albert James, city collector. The present prison keeper is W. A. Gaffin and the chief of the fire department is N. Hammer.

The city councilmen are: First ward - Jerry Shinn and Lee Hopper; second ward - Henry Mountain and William F. Neet; third ward - William S. Marrs and French Slaughter; fourth ward - C. W. Hicklin and John M. Lierman.

The first town building, or city hall as it is sometimes called, was situated in Old Town on lands set apart for that purpose and can be used for no other purpose. The old building still stands, but is not in use by the city. The second building was near Young's livery barns on block No. 45, on Ninth street. The present beautiful city building, on the southwest corner of the public square, where once stood the old market house, was erected in 1905-06 at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars, including twenty thousand dollars of a bond issue running twenty years. It is a splendid municipal building, erected of brick and surmounted with an imposing dome covered with tile, and embellished with a series of dazzling electric lights, in three colors. Here are the city offices, the fire department, city scales and weighmaster's office, police department and council chamber.

Paving was first attempted on a modern scale in Lexington in 1902-03, and now there are two and one-fourth miles of brick and cement paving within the city limits. There is also three-quarters of a mile of rolled macadam and two miles of old macadamized streets, making a total of five miles of paving within the city limits.

Early Business Interests

Before the county seat had really been removed to its present location, Lexington had made some steps toward settlement. Two miles to the southwest the Baptist denomination had erected a log church. Solomon Cox soon built a mill, utilizing the water power derived from Tabo creek, and soon after Lexington was founded a man named Ray built a small horse mill in Lexington, west of the public square. Later he added to this a wool carding machine, but the entire mill was burned in 1833 or 1834 by a sweeping conflagration. About this time T. Waddell built a mill below the old Lexington ferry - then known as Jack's ferry. John D. Stothart opened the pioneer store in Lexington, selling his first merchandise soon after the first lots had been surveyed. Pioneer George Houx came to the county in the twenties and started what proved to be a successful saddlery business. In 1822 John Aull, a brother of Robert Aull and Mrs. E. M. Pomeroy, came in to help build up the new town. Jacob Nottingham, a blacksmith, was among the very earliest in the town ; also George Foster and Daniel McDowell. Mr. Aull was the earliest commission and trading merchant. He erected a large storehouse on the river front and carried on a very profitable business for many years. In 1830 came Gen. A. W. Doniphan, then but a young lawyer. Here he laid the foundation for his future career as an eminent jurist, statesman, soldier and most excellent type of manhood. After the Mexican war he moved to Ray county.

It may be stated that in 1830, or about that year, the following persons were transacting business in the embryo city : John Aull conducted the only well-stocked store; Ed. Ragland had the only other store, and was about closing up his business ; George Houx, saddlery ; Jacob Nottingham was the only "village smithy" ; John Gooch was a gunsmith, who was ever busy, for a gun was kept in every household ; General Graham followed the trade of a hatter, while the tavern was kept by Elisha Green, where entertainment was furnished "to man and beast."

The first steamboats to ascend the Missouri as far as Council Bluffs, Iowa, were three, which included the "Western Engineer," and they passed by Lexington, stopping for business purposes, in either 1820 or 1821. Prior to that time the river boats were of the simple keel-boat pattern and were propelled by men with long oars.

Later on, there were numerous warehouses erected along the river front, in which both hemp and tobacco products were kept in large quantities. Charles Bowring, of Wellington, now has in his possession the names of more than three hundred freight and passenger boats that stopped at that town, as well as at Lexington, in the palmy days of steamboating.

In 1848 Henry Smith commenced the operation of a flouring mill at Lexington, and the plant was still doing an excellent business in 1880, when it shipped its product mostly to St. Louis, where it brought fifty-eight thousand dollars, besides what was disposed of at Lexington.

H. and F. Winkler established their furniture factory at Elm and South streets in 1856. Up to 1870 they operated without much machinery, but then added modern machines. In 1880 they had invested twenty-four thousand dollars in their plant and large lumber yards connected with their factory enterprise. This plant is still in successful operation, now being long past its half century mark.

