Union Township

Union Township

The original settlers of the grove were W. A. and Abraham Sharpe, who came from Bracken County, Kentucky, in the fall of 1841, and settled in their present homes in that locality. John Wise also came in the same year. Jacob Rugh came from Pennsylvania, in 1842, and settled in Sharpe's Grove. In the same year came Joseph Scott, Daniel Hoghan, and J. Kelzi. Daniel David, of Indiana, later a prominent citizen of the town of Oregon, and Charles David, his son, once a merchant of Craig, settled in what is now Union Township, in 1843. In the same year came Joseph Scott, Samuel Thompson and A. McDonald, who died many years ago. They also were among the earliest of those who settled in the grove.

Colonel Hughes and his son-in-law, Samuel Russell, were among the earliest settlers in the bottom region of the township. The first farm across Little Tarkio, near the bluff, was improved by Abner Norris, who was among the earliest settlers of the county. Mr. Norris, afterward moved to Iowa. J. B. Weight first settled in the bottom, but subsequently made his home in Sharpe's Grove. L. Dawson was also a very early settler. In 1844 also came George Heir, A. Hoppy, William Beauchamp and A. J. Williams; C. M. Guilliams, Alfred C. Taylor and C. C. Cunningham settled in the township in 1845.

Defunct Towns

The earliest attempt to start a town in the territory included within the present limits of Union Township, was inaugurated by the Lewises. Lewisville was laid out on section 19, township 62, range 40, by Jasper G. and Elizabeth Lewis, March 6, 1850.

On the adjoining section, 20, Marietta was laid out, four years after, by Barlow Lewis. S. C. Collins and David Templeton surveyed the sites,. These towns never amounted to much more than mere wood landings for boats.

The small stores started at these points proved failures, and were early abandoned. The sites of these still born enterprises have long since crumbled into the insatiable maw of the turbid Missouri, and, but for the faithful chronicles of this history, would soon be forever lost to the memory of man.

A once noted point in what is now Union Township was in the southeast quarter of section 34, township 63, range 40, on the main road leading from Ellington's Ferry to Council Bluffs. This was a station on the stage line, and as early as 1841 a man by the name of Daniel Durbin, a noted character of those days, kept a hotel here. The structure of his hotel was a double log house. He also kept a ferry here, across the Tarkio, before the bridge was built. Durbin moved to California in 1844, and was killed there. This ferry was also known as Army Ford.

The first church erected within the present limits of Union Township was built by the Christians, in 1877. It is a frame building 40x60 feet in extent. It stands near the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 35, about four miles south of the town of Craig, and within one-half mile of the southern boundary of the township. It is named, in honor of Joshua Kelso, "The Kelso Church." The two acres of land attached to this church was deeded to the same by Calvin Guilliams. The congregation was organized by Elder Kelsey. In 1879 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was permitted to occupy the building when not required for the services of the owners of the same.

Three miles west of Craig, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, a frame building, 22x36 feet in extent, was erected in 1877, at a cost of $400. The congregation was organized with ten members. The first minister of this church was Rev. C. F. Scholz. He effected the organization and remained in charge till November, 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. H. Leutsch.

It is doubtful if there is a more prosperous country church anywhere than the St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran church, three miles west and one-half mile south of Craig. The official title is the German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.

The church was first Organized in 1876 and for a number of years the congregation worshipped at Corning, the pastor at that time being Rev. C. F, W. Scholz.

In August, 1881, the membership living west of Craig decided to withdraw and form a church of their own. A meeting was held in a school house near where the church now stands. An organization was soon perfected and arrangements made for the building of the church edifice which now serves the congregation. Several of the original members have since moved to other states, but withal the congregation has grown steadily. At the expiration of the time of Rev. Scholz in 1880, Rev. C. Lentzsch was engaged. He came from Nebraska and remained until his death in June, 1900. In November, 1910, Rev. P. T. Schmidt of Arkansas Was engaged as pastor.

Craig

Craig, a town of commercial importance in the county, is also the business center of Union Township. It occupies the southeast corner of section 11, and the northeast corner of sec- tion 14, in township 62, range 40, on the main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, which was completed to this point in the summer of 1868. The town limits extend to the waters of the Big Tarkio, which, at this point, is spanned by an iron King bridge, 105 feet long, erected in 1881, at a cost of four thousand dollars, just after the great flood of April of that year, in which the original structure was swept away. The railroad bridge, a few hundred yards above, is also a substantial iron structure on massive stone piers, and was erected in the same year.

