Villages, Old & New

From The History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps, and Dent Counties, Missouri

Published by Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889

Bloomington
Boston
Bunker Hill
Compton
Diggins
Duncan
Elkland
Fordland
Hazelwood
Henderson
Mountain Dale
Panther Valley
Rogersville
Russelville
St. Luke
Sand Springs
Sarvis Point
Seligman
Seymour
Teague Post Office
Waldo
White Oak Springs

HAZELWOOD.

In 1844, when John Foster settled near Hazelwood, Joseph W. McClurg and his step-father, William Murphy, kept a general store; Sebastian See, a German, was blacksmith. Within the following ten years four log cabins were erected, by order of Mr. McClurg, for renting purposes. There were neither saloon, church nor school there when the first county court assembled, and later, when the circuit court was held, the grand jury held their deliberations in the brush in charge of the sheriff. McClurg’s store-room was within the original log cabin building, and the roof could be almost touched by the hands of a tall man. On Gov. McClurg's removal to Linn Creek the old county seat may be said to have disappeared. In its vicinity the villages of High Prairie or Bracken sprung up, and there was established a post-office station in August, 1877.

was established in July, 1880, ten miles southeast of Marshfield. Prior to that, from the time the Hazelwood office was abolished, settlers had to go to the county seat or to Waldo. A description of the settlement, written in August, 1880, gives the following facts: "We occupy the country around Hazelwood, where the oldest town and post-office in the county were. We enumerate about forty residents, and a population of about 200 within three miles. We have a post-office, one dry goods and grocery store being erected, one steam, grist and saw mill, and one school-house. We have permanent employment for twenty-five wagons and teams to haul logs and lumber. Business is lively in general. A six months’ school commenced recently, which now numbers about fifty students, under the control of Prof. C. T. Childress." The soldiers’ reunion at Teague of August, 1883, was held just north of the Ava and Marshfield road, near the Blankenship Springs. Cols. Pardee and Childress, with Judge Minor, were among the organizers at this pleasant and useful meeting. In 1886 J. C. McCulloch paid merchants’ license at Teague, also John Miller.

The city of Frankfort was surveyed by Richard H. Pitts, for $100, for Hermann Nobbe, and acknowledged April 8, 1858. Webster, Walnut, Market, Liberty and Washington, intersected by First, Second, Third, Fourth, Mine, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Streets, are shown. Between Sixth and Seventh Streets school and church buildings are shown, each side of Mine Street a large market place, and between Second and Third Streets a large public park. Andrew McMaster was interested in this town, and it was he who bought the land and asked Mr. Foster to hire a surveyor to plat the town for $100. The latter secured Pitts, who duly received the money consideration. Mr. Foster thinks that there never was a cabin erected here.

on Section 6, Township 31, Range 17 (three miles north of Niangua), was platted for Josiah C. Goodline and wife. This "paper town" contained 256 blocks, which sold for an average of $100 per lot, the date of first deeds being February, 1858. Like Frankfort, the town was a failure, but several lots were disposed of.

The town of Niangua is situated about the center most productive and valuable tract of farming land, 1,453 feet above sea-level, and 1,029 feet above St. Louis. It lies near the waters of the Osage and Bowing Creeks. In the bottom lands is soil of such strength as to produce eighty-five bushels of corn and twenty-five to thirty bushels of wheat per acre. Niangua was surveyed in March, 1870, for the South Pacific Railroad Company, on a part of the west half of Section 20, Township 31, Range 17. Andrew Peirce, Jr., managing director, acknowledged the plat. Washington, Madison and Jefferson, intersected by Elm, Myrtle, Spruce, Main, Commercial, Pine and Olive Streets, are shown. John J. Redmond built the first business house on the plat, which is now occupied by Gates & Son, and subsequently erected the greater number of houses in the village. Mr. Redmond was also the first merchant, followed by Whitehurst & Gates. In 1884 5. C. Crawford purchased the Redmond store and stock; Mackie Bros. opened the Wheel store in June, 1888. Joseph Skidmore, John F. Walton and S. Kruggs are blacksmiths, and William Skidmore, shoemaker. The school building was erected in 1882 (District No. 5). In it a four-months’ public school is conducted, and also a three-months’ subscription school; while the first floor is reserved for school purposes and for the religious purposes of all denominations, and the second floor is the property of the Masonic lodge, and in their hall the Odd Fellows also meet. The cost of the building was only $600, Mr. Redmond having donated the lumber. The J. J. Redmond mill and grain elevator was erected in 1879, at a cost of $11,000, which was one of the leading milling concerns of the Southwest at that time. Prior to its destruction by fire in December, 1884, entailing a loss of $17,500, some roller machinery was introduced. For fourteen years before the change of 1884 Mr. Redmond was postmaster, but was succeeded that year by S. C. Crawford. During that period he was also agent for railroad and express companies, and was succeeded in 1884 by Hampton Gates.