Lexington at that date : Marshall & Easter, flour and meal ; W. J. Kerdoff, same ; one woolen factory ; Excelsior Stove Factory, by Morrison ; Jordan's foundry; D. Russell & Company, carriages; J. Cloudsley & Company, same; Nicholson & Hall, wagons, plows, etc. ; McFadden, wheat fans ; J. S. Morton, earthenware; one soda factory; three lumber mills; one marble yard; three hemp hacklers ; three large brewing plants ; three brick yards ; ten boot and shoe makers ; four tin and copper workers ; six tailor shops ; one furniture factory; three cabinetmakers; good pottery and terra cotta Was being made by Morton & Taylor.

It may be stated, in passing, that Lexington has never boasted of her factories, but has a just pride in her educational institutions, and of later years her large bituminous coal mining interests. Her retail trade has always been excellent, and her stores and the class of business men will rank well with any within the state, considering the size of the city.

At an early day, and in fact up to within a few years, the city has enjoyed a good wholesale and jobbing trade in several lines. But as trade centers have changed, and Kansas City and other points have made such rapid strides, Lexington has become more of a home retail town than in earlier days.

Old Market Place

Up to about Civil war days, possibly a little later, where stands the beautiful city building, there was a large market house, where all manner of country produce was sold, bought and exchanged. What is now styled Franklin avenue was then known as Market street, and all along Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh streets were erected sheds and booths and rough buildings constituting the "market yards." There hundreds of teams were wont to congregate and sell their products. With the change of times and customs, this market was abandoned, whether wisely or not remains a debatable question, for farther to the east in this country the market place is still looked upon as the proper place in which farmer and town folk may trade, one with the other. However, it is supposed that the present-day grocer provides many of the conveniences which the old market place afforded. But could the old grounds where once stood the many stalls and market house, proper, but talk, what a tale they could unfold of a people long since gone from earth's shining circle.

"As the population increased the town gradually extended toward the river, and the one street leading to the boat landing was the Old Broadway, by the "Nickell Home" (hotel). That block soon became the business center of the town. On one side was the book and music house of John and William Pigott, the hardware store of the Reinhard brothers, and on the other the grocery stores of Kinney & Ogden, Chadwick and Henderson, and the only public assembly hall, the "Arcana," now occupied by the Eagles lodge. What is now the Elks hall was then the Farmers' Bank, established by Mr. Morehead. Along the bluff the people were beginning to build their homes, and on the river front warehouses were springing up. That of Oliver Anderson stood at the foot of Tenth street, and the McGrew Brothers' hemp factory at the foot of Broadway."

The present business interests of Lexington are confined to the retail stores, of which there are many first-class establishments in the various lines ; also such shops and smaller factories as wagon shops, brick yard plants, roller mills, brewery, marble works, furniture factory, etc. The coal mining interests near the place are large.

The educational institutions have called a high class of citizens to this point, and there are found hundreds of charming homes within the corporate limits of the city.

Fire Department

The Lexington fire company was formed January 25, 1844, before the town had been incorporated. B. H. Wilson was the first president. In September, 1850, a lot was bought from Henry Flynt for three hundred and fifteen dollars. This was on Laurel street, and there an engine house was built, and there the town offices were kept several years. When the war came on the company went down, but was reorganized at the close of the struggle, with Robert Hale as its first president. In 1872 attempts were made to sell the old hand engine and get a "steamer," but the scheme caused the company to get into a squabble and finally the company was disbanded again and the city had no department until many years later. In 1878 Miss Elizabeth Aull donated from her ample means one hundred dollars to this company. In 1880 the record shows that in the old town there was, on Clark street, an engine house containing an old-fashioned twelve-man-power engine and some other equipments. The building was erected in 1856 by the Sons of Temperance for their own use as a hall.

The present fire company was organized in 1903, and now consists of a central engine house, connected with the city building. One splendid team is kept, and the chief and his assistant are paid by the month, while the re- mainder of the company are simply volunteers made up from the citizens. The water works furnishes the supply of water needed and the cost to the taxpayers is now forty cents on every hundred dollars worth of property assessed. There are now sixty-five fire plugs used in the city and about fourteen hundred feet of good hose are kept intact, with other necessary equipments, such as hooks, ladders, etc. The cost for water is now one hundred and thirteen dollars and seventy-five cents each three months, which includes all the water the incorporation uses for various municipal purposes.