The site of the town is a dead level in the Missouri River bottom which, at this point is eight hundred and eighty feet above the level of the sea. It is about half a mile southwest of the bluff range, in full view of the forest of Sharpe's Grove.

The town of Craig was laid out early in the fall of 1868, by the original proprietors, Robert W. Frame, Christ Shults and Samuel Ensworth. Its present population is between 600 and 700. The town was named for Gen. James Craig of St. Joseph, who was active in the building of the railroad which called the town into existence.

The first to sell goods in the place was A. W. Hawley. He began in the fall of 1868. Immediately after, Shults & Frame, who were selling goods and keeping a post office, called Tarkio, in a house one and three-quarter miles northeast of the site of the town, moved their stock to the new town and commenced business. This Tarkio was nearly a mile below the noted watering place, one-half a mile east of Craig, and is still known as the Big Spring. It is at the foot of the bluff, and was a regular halting place on the great route from St. Joseph over the hills via Savannah, Fillmore and Hollister's Mill, to North Point, afterwards Mound City, whence the road followed the foot of the bluffs to the crossing of the Little Tarkio, where the state road branched off to Rock Port. The trading post of Tarkio remained at this point, on the Little Tarkio, till the growing importance of the new town of Craig absorbed its business.

The first blacksmith to open a shop in Craig, was J. A. Orange, who, in September, 1868, erected the first building in the town and opened it as the Grant and Sherman House. This he continued to keep till 1873, wrhen he sold out. The building, which has since changed hands several times, has been considerably enlarged and improved since that day.

Shults & Frame opened, in the same year, the first stock of goods in the town. They afterwards moved their building from Tarkio to the townsite.

C. Hoblitzell started in February, 1875, the first lumber yard in Holt County, built, in 1874, the first elevator in the town. Its capacity was ten thousand bushels.

The first school in the town of Craig was taught by C. A. Doughty, in the original frame school building on Frame street, later owned by the Christians, and occupied by them as a church.

The elegant structure of the graded school stands on the east end of the same street. It is a spacious two-story brick building with four class rooms, halls, etc., affording accommodation for 240 scholars. The house was completed in January, 1882, at a cost of over six thousand dollars.

The first railroad agent of Craig was Frank Briggs. He began his duties here in 1869. A. M. Hunter became the agent in 1872 and remained until 1905 when he resigned, having been in the service here continuously for thirty-three years. He was the oldest station agent on the Burlington system in point of years of service. Mr. Hunter died October 4, 1910.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1870. Among the original members were : Abel Doughty and wife, C. A. Doughty and wife, and E. McQuilen and wife.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1878, by Rev. Dr. Bain, with the following members: J. T. Sedwick and wife, William Price, S. Stanfield, and Charles David and wife.

The first church building erected in Craig was by the two Methodist societies. Each organization being entitled to the use of the building half of the time. This house was built by a committee representing both congregations and was composed of J. T. Sedwick, Charles David and C. A. Doughty. In 1894 the M. E. Church sold its interest in the building and lot to the M. E. Church, South, and immediately began the erection of a church building at Fourth and Ensworth streets. This was completed and dedicated in January, 1895. In 1908 the two Methodist congregations were merged, by the action of the Missouri Con-

The Presbyterian Church, of Craig, was organized in June, 1878, by the Rev. Duncan Brown, of Mound City, with the following members: Dr. S. Bacon, W. B. Wilson and wife, A. M. Hunter and Mrs. E. E. Welch. The church edifice, a brick building, 30x55 feet, was completed in December, 1878 at a cost of $3,200. It stands on West Front street. The original trustees of this church were W. B. Wilson, S. S. Bacon, and A. M. Hunter. The first pastor of the congregation was the Rev. Duncan Brown. He was succeeded in June, 1880, by Rev. B. D. Luther.