Lodge.-Niangua Lodge No. 529, A. F. & A. M., was instituted under charter November 25, 1885 (but organized U. D. February 20, 1885), with the following named officers: J. B. Davis, NV. M.; J. M. Robertson, S. NV.; E. J. Coffee, J. W.; P. L. Burford, Treasurer; J. J. Redmond, Secretary; J. C. Douglass, S. D.; S. C. Crawford, J. D.; T. C. Clements, S. S.; D. A. Williams, J. S., and D. B. Caple, Tyler. In the original organization J. C. Bridges was J. W.; J. F. Gardner, S. D., and I. L. Mathis, Tyler, were officers. The Past Masters are J. B. Davis and J. M. Robertson, who is present Master, with the following junior officers: J. C. Douglas, S. W.; Albert Hyde, J. W.; D. A. Williams, Treasurer; J. B. Davis, Secretary; T. B. Young, Tyler; D. H. Dwyer, S. D.; Joseph Hyde, J. D.; H. S. King, William Puett, Stewards. The present membership is thirty-four.

Northview, seven miles west of Marshfield, has only one store and blacksmith shop, and several residences, but is a beautiful location for a town, and also a very good trading point. Its elevation above sea level is 1,500 feet. A colony of Germans from North Missouri settled near Northview in November, 1883. The first Sunday-school at this point was organized by Rev. Mr. Forrester in June, 1881, with T. J. Welch, superintendent; George W. Cruise and Mrs. L. Teague, assistants; Mrs. John Willis, librarian; S. B. Dugger, secretary; Mrs. Z. T. Fanning, chorister; Rev. S. Murphy, James Bowman, A. M. Blunt, Mrs. W. Welch and Miss Hulda Blunt, executive committee. The Northview Library Society was organized January 15, 1881, with J. J. Mays, president; T. J. Welch and James Bowman, vice-presidents; A. M. Bumgarner, treasurer, and S. B. Dugger, secretary. Among the members were Bozarth, Russell, Graves, Daniels, Ford, Fanning, Freeman, Murphy and Willis.

S. B. Dugger & Co. were the only merchants licensed at Northview in 1888.

Bloomington, on the northwest of the southeast quarter of Section 24, Township 29, Range 17, was surveyed by B F. Hayhurst, but the original plat was destroyed in the burning of the Wright County Court-house. James River is shown meandering through southern lots. Main Street and Webster Avenue enter the public square, while Water Street is shown between the river and the square, intersecting Main Street.

This town, surveyed for the South Pacific Railroad Company, on a part of the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 30, Range 19, was acknowledged by Andrew Peirce, Jr., March 28, 1870. Washington and Adams, running northeast, were intersected by Locust, Olive, Commercial, Main, Pine and Elm Streets.

is on the line between Webster and Wright Counties, on the Hartville Road. In 1880 a few dwelling houses, a blacksmith shop, a boot and shoe shop, a harness shop, Dr. Johnson & Son’s drug store and Jasper Cantrell’s dry goods store, formed the nucleus of the village. Paul Ellis then had charge of the school.

In 1881 Boston comprised the dry goods stores of Robertson & Trimble and M. Crabb, Mrs. Ketchum’s grocery, L. Pilkington’s grocery, Trimble & Brixey’s lumber yard, David Hoover’s livery, Lemen’s hotel, a drug store and two blacksmith shops. The fact of the place being on the Kansas City & Missouri Railroad brought it into prominence in the fall of the year named.

Benjamin and Daniel Burford opened the first store at St. Luke, about 1846, having moved their stock from their house, one mile west of Marsh field, where the old log store-house is still standing. Allen E. Goss was clerk for the Burfords at the Pleasant Prairie store, and afterward at St. Luke. In 1851 C. F. Dryden had an interest in the Burford store, which he held until 1852, when Lazarus Nichols and A. E. Goss purchased the store and stock. In 1854 Mr. Goss moved to Ebenezer, but on the new county seat being settled lie moved hither, Mr. Nichols continuing the store at St. Luke until 1858, when he joined Mr. Goss in business at Marshfield, selling his goods to A. F. Hamilton. For thirty-four years there was a post-office at St. Luke, when it was changed to Forkner Hill, where John K. Beckner is postmaster.

W. H. Buckner is postmaster at Thorpe, in Jackson Township.

is the name given to the settlement on the south fork of the James, fourteen miles southwest of Marshfield. In 1880 this little hamlet embraced a dozen families. Dr. J. H. Williams owned the general store, the mills and a neighboring farm, and was in fact owner of the town and everything around it. Panther Valley Church house was burned February 20, 1881. The building was a two-story one, the upper floor being used for school purposes.

This town, on Lot 1, southwest quarter Section 6, Township 29, Range 17, was surveyed September 15, 1874, by B. F. Hayhurst, and the plat made by James Dunn for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, and acknowledged by D. R. Garrison, president of the railroad company. Randolph, Rogers and Yeaton, intersected by Pine, Spruce and Olive Streets, are shown, while Teague Creek flows east and west, north of the town, above the spring.

on the corner of Sections 22, 23, 26 and 27, Township 31, Range 19, was surveyed May 1, 1868, by Richard H. Pitts. St. Louis Street, the principal thoroughfare, is shown to be intersected by Cedar, Chestnut and