Lexington Postoffice History

Lexington is now a second-class postofnce station and shows a large volume of business. The greatest advancement made in this office and its management has been under the outgoing postmistress, Delia Crowder, and her father (now deceased), J. M. Crowder. Under them it has come to be a second-class office ; three rural delivery routes have been established and an appropriation had in Congress for the building of a new postoffice, which, with the grounds, will cost fifty-two thousand dollars. It is true that Frank Bowman, who served as postmaster under President Cleveland in 1894, as soon as he was legally at liberty to espouse the cause, commenced in his newspaper work to push out for many changes, which included some of the achievements of the office already named. It is to this able newspaper writer that we are indebted for a complete list of all postmasters serving in Lexington from the first establishment of the office in 1821. The subjoined is the result of his task:

Gas And Electric Lighting Plant

Lexington was first supplied with artificial illuminating gas by the Lexington Gaslight Company, incorporated in 1875, by Tilton Davis, J. S. Ambrose and Charles H. Boyle, with the former as president. The capital was fixed at fifty thousand dollars. The works are located on the corner of Pine and Shawnee streets. The works were constructed by Ambrose & Boyle in 1881; a new company bought and took charge of the plant, consisting of A. D. Cressler, president ; R. R. Dickey, secretary and treasurer and superintendent; E. H. Dickey, A. C. Cressler and J. Longdon. In 1882 the company had four miles of piping laid ; sixty-five street lamps and ninety private gas consumers. Five hands were then employed, and private customers paid four dollars per thousand feet. About 1903 this company was merged into the electric light company and the two are operated today under one management. The gas rate is now one dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand feet to private customers. The city is well lighted by both electric and gas lights. Lexington was first provided with the electric current for lighting purposes in 1894, when the electric light company was granted a franchise. It soon absorbed or merged with the gas company and now has two complete modern plants, they being owned by a private stock company.

It was in 1884 that Lexington city granted a franchise to a company organized that year to construct city waterworks. The first president of this corporation was J. C. McGrew, who was followed by William Morrison, and he in turn by W. G. McCausland. The present officers are: President, Gus Haerle; vice-president, L. C. Yates; secretary and treasurer, John Chamberlain. Mr. Yates has been superintendent for twenty years. The stand-pipe on the hill where was fought the famous Civil war battle of Lexington, is of a capacity of a third of a million gallons. The pumping station is near the Missouri river, from which the water supply is obtained. The company now has twelve miles of main piping in the city and about five miles outside the corporation. The capital stock of the water company is one hundred thousand dollars.

Drilling For Oil

A company was formed at Lexington in 1865 for the purpose of prospecting for petroleum oil, but the same did not materialize to any considerable extent. The capital stock was five hundred thousand dollars in shares of one hundred dollars each. The test was made on the McCausland farm, ten miles southeast of Lexington. E. Winsor, of Lexington, was the manager. Oil was found at the depth of several hundred feet, but not in paying quantities. This experimental well for oil was sunk in the vicinity of the present-day Confederate Soldiers' Home, near Higginsville.

Old Horse Street Car Line

On April 21, 1884, the city council of Lexington granted an ordinance by which a franchise was granted to William Ewing, Alfred R. Leard and John C. Young, Sr., for the purpose of operating a street car line. It was laid down that year, commencing near the Nickel Home (hotel) and continuing down Main, Franklin and South streets to the old Missouri Pacific freight .and passenger depot. It was not a high grade road, being built from the old narrow-gauge rails used on the line once running to Kansas City from Lexington. Early in the nineties, when the council required an even-surfaced street, it was found that the tow path made by the mules which drew the street cars was objectionable and, the property never having paid, the track was sold to Ed McGrew and pulled up and shipped to St. Louis for junk, since which time the travel has been carried on by means of a hack line between the city and the depots.

Public Schools

Lexington has ever been noted for her educational institutions and not the least of these is the public school. To have had the advantage of these excellent common schools has insured one a good education. The early schools of Lexington have already been treated in the educational chapter, hence will not be here mentioned. The state constitution of 1865 established a school system new and all untried in its workings. The first school meeting under the new plan held. in Lexington was on September 8, 1866, and from the official record the following has been extracted : "Pursuant to notice previously given and by authority of an act of the general assembly of the state of Missouri, approved March 29, 1866, the qualified voters of the sub-school district No. 1, township 51, range 27, in Lafayette county, Missouri, assembled at the school house Saturday, September 8, 1866. and organized by appointment of William Boyce as chairman and John W. Waddell as secretary. The following named persons were then put in nomination for the office of school directors, viz. : Jesse F. Atkison, Jacob A. Price, Robert Taylor, Edward Winsor. The polls were then opened and forty-one votes were cast. Jacob A. Price was declared duly elected director for three years, Robert Taylor for two years and Edward Winsor for one year from this date, September 8, 1866."

