| The Atchison County [Missouri] Mail Abstracted Index | ||||||||||||
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| by Pat Combs O'Dell: genpat@netins.net | ||||||||||||
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| THE ATCHISON
COUNTY MAIL, April 7, 1881 The Nishnebotna River - The writer has noticed in the papers different ideas expressed and hear some talk about the recent break in the dam at the narrows, allowing the Missouri river to flow into the Nishnebotna river. Many are lamenting the disaster, as they would term it, and tell about the amount of money that has been spent to cause the waters of the Nishnebotna to flow out of their natural channel. It has always been a question of propriety, if not of right, to the mind of the writer as to the work and expense undertaken in this matter. One look at the stagnant, dirty water that stands in the bends of the Nishne through the summer would convince any person that it murders tens if not hundreds every year. It is claimed that there is more of a liability to overflow if the water was allowed to run in the old channel. But they fail to convince one at least that water will not seek its level, and therefore, levee the Missouri river to prevent an overflow. Now could not the money that has been spent at the narrows have been more beneficially used in leveeing the banks of the Nishne in very low places and thereby prevent any serious trouble only in case of an overflow caused by the Missouri, and by this means save a great amount of sickness and death. List of appointments of the Methodist Church.... Mr Martin Grebe and Miss Belle Underwood were married at the residence of the bride's parents in this township on Sunday the 3rd, inst. 'Squire J.A. Newell officiating. Wm. Townsend, of Polk township, left on yesterday for Nebraska where he will make his home in the future. DIED - In Audrain county, Mo., on the night of the 24th of March, Thomas Bradley, aged 92 years and 8 months. Mr Bradley was a soldier in the war of 1812 and, if we are correctly informed, was the last surviving resident of Audrain who participated in that memorable struggle. He had resided in this county almost since its organization, and was widely known and esteemed as an excellent citizen and a man of the most unswerving integrity. He was, until far beyond the meridian of life, possessed of remarkable physical vigor, the result, in part, of strictly temperate and methodical habits. On the morning of the 26th ult., in a rural cemetery, to which in days agone he had consigned children, grandchildren and friends, the remains of the honored veteran, whose life had almost spanned a century, were lovingly consigned to that dreamless slumber which to the good can have only a glorious awakening in the great Beyond.--AUDRAIN COUNTY PRESS The Nishnebotna River...article about a dam breaking and the Missouri River backing up.... Mr Bruce Rundle and Miss Ida Warner, all of this county, were married at the Rock Creek church on last Sunday morning. THE ATCHISON COUNTY MAIL, April 14, 1881 Rock Port - A Complete Index of Her Business Houses and Business Men. General Merchandise - B. Hunter & Bro.; Gaede & Baker; L.C. Christian; George A. Pinnell; J.W. Tate & Son. Groceries - Henry Warneke; E.J. Stiles; John Reiter; George Opp; Rudolph Grebe. Hardware - Geo. Deuser & Bro.; Bischof & Traub. Drug Stoes - J.E. Spurlock & Co.; Hudgens & M'Michael; John Reiter. Jewelry - Chris. Schneider Book Store - Dopf, Moorhead & Co Harness Shops - Johnson & Smith; H.J. Pinnell. Hotels - The Rock Port Hotel conducted by Daniel Snyder; The Valley House conducted by Thomas Toliver. Restaurants - Rudolph Grebe, John Toliver Meat Markets - E.J. Stiles, Frank Sanders & Son, Courthright & Kessler Boots and Shoes - Johnson & Smith; Jabob Mulhaupt; Henry Warneke. Millinery Estalishments - one by Mrs E.W. Waits and one by Mrs John W. Laney. Mantua Making - Mrs J.L. Shelters, Mrs J.W. Laney, Mrs Tiffany and Miss Moore. Art Galleries - Oliver G. Sparks and Thomas J. Rice Barber Shops - Opp & Mashmeyer's and Jesse Thompson Livery Stables - Colvin A. Burnett; Toliver & Marion; and Henry Enoch. The Transfer Line - Colvin & Burnett Blacksmithing - Coop Flemming; Alva Traub; and Andrew Fox Wagon Shops - F.A. Foster and Jacob Ablutz Lumber Yard - Geo Traub and Co Undertakers - F.A. Foster and Nich Petry Paint Shops - A.C. Hansen; L.E. Ruland; and Homer Blake The Carpenters - G.W. Goutch, N. Petry, Massard & Miller, Welch & Waddle, Geo Johonnot, Charles Morris, J.H. Wood, Sway Camp and M. Wallace. The Plasterers - Thomas Davis, James, Davis, Frank Davis, George Blake, Oliver Holland and Frank Hurn Merchant tailor - Charles Renner City Bakery - Henry Heckle The Bank - Durfee & Wyatt proprietors Insurance and real estate - P.R. Wagor, John D. Dopf, John F. Lyons, Lewis & Ramsay, McKillop & Peck, S.S. Hughes, and G.G. Beck. Legal Fraternity -J.P. Lewis & L.D. Ramsay, M. McKillop and J.W. Peck, A.B. Durfee and A.E. Wyatt, John C. Hunt and F.M. Joslyn, John D. Campbell and Landon W. Campbell, James M. Osborne Medical Fraternity - Dr J.Y. Bird, Dr L.S. Munsell, Dr R.E. Bird, Dr D. Whitmire, Dr G.W.E. Chamberlain, Dr A. McMichael, Dr C.F. Luja and Dr O.P. Templeton Dentist - Dr William Cunnington Churches - M.E. Church, Rev D.B. Lake; Baptist Church, Rev William Stewart; Christian Church, Elder J.W. Tate; Presbyterian Church, Rev H.P.S. Willis; German Lutheran Church, Rev Poverlain. Societies - Rock Port Lodge No 125 I.O.O.F., North Star Lodge No 157 A.F. & A.M., Rock Port Encampment No 78, North West Lodge No 134 A.O.U.W., and Rock Port Legion No 12, S.K.A.O.U.W. Schools - Rock Port College and Normal School, Prof. J.W. Tate President, Prof D.A. Quick, Vice-President, Miss Birdie Perrin, Teacher of Music, Prof J.C. Todd, Book Keeping; Rock Port Public School, Prof E.R. Carr, Principal, Miss Lena Bush, Teacher Grammar Department, Miss Louisa Cooley, Teacher First Intermediate Department, Miss Idalette Willis, Teacher Second Intermediate Department and Miss Gertrude Rhoda, Teacher of Primary Department. Newspapers - THE ATCHISON COUNTY JOURNAL, THE ATCHISON DEMOCRAT, and THE ATCHISON COUNTY MAIL We learn from the Hamburg papers that a young man named Gallion was accidently shot and killed by a companion while hunting ducks a few days ago on the Nishnebotna. Preliminary examination of Wm Foliarty who was charged with rape of Miss Norris...dismissed.... Elder J.J. Wyatt, a prominent minister of St Joseph, died very suddenly in that city on Saturday last. We learn that John Toliver and a Mr Lott of Dale township, think of going to the Excelsior Springs in Clay county to open a boarding house. MARRIED - On Thursday, March 31st, 1881, at Watson, by Rev J.C. Moore, Mr George W. Allen and Mrs Anna Miller, all of this county. MARRIED - On Sunday, March 27th, 1881, at the residence of and by Rev A.S. Jones, Linden, Mo., Mr Frank J. Benedict and Miss Carrie Sperry, all of this county. Administrator's Sale of Wm Lentz....Elizabeth Lentz and Henry King, administrators.... Final Settlement of E.W. Freemen, deceased.... Household Notes....column of recipes...whipped potatoes...veal cutlets...spiced apple pudding.... THE ATCHISON COUNTY MAIL, April 21, 1881 Rock Port School report - list every student in Rock Port and their grades in subjects.... Fred Wanger, of Phelps City is the daddy of a span-fire-new baby boy. We are sorry to learn of the death of Mrs A.E. Williams, formerly a teacher in the public schools here, and a relative of Mrs A.E. Wyatt, which occurred at her home in St Joseph last week. She was a sister of Elder J.J. Wyatt who she survived but a few days. R.R. Smith was immersed at the dam near Grieve's mill in this city on last Saturday, and John Foutch and Miss Lou Foutch were immersed at the same place on Sunday. The former became a member of the Christian Church and the two latter were received into the M.E. Church. DIED - Mr J.T. Gentry died in Gunnison, Colorado, March 24, 1881. He was born in Indiana in 1832. We, as neighbors and friends, feel that we have lost a good citizen, pleasant comrade and friend. He was a kind and devoted husband. The bereft wife has the undivided sympathy of this community in her sad bereavement. May that God who has promised to be a husband to the widow guard and support her in this hour of trial.--GUNNISON NEWS. Mrs Gentry is the daughter of our townsman Martin Cozine Esq. THE ATCHISON COUNTY MAIL, April 28, 1881 DESOLATION DESOLATE - Is Now the Appearance of the Many Handsome and Fertile Farms of the Missouri Bottom. - The Rise of '44 and '67 Outdone by the Present One - The people of this city were considerably excited on last Sunday by the announcement that the much dreaded, though expected, overflow had come. That Phelps City was covered with water and that the entire bottom was being inundated. A great many procured carriages and went to the bluffs about two miles west of here where one look was sufficient to confirm the report. During the afternoon several persons came from Phelps bringing the report that from one to three feet of water covered the entire town site and the adjacent country and the people needed assistance. There is was that the excitement reached the highest pitch. Bells were rung and a meeting was called at which several speeches were made and it was decided to go to work and exert every endeavor to relieve all of those who were in danger. In a few mintues boat building had been commenced at five or six different places; dozens of willing hands, including several clergymen of this city, were employed in the good work and before morning nine skiffs and flat boats had been finished and sent to the water. All day Monday the sound of the hammer and saw was heard throughout the city, a great many of the citizens of the surrounding country having come in to construct boats for the relief of some friend or relative who was in the midst of the raging waters. Including the nine built by the county not less than thirty boats were built in this city from Sunday at dark to Monday noon, and still the work contines. On Monday morning we accepted a seat in the vehicle of E.J. Stiles and repaired to the scene of the overflow. Perched on a high bluff about two miles east of Phelps and about six miles southeast of Watson we were enabled to gaze on the sad spectacle of a large expanse of the best land in the world and the most handsomely improved, covered to the depth of from three to five feet with water; to see the scope of country between the Nishebotna on the east and the Missouri on the west one broad expanse of water, unbroken save by the handsome farm buildings which arose sadly out of the depths in every direction, and the town of Phelps which presented the appearance of a miniature Venice. With the aid of a splendid glass we could see that there had been a rise of several inches since the preceding day. Water reached to the window sills of some of the houses, while signal flags hung from the windows of many of the farm houses. Watson appeared to be more fortunate that her sister, Phelps, for while the water almost entirely surrounded the town and indeed the town site was covered it was not so deep; yet we learned that the people there too, were in distress and had hung out signal lights and fired signal guns the preceding night. Upon going to the edge of the water, nearly two miles east of Phelps, we found several boats which were doing good service in bringing out people who lived near. Several attempts to reach Phelps had been made but owing to the high wind which prevailed nearly all day it was impossible to reach there. It is said that the waves on the bottom dashed to the height of six or eight feet while the current between the two rivers was very strong. Several families were brought out south of Phelps where the land is the lowest and, in consquence, there is the most danger, during the afternoon and it is thought that no lives will be lost. Boats reached Phelps late in the afternoon, also, and brought away several families. The water continued to rise throughout the day on Monday and is still rising slightly at this writing (Tuesday) but to-day is calm and the work of bringing distressed families to the highlands is going on with good success. It is also hoped that some stock will be saved although thousands of dollars worth of cattle and hogs have already been drowned. Indeed the overflow has been the greatest calamity which has ever befallen the county. In addition to the loss of stock and the destruction of property it is thought that it will seriously interfere with, if it doesn't entirely prevent, the putting in of a crop. The railroad has been almost entirely destroyed. Miles of the road bed and ties are washed away and it is thus rendered certain that there can be no shipping of stock or receiving of goods for weeks, while it is probable that we will receive no mail during the same length of time. A distressing feature of the overflow is afforded by the fact that telegraphic communication has been cut off and there are no means of learning whether or not the river is rising above, and thus all that is left to do is to prepare for the worst and if it fails to come, to thank Heaven for the blessing. LATER.--Upon going to press we learn that the water has fallen more than two inches and is still subsiding. Reports from above are also more encouraging. We hope that ere another week rolls around the treacherous Missouri will be in her own bed and the many farms of the valley will be ready for the work of the husbandman. Overflow Items - Ed Smith is a good boatman and has been doing good service in bringing in refugees....The report of the drowning of Mrs T. M. Rash and daughter is now known to be without foundation....The cheering report came on Wednesday morning that the river is falling. We hope that it is true....When the waters subside boats will be cheap. There have been hundreds of them built since the overflow....We are sorry to learn that Harmon J. Harmes has lost about eighty head of fat cattle by the overflow....Judge Wells came to this city on Monday, had a boat built and brought his family from the bottom....Brownville boats have rendered valuable assistance in taking the Phelps City people from their dangerous position....Judge Joslyn and J.W. Peck went out with the first boat on Sunday night and remained during Monday and Tuesday....Those who were on the bottom on Sunday night during the thunder storm say the horror of such an experience cannot be accurately described....Everything on wheels to be had in the livery stables have been in demand ever since Monday by persons who wanted to see the overflow....Lott Watts, Captain of the large flat boat at Watson has done valiant service in rescuing people from the overflowed bottom....Two wagons, one with a cover on it, passed down the current in the bottom this side of Phelps on Tuesday. It was impossible to save them....It is reported that there is a great scarcity of flour at Watson. Measures will be taken to supply them from here and elsewhere as soon as possible....It is said that the handsome new residence of D.B. Morgan east of Watson is being considerably injured by the overflow, and it is feared that it will fall over....The people of Phelps put in Monday in building boats, the water being so deep as to make it necessary that they should use the tops of freight cars for work shops....It is said that there were at least two hundred people on a high piece of ground near Col. Thompson's residence on Tuesday morning waiting to be taken to a place of safety....It is feared that the current of the Missouri river will run through where Corning now stands. It is said to run as swiftly there now as it ever did in the middle of the river....Tom Rice, the "shadow catcher," is an accomplished oarsman and rendered valuable assistance in rescuing people who were in the midst of the overflow on Monday and Tuesday....It is said that there is an eddy just this side of Hamburg which is filled up with lumber, wagons, harness, agricultural implements, dead stock, &c., which washed down from above....The report came to town this (Wednesday) morning that a man, his wife and daughter were drowned on the bottom southwest of here on Tuesday. The rumor lacks confirmation however....A little child of Jack Good's, north of Watson, stepped out of the front door and came very near being drowned on Sunday. Indeed it had to be rolled in blankets for two hours before it could be resucitated....'Squire R.E. Christian, of Nishnebotna, came in on Monday and had a boat built. He moved his family to the bluffs on Sunday on a raft built of telegraph poles, and will try and get some of his neighbors out of danger....Hico Cooper vacated his place on Saturday and got all his stock away except one hog. When he visited the house the next day it was surrounded with water, the hog was on a pile of straw and two or three hens were sitting on its back....Dr A.A. Tayman and family left Phelps on Tuesday morning and are stopping near this city. He thinks that everybody in that place will be saved although a great many of the buildings are being injured....Those who moved their stock from the bottom last week and, together with their families, are safe in the highlands, hug themselves with delight because of their shrewdness. Mort Hackett belongs to this class of individuals....The bluffs this side of the Nishnebotna have been covered with people from this city and vicinity every day this week, looking at the vast waste of water which covers the towns of Phelps and Watson as well as the many fertile farms on the bottom....Mrs G.T. Boston, W.M. McNeal, Dr R.W. Harris and Miss Laura Durham are among the lady refugees from Watson now staying in this city....On the 26th of April, 1867--the last overflow, the water on the bottom was highest, and such was the case on the same day this year. "History repeats itself."....Boats were sent from here to the relief of the people living along the Nishnebotna southeast of Watson on Wednesday morning....Orville Sharp and Wm Blades came near drowning between Watson and the residence of D.B. Morgan on Monday, but fortunately they escaped....There are a great many people in the bottom who refuse to leave their homes notwithstanding water stands to the depth of four feet in the first story of their houses....There is no cause for alarm in regard to flour and other breadstuffs. The mill here will run day and night and access is had to all the roads east of here, and teams will be sent out for flour in case of emergency....D.B. Ruland brought his family over to terra firma on Tuesday. He built a platform and placed his hogs thereon befoe he left home last week but the water raised to the top of it and the hogs sprang off and were lost....Fritz Longhenning found 13 heard of cattle floating down the Nishnebotna river on Tuesday. He succeeded in stopping five of them which he placed in some corn pens but it is probable that they got into the water again and were lost....The people of Rock Port and vicinity extend a cordial invitation to the refugees from the bottom to come and stay with them until they are enabled to return to their homes. We haven't heard of a single citizen who is not willing to give a temporary home to all that they can....Human nature is strong in peril as in other circumstances. We heard of one old lady, who, after being rescued with difficulty on Monday, went mad because they wouldn't go back and get her chickens, and a man whose house was surrounded by water, brought out a dog and a quart of onion sets on a horse and then went back for his children....The bridge across the Nishnebotna east of Watson washed out one day last week and the citizens clubbed together and built a large boat to be used in it stead. They didn't think then that it would ever be possible to launch that boat at the railroad in Watson but such was the fact and it has done good service in bringing people from the bottom as it will carry seventy-five or eighty persons with ease....Truly we all fail to fully appreciate the many blessings of this enlightened age until we are deprived of them. Now that we can receive no mail and have no fair prospects of getting into communication with the balance of the world within the next few weeks, we can see that it was indeed a great blessing to receive daily papers twice a day and have access to the telegraph every moment....The reports from above for the last few days have been so conflicting as to render it impossible to learn anything in regard to the true facts. One dispatch says that the river is falling at Sioux City and Omaha, another comes a few minutes afterwards to the effect that it is rapidly rising at those points and still another that it is on a stand, and no one knows which should be given credence....A very sad incident of the overflow [flood] occurred on Monday. A Mr Johnson and family were driven from their home by the rise and took refuge with the family of Mr S.O. Clanton. Here they were again surrounded with water, Mrs Johnson in the meantime having become a mother. The babe died on Monday morning and was brought from the house in a skiff and buried in this city. The mother was too ill to be moved and is still very sick. She is in the second story and in no danger of being injured by the overflow. Mr Thos Parr, of Virginia, an old acquaintance of H.J. Pinnell, is visiting that gentleman now. He expresses himself as being well pleased with this country and expects to make his home here in the future. There is one small drop of consolation after all. In 1867 the overflow was at its highest on the 26th of April and began to subside the next day and the greatest yield of corn ever known on the bottom was had that year. This year the water was the highest on the 26th and began to subside on the 27th and may we not hope that a similar experience to that of '67 in regard to the corn crop will be had? Sheriff's Sale - for Taylor Thomas & Co and against M.J. & R.V. Wightman.... Sheriff's Sale - for Clavemunt National Bank and against R.V. Wightman.... |