Sedalia Township

Together With

CUTS OF ELEGANT RESIDENCES; PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT CITIZENS; BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY ENTERPRISING FARMERS, MERCHANTS, MECHANICS, PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN; A MAP OF THE COUNTY; A CONDENSED HISTORY OF THE STATE; THE STATE CONSTITUTION; AN ABSTRACT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LAWS; THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PETTIS county; ITS ORGANIZATION; ITS POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS HISTORY; THE COURTS AND BAR; AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND STOCK-RAISING; WAR record; township histories; churches; schools; railroads and BUSINESS enterprises; miscellaneous MATTERS, etc., ETC.

Preface

After nearly a y-iar from the be£>inning of the enterprise, with much labor and expense, tV-e History of Pettis County is now ready lor the public. Embracing the ear.y and more recent history of one of the most populous and wealthy t.ounties of Missouri, it is not be expected that a work of this mag litude could be compiled and issued without the expenditure of much time, labor and money. Most of the material comprising this volume was never before collected in any form; no pains or outlay having been spared to make it worthy of so noble a County and State, and it will ssuredly be a welcome guest in the intelligent families of Pettis County, and although its value is material and immediate yet posterity will more highly prize this book and rely upon it as the basis of all subsequent history.

The task of the historians has been performed conscientiously, free from partiality and prejudice, and with a view of recording such facts as will be most valuable. To a great extent the history is what the people have been pleased to make it. If the people had furnished less information, there would have been less in the book, and if the information had been of a different character, its pages would also have reflected that fact. The style of composition has aimed at purity and precision, rather than periods and highly wrought figures. In some cases the same fact may appear more than once, and if a difference in detail is observed, it should be remembered as bearing the authority of the one who furnished it.

The mechanical work shows skill and finish, comparing favorably with the best in this and other States. The map, electrotype views, lithograph and steel portraits, together with the typography, have all received that artistic touch which renders the work highly satisfactory to the publishers, and no doubt will meet the hearty approval of all patrons who are capable of judging.

The volume has greatly exceeded the limits originally intended. In the prospectus it was promised that the book should contain from TOO to 900 pages, but it has been found impossible to comprise the material in less than 1,120 pages. The history of Sedalia has been written and prepared complete in itself, expressly for this volume, chiefly from the able pen of Mr. I. Mac D. Demuth, who has long lived amid the scenes he describes, and to whom, with two other prominent, well-informed citizens, the proof-sheets were all submitted for corrections.

with great care and accuracy by those specially adapted to that laborious task, and although it is not assumed to be in all cases absolutely free from errors, it can be relied upon as substantially correct in facts, names and dates.

The biographical department is an important feature, and remarkably free from errors, when taking into consideration the numberless mistakes and incorrect statements often given by the subject of the sketch. Until comparatively of recent date only persons of national or world-wide renown were thought worthy a biographical notice, while the humblest walks furnish not a name for the pages of enduring history. These sketches will be of value not only to the family and friends but also to the community at large.

Many difficulties were encountered in the early part of the undertaking. Not the least was the prejudice of the people against book and map enterprises of every description, partly occasioned by the fault of people themselves, and partly by the swarms of canvassers, seeking to inveigle the citizens into some worthless project, and take away their money without rendering any equivalent or fulfilling their promises. Thus it was some stood aloof, remained inaccessible, not lending their aid and encouragement. The cost in time and money has been much greater than those unaccustomed to such work are apt at first to realize, but the publishers, perceiving the growing favor with which county histories are received all over the country, confidently expect to meet with the anticipated . amount of sales.

Among the many worthy advocates of progress and enterprises in Pettis Count}', the publishers desire to express their grateful acklowledgments to F. A. Sampson, Esq., for the chapter on Natural History and correcting the proof-sheets of Sedalia history; to I. Mac D. Demuth for much ot Sedalia's history; to Rev. Dr. John Montgomery for the history of the Presbyterian Church; to Rev. John Letts for the history of the Baptist Church; to Rev. A. H. Stevens for the history of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; to Elder J. H. Duncan for the history of the Christian Church; to Rev. J. B. Fuller, Rev. G. A. Beattie, Rev. H. R. Miller, Rev. R. A. Johns and others for church history; Mr. C. A. Leach for the chapter on Courts and Bar, also the chapter on Pettis Countv Live Stock; to Col. A. D. Jaynes, Col. Thomas F. Houston, Maj. William Gentry, R. W. Gentry, Dr. J. W. Trader, O. A. Crandall, the custodians of the county records, to the editors of the several newspapers and to many others, by whose liberal support and material aid the work has been carried foward to a successful completion, to all and singular much credit is due, and many thanks are tendered by

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Abstract of State Laws and Forms. . . 166 Practical Rules for Every Day Use. . . 196 Names of the States of the Union and their siguificance 202