Another meeting was held on the 10th of the same month and Jacob A. Price administered the oath of loyalty to Edward Winsor, and Edward Winsor administered the oath of loyalty to Robert Taylor and Jacob A. Price, this being in conformity with the law concerning disfranchised citizens of the state by reason of the disabilities invoked by the part that some had taken in the Civil war.

In 1867 a school enumeration was taken and the result was shown to be: White, males, five hundred and sixty-one; females, five hundred and seventy ; colored, males, two hundred and twenty-two ; females, two hundred and twenty-three - a total of one thousand, six hundred and seventysix. By 188 1 it had increased to only one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-one, while the general census showed the city to have four thousand, three hundred and sixty-seven people residing in it.

Sub-district No. 1 had erected in it a two-story building costing six thousand dollars. Its location was on the corner of Forest and Boundary streets, in "Irish town." Sub-district No. 2 had a building on Ridgeway street, which had been erected prior to the Civil war, costing about five thousand dollars. Sub-district No. 3 in 1881 had a building at the corner of Mulberry and Franklin streets, costing six thousand dollars. A large building between Main, Cross and Franklin streets was being rented in 1881 for the use of the colored children. Prof. George M. Catron was then principal of the high school and assisted by Nannie Shaw.

It was not until 1886 that the Lexington schools were put under a superintendent. The persons holding such positions have been Prof. T. G. Lemon, for one year; H. D. Demand, for thirteen years; C. A. Phillips, and the present superintendent, Prof. Melvin J. Patterson, succeeding those already mentioned

In 1890 the citizens voted twenty-five thousand dollars in bonds to erect buildings. The next year Central high school and the Taylor school buildings were completed and the Douglas school repaired and enlarged.

In 1902 the sum of ten thousand dollars was voted in bonds. Out of this the Arnold building was erected and a heating plant provided for the Central building. The high school course of study was revised so that one graduating from the school could enter any college or university in Missouri.

In 1903 the total enrollment in Lexington schools was over one thousand, two hundred, those in the high school being ninety-five, while the total enumeration in the city was one thousand, six hundred and thirty-five. At that date there were in the school library two thousand, five hundred and fifty volumes, mostly reference books.

For a few years all was comfortable, when the growth of the schools again made larger quarters a necessity. In November. 1905, four per cent bonds for fifteen thousand dollars were issued by the board for the purpose of making an addition to the Central building. This addition was ready for occupancy by September, 1906. With the rapid growth of our schools, we were again crowded, and, to relieve the congested condition, the board issued bonds for twelve thousand dollars to make an addition to the Arnold school. This handsome up-to-date building of eight rooms was opened for occupancy in March, 19 10. It is equipped with all modern appliances for the comfort of teachers and pupils.

Roster Of The Lexington School Board

The following showing was made in the report of the state in 1909: There was a total enumeration of one thousand, eight hundred and fifteen ; total enrollment, one thousand, two hundred and fifty-four; average daily attendance, nine hundred and seventy-six ; number of teachers employed, twenty-eight; total assessed valuation of district, one million, five hundred thousand dollars.

The Early-Day Select And Private Schools

In this connection it may be of some historic interest to note what was recently published concerning the early select schools of the city of Lexington, the same being from the pen of one of the present corps of teachers in the city schools, Florence W. Arnold :

Ingleside is associated in the minds of the older people with the earliest educational interests of Lexington. Here Miss Jane Long, a Virginia lady of "the old school," opened a "Seminary for Young Ladies," as early as the forties. East, on the Dover road, the Misses Niven, three picturesque old ladies, had a boarding school, known as the "Miss Niven's School," the purpose of which was to add to the ordinary branches of education, the accomplishments music, painting and embroidery. In 1843 the Rev. Jesse Green, of the Methodist denomination, moved with his family to Lexington, and was one of the first to make his home on "the bluff." Here, Mrs. Green opened a "Select School for Young Ladies." The boys were not to be less favored than the girls in educational advantages. On the north side of the road, where stands the Ethan Allen house, was a log cabin in which Mr. Plunkett, a very rotund old gentleman, opened a school for boys of all ages. Farther northwest on a hillside was Mr. Van Doran's "School for Boys." There were many "Dame Schools" for small children, one of the most popular of which was that of Mrs. Sally Long and her two sisters, Misses Gabe and Mary Frank Hawkins. The little old school house still stands on the corner of South and Tenth.

