Monroe County Article written by Thomas V. Bodine, Paris

In the early days, before the organization of the fair association, there was a race course at Paris, southwest of town, and here the pioneers gathered to witness the racing feats of such horses as ‘‘Tom,’’ and “Charlemagne,” belonging to the Bufords, Kentuckians, as will be recognized by their names. People came for miles and money and whiskey were generally waged on the result, more often whiskey, as it was more plentiful. Here also was the muster field, where General II. D. Austin drilled his daughty warriors.

    Perhaps the history of Jackson township would not be complete without mentioning names like Curtright, Grimes, Ragsdale, Barker, Arnold, Bridgford and McCann, associated with the early agricultural and stock interests of the county and still inseparably identified with these industries. First the most famous short-horn man in the state, both breeder and importer, Jefferson Bridgford, afterwards became the main factor in the development of its saddle horse industry, winning the prize for the best gentleman rider at the Columbian exposition at Chicago on his famous ‘‘Artist Montrose’’ when a man of seventy-five. Avory Grimes owned ‘‘Black Patsy’’ and ‘‘Ned Forest.” the foundation almost of the horse stock of Monroe county, the Arnolds owned ‘‘Tom Eal,’’ and the McCanns and Ragsdales were cattle men.

    The early physicians of the town included Dr. Abner E. Gore and Dr. Long, later Dr. Ben Dysart, surgeon of Cockrell’s fighting brigade, also Dr. D. C. Gore, the Gores, father and son, both being honored with the presidency of the Missouri Medical Association. These men continued down until the new order in medicine was practically established, and, along with Dr. Loyd, were regarded as among the brightest physicians in the state. The elder Gore used to tell this story of his early struggles as a young practitioner: He was young, but had already acquired a wife and one boy, afterwards Dr. D. C. Gore, then of Marshall, but patients were few. Finally an epidemic of pneumonia broke out south of Paris and he was kept busy day and night. During his absence one day a stranger rode up to the gate where his young hopeful of a son was icily casting rocks and inquired for him.

Where is your father?’’ he asked.

“Dunno,” replied the boy. ‘‘Gone to see his patients?’’

‘‘Nop—patients all dead,’’ said the boy tersely and resumed his rocks.

    The elder Gore, as indeed also his son, were men of wide culture and fine wit. Dysart ranked as one of the greatest surgeons of the state in his day. They were men whose names are still loved and revered and are enshrined in the town’s traditions.

    Aside from Major Howell the early bar at Paris included such names as that of Theodore Brace, afterwards supreme judge of Missouri, Humphrey McVeagh, who quit the law for business and grew rich at Hannibal, James R. Abbernathey, and Colonel Philip Williams, Virginian. miser and hermit, owner of a hundred slaves, who died unmarried and without direct heirs and whose estate was the subject of one of the greatest pieces of litigation in the history of Northeast Missouri, Senator Vest and Judge Samuel Priest, then a young barrister, being among the opposing counsel. The estate went to a niece. Mrs. Annie Williams Magreiter, the old hermit’s housekeeper, who speedily dissipated it, and as mysteriously disappeared. A clause in the old miser‘s will is worth reproduction in the ‘‘Green Bag.’’ It mentions a woman he had known in Virginia, refers to an alleged illegitimate son, and says:

    "I do not of my own knowledge know that said Williams is my son, but it being ungallant to dispute the word of a lady in such matters, I hereby bequeath him the sum of $10,000.’’

    Colonel Williams was one of the historic figures of early Paris and lived in a picturesque grove east of town. Later came A. M. Alexander and B. N. Bodine, both elected to congress from the second district, and it may be said that the Monroe county bar has always been a brilliant one. It included T. P. Bashaw, Jas. H. Whitecotton, Judge W. T. Ragland, Senator F. W. McAllister and other men of note throughout the state. Like everything else in Monroe county, it is well supplied with tradition.

    Back in the days of the tobacco industry two men obtained their start at Paris and subsequently became famous in both business and philanthropy in this section of Missouri. They were Daniel and William Dulaney of Hannibal, founders of the Empire Lumber Co.. and their names live today on account of good deeds associated with them. At one time they bought and prized tobacco at Paris.

    The Masonic lodge at Paris was organized March 1, 1835, and boasts a continuous charter, being the fourth oldest lodge in the state. Its first master was Stephen Barton and it owns and occupies its own structure, a three story building. Monroe Chapter was organized in 1861, with Dr. Gore and W. F. Buckner as its leading spirits, and Parsifal commandery was organized in 1884.

    Paris Odd Fellows lodge was organized March 2. 1848. and retains today the traditions of its founders as does the Masonic. lodge, both being agencies for good during their long history. The charter members of the Odd Fellows lodge were Win. Taylor. Joseph Lefever, A. J. Caplinger, P. A. Heitz and others.