The Christian Church of Craig was organized February 4, 1880, by Elder G. B. Mullis, with ten members. Of these, Samuel Peters and H. Laughlin were chosen elders, and E. Davis and Moses Wright were chosen deacons. The other members were Delitha Laughlin, Dal Laughlin, Sarah J. Wright, Victory Peters, Rachel Collins and Sallie A. Davis. Since the period of the organization of this church there have been added, fifty members. In the fall of 1881, the congregation purchased the old frame public school building and fitted it up as a house of worship. This they continue to use for that purpose. The organization is in a prosperous condition, and includes a membership of sixty.

This congregation a few years ago built one of the handsomest church buildings in the county. It cost about $3,000 and has a seating capacity of 600. It is not lacking in any of the appointments and conveniences which are essential to a modern church building.

Fraternal Orders

Craig Lodge No. 371, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was organized July 14, 1870, by Hiram Patterson, district deputy grand master. The following were the officers at the time of organization: C. A. Doughty, W. M.; W. R. Nelson, S. W. ; Chris Schultz, J. W. ; Dr. Berry Meek, Treasurer; J. L. Blair, Secretary. This lodge grew and prospered for a number of years when internal dissensions disturbed the good fellowship of the brethren, and in January, 1883, Grand Master Wood revoked the charter. A reorganization was brought about May 28, 1909, when the younger men of the community petitioned for and received dispensation to perfect the organization. A charter was granted the new lodge under the name of Craig Lodge No. 606, September 29, 1909. The officers at the time of the reorganization were: P. A. Thompson, W. M. ; T. A. Ward, S. W. ; C. W. Anibal, J. W. ; J. M. Stokes, Secretary; W. J. Randall, Treasurer.

Craig Lodge No. 211, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted June 11, 1869, by Worthy Grand Master R. J. Wise, assisted by Samuel Hess and William White of Eclipse Lodge No. 143 and Thomas C. Crowther of King Hill Lodge, No. 114 of St. Joseph, Mo. The charter members of the original lodge were Charles E. Barnes, Lawrence Welch, Wilson Mc- Kinney, T. F. Farnsworth and John Elmore.

For some reason the lodge in the early '70's quit working and remained dormant for a period of about eight years, when it was resuscitated through the efforts of Hiram Hershberger, of Oregon, Mo., as district deputy. Those who participated in the reorganiaztion in May, 1886, were W. M. Boyer, Joseph Wise, J. W. Stokes, J. L. Johnston and Henry Bungenstock.

In the fall of 1915 the lodge decided to establish a cemetery for the burial of the deceased members of the order and their families. A tract of land was bought near town from E. L. Gaffney and immediately converted into the purposes for which it was purchased. The cemetery committee of the lodge, in conjunction with the trustees, had Icharge of the matter, were C. W. David, L. L. Teare, J. H. Hunt, H. B. Lawrence, W. S. Thompson, Fred Lawrence and W. B. Fitzgerald.

Craig Camp, No. 5140, Modern Woodmen of America, was chartered November 15, 1897, with a membership of thirty-one. The first officers were C. W. Anibal, consul; S. C. Wampler, adviser; L. J. Butler, banker; J. H. Riffe, clerk; W. E. Graves, escort. The camp now has a membership of more than 100 and about $200,000 of insurance in force. It is comfortably housed in its own building, free from debt and seems likely to continue prosperous for many years.

For-Get-Me-Not Camp, No. 4248, Royal Neighbors of America, was instituted June 16, 1905, with twenty-two charter members. It is still in a thriving and prosperous condition.

Craig Rebekah Lodge, No. 645, was chartered February 6, 1915, and has an enthusiastic membership of 100. A Rebekah lodge had been started in Craig January 31, 1894, with a membership of twenty-nine. Through neglect and lack of interest its charter was allowed to lapse.

The first newspaper venture in the town was the Craig Democrat, by Harry A. Buell, in February, 1872. It ceased publication in April the same year.

The Enterprise was established by C. H. Clark, early in 1877. Clark remained on the job until October, 1878, when he sold to H. S. Hogue, who continued the publication until July,

In 1882 the Craig Meteor was established by VanPelt & Blake who were then conducting the Atchison County Mail and moved part of the equipment of that office to Craig wliere Van- Pelt was actively in charge of the Meteor. In 1883 VanPelt became the sole owner of the plant, which he disposed of in April, 1884, to Elder Maupin and his son, Will M., who was afterwards associate editor of the Commoner at Lincoln, Nebr., and identified with various other publications. Maupin & Son, eight months later sold the paper to George L. Burkhalter, who continued its publication until the fall of 1886 when he moved the plant to Rulo, Nebr.