The early settlers were people who could afford to give their sons and daughters the best educational advantages, but many of those coming later could not. This led to the organization of a free school, whose small beginnings are almost legendary, no records having been kept. The humble little embryo which dared to exist against protest, grew so slowly that none could foresee its magnificent future, when to its strength the town would owe the training of its manhood and its womanhood. This is what the Annual has gathered :

The first board of directors, Silas Silver, James Wetzel and Robert Henderson, opened the free school in the old two-story brick on the site of the present Taylor school. The building had four rooms and a vestibule just large enough for a staircase. There were two doors ; from the west the boys entered the lower rooms ; from the east the girls went upstairs. The lower floor was in charge of Joseph Shaw, assisted by Mr. Hull. Mrs. Jesse Green was principal of the upper floor, with Mrs. Buchanan as assistant. Virtually there were two distinct schools. Mr. Wetzel and Mr. Henderson were succeeded by General Graham and Mr. Sutherland. The coming on of the Civil war in 1861 closed the schools, as neither directors nor teachers were willing to "take the oath," and people gave little thought to the education of their children.

The Hurricane Of July, 1869

At an early day there were doubtless many hard windstorms in the vicinity of Lexington, but perhaps none that exceeded the violent one of 1869, which was chronicled in the Registered, local journal of Lexington, July 15, 1869, as follows:

"On yesterday (Wednesday) at about two o'clock P. M. our city was visited by the most terrific hurricane ever known in this part of the country. The oldest inhabitant says the like has never been seen. For a few minutes before the gale began there was some appearance of rain, and the merchant* had pretty generally taken the goods from their doors. With the first few drops of rain the hurricane began, and at the first onset sent the shingles flying through the streets. It came at the beginning squarely from the west and went roaring through the length of Main street with frightful results.

"The large three-story warehouse on the levee, at the foot of Pine street, was completely unroofed and the roof carried a considerable distance up the bluff; the walls were considerably damaged. Further up, Winsor's hemp factory, partly unroofed ; McGrew's hemp factory unroofed. The chimneys at the saw mills were blown off and the building much injured. Up in the city the house that is not injured is the exception. Arcana hall is unroofed ; Mr. Easter's residence unroofed ; Catholic church partially unroofed and walls injured ; the woolen factory of Schaefmeyer & Peck wholly unroofed and walls injured; the south wall of the Virginia hotel was blown down and the roof torn completely off; Schwartz grocery store partially unroofed and front blown into the street; residence of H. Turner, Jr., partially unroofed; Tevis' building, on the corner of Main and Pine streets, occupied by Mr. Tevis, druggist, on the first floor, and by the Caucasian office on the third floor, was unroofed at the beginning and the roof deposited in the street in front of the court house, afterward the upper part of the wall on Pine street tumbled in on the Caucasian's type and cases, the hands and proprietor made their escape ; Eastwood's house was partially unroofed ; Haberkorn's stable was blown down ; a new frame house, near the colored Methodist church, was blown down; the chimneys of the Methodist Episcopal church South were blown off and the cupola partially twisted around ; Adamson's and Benning's stables were blown down ; Masonic College partially unroofed, a frame building near it wholly unroofed ; John E. Ryland's house was badly damaged ; a timber was carried more than eight hundred feet and driven through the brick wall of a house, striking Mrs. Findlay and breaking her shoulder blade, which it is thought will cripple her for life; Longdon's house unroofed; Carroll's and Easter's house partially unroofed ; Mrs. Pomeroy's house wholly unroofed and otherwise damaged.

"Over on Ridgewater street Mr. Farrar's stable was blown down; John Cowie's house unroofed and seriously injured ; Pat Michell's house knocked off its pins and slid down the hill ; John Hagood's house twisted almost off its foundation. Add to these as many more, and then the outbuildings, the porches, the awnings, the chimneys, the signs, the windows, etc., which tumbled with their broken glass, then some idea can be had of the extent of the damage. We forgot to state that a piece of the roof of the Presbyterian church blew off and fell over Market house and dropped before Scott's grocery. We think safe in saying that one-half of the large trees in the city are blown down. Singular though it may seem, fruit trees which in the morning were hanging full of fruit were found, after the hurricane, to be entirely stripped of fruit and leaves."