In the fall of 1886 C. N. VanPelt established the Craig Leader. He continued as its publisher until January, 1887, when he sold to Charles N. Dobyns, who remained until March, 1904, when Byron Johnstun took charge. He sold to Ivan Whitted in May, 1907, who, on July 12, the same year, suspended publication. W. H. Hambaugh revived the paper November 15, 1907, and has owned the paper ever since. It was leased in January, 1910, to G. A. Sterling, who published the paper until June, that year, when he delivered it back to Hambaugh. I. W. Watson leased the plant in June, 1910, but surrendered his lease a few months later. Since January, 1911, Mr. Hambaugh has been in active charge of the paper, which bears every indication of being a prosperous, influential country newspaper.

In October, 1896, Ed. S. Hayes, who had disposed of the Democrat at Oregon, located at Craig and established the Courier. It ceased publication in September, 1897. October 3, 1897, the paper was revived under the name of the Democrat-Courier, with John M. Hasness, as publisher. The plant was owned by a stock company. Hasness died in January, 1900, and the stockholders put Shafe Kautzman, a printer from Nebraska, in charge. The hyphenated title was abolished in a few months and the name returned to The Courier. In December, 1900, the paper ceased publication and the machinery and type were bought by Ed Kennish and moved to Maitland, and added to the plant of The Herald in that town.

The post office was originally called Tarkio, the name being changed in 1869, to Craig in honor of General James Craig, who was conspicuous in the building of what is now the Burlington railroad. Tarkio was about a mile northeast of the present townsite of Craig. It was quite a trading point and it was here that Christ Schultz and Robert W. Frame sold goods until Craig began to grow into a town of real proportions. The old Tarkio post office building is still standing on lands owned by George W. Gaskill.

Craig was added to the list of money order offices in 1878 and became a presidential office in 1901. The first rural delivery route was established November 1, 1901, and A1 VanWormer was the first carrier.

Those who have served the patrons of the Craig post office in the capacity of postmasters and the years of their appointment are: Christ Schultz, 1868; E. D. Richmond, 1872; H. S. Hogue, 1875; Robert Lyon, 1879; John Ward, 1883; John H. Williams, 1886; George Hogrefe, 1889; L. L. Teare, 1893; Charles M. Ward, 1897; Phil Thompson, 1905; Frank K. Allen, 1911; W. H. Hambaugh, 1915.

Electric Lights

On the evening of February 6, 1902, there was celebrated in Craig the event of the installation of an electric lighting system of which the town was justly proud. The enterprise was a private one and the improvement in the towns public utilities was due to the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Kellogg, then owners of the Eclipse Roller Mills. The power plant at the mill was used in connection with the lighting machinery and this arrangement continued to give satisfactory service for a number of years. The plant was bought by Brownfield & Teare in January, 1912. The current is now supplied by the Mound City plant.

The first bank established in Craig was by Bilby & Heaton, July 7, 1877. W. H. Heaton became the sole owner in April, 1882. And the name was changed to the Heaton Bank. Cave J. Hunt was cashier until May, 1882, when Ed. Heaton assumed the duties of the office. In February, 1887, William H. Heaton removed to Bushnell, 111., and Ed. Heaton assumed active man- agement of the bank in Craig, although William H. Heaton has continued as president to the present time. R. C. Ball has been assistant cashier for the past twenty-seven years. The bank had a capital of $10,000 at its inception, but this has since been increased to $25,000.

The second bank established in Craig was known as the Farmers' and Merchants Bank. It began business July 17, 1893. It was founded by Dr. Benson Bond, who died in 1902, after which the business was managed by E. J. Kellogg as president and Mrs. C. D. Kellogg, cashier.

Mills And Elevators

A. P. Davenport built the first flour mill in Craig in 1874. It was a two run mill and did a flourishing business from the start. He sold the property to Reece & Gibson in 1879. Maxwell & Gibson began operating the mill in 1887. W. A. Robinson, of Watson, built a new mill in Craig in August, 1899. Later it was owned by E. J. Kellogg.

The first elevator in Craig was built in 1874 by Johnstun & Meyer, who continued the business for several years. In 1895 F. S. Brownfield, at a cost of $18,000, built a large elevator and flouring mill in Craig. It was destroyed by fire December 5, 1897. The Farmers' Elevator Company was organized in May, 1912. J. S. Nauman is president.

Craig School

The Craig school building compares favorably with that of any other town in the county. The present building was erected in 1881 and rebuilt in 1896. Furnace heat was added to the equipment in 1903. The records of the school district back of 1899 are unavailable, as they were destroyed by fire in that year.

Craig, in common with neighboring towns along the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, in the Missouri River bottom, was a sufferer, to a great extent, by the ever memoriable flood of 1881. On the 24th day of April, the water of the Missouri River, at its nearest point, five miles distant from the town site, and which, some ten or twelve days before, had burst from the ice gorge below Yankton, swept over the town. By Wednesday following it had reached its maximum height, two feet higher than the water of the great flood of 1844, and stood from two and a half to three and a half feet deep in the streets and houses. The flood then began to recede, and by the following Sunday, had disappeared, leaving behind a fearful wreck of matter and crash of things. The entire population of the town, with a few exceptions, during the period of the high water, had left for the bluff country. So tremendous was the force with which the inundation approached, that railroad ties with rails attached, were in many places floated off the grade.

Among the incidents of the flood at this point, it is remembered that a corn crib sixty feet long, twelve feet wide and as many high, floated from its foundations, and was seen pursuing its rapid course southward from the town. A close inspection revealed the further circumstance that the roof was tenanted, not, however, with dispairing sons and daughters of men, but with a flock of domestic chickens, in the center of which stood a solitary skunk, apparently brooding, amid the appalling desolation of his surroundings, over the certainty of his impending fate, and utterly oblivious or unmindful of the feathered banquet within his reach.

Craig also suffered severely from the floods of 1914 and 1915, but the damage to property was not nearly so great as in 1881. The drainage system which has been adopted in the nearby country greatly reduces the liability of damage from overflows.

Miscellaneous

A telephone system was put in operation in May, 1901, by the Craig Telephone Co. It is capitalized for $12,000 and gives service to 400 patrons.

William M. Hamsher

William M. Hamsher, president of the Bank of Mound City, and one of the highly respected citizens of the town, has been a resident of Mound City forty-two years. He came here in 1874 and engaged in mercantile business with Emil Weber - the firm name being Hamsher, Weber & Co., in the building now occupied by William McKee. The firm continued in business here for sixteen years. The partnership of Hamsher & Weber continued three years more, when Mr. Hamsher bought the interest of his partner and continued the business for thirteen years, until 1893.

Then he engaged actively in the banking business and has since been president of the Bank of Mound City, of which institution he was a charter stockholder, the bank beginning business in 1889. He is also a stockholder and director in the Holt County Independent Telephone Company.

Mr. Hamsher was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1849. He was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. He remained on the farm until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Orrstown, Pa., and clerked in a store four years. Then he went to Monmouth, 111., and worked four months in a store. Not being satisfied there he moved on farther west and in 1871 accepted a position in the store of Ford & Orr, in Forest City. In 1874 he moved to Mound City and has since been active in the business life of that town.

He is the son of John and Mary Hamsher, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Hamsher was married October 12, 1875, to Miss Mary Luckhardt of Oregon, Mo., who was born in Johnston, Pa. To this union has been born one son, Clarence F. Hamsher who is in the banking business in Los Gatos, Calif. Mr. Hamsher is a member of the Masonic lodge and Presbyterian church. He has been an elder in that church for thirty-five years.

Thomas A. Ward

Thomas A. Ward is the vice-president of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Craig. He is a son of one of the pioneer families of Union Township, where he was born, and is a highly esteemed and prominent business man of the town in which he makes his home. Although a young man he entered actively into the civic and commercial life of Craig, and by his conserva-

Thomas A. Ward is the son of Thomas B. Ward, who came to the county in the early eighties and by thrift and economy acquired a section of fine farming lands in the county and valuable property in Craig, where he now makes his home. He was a Confederate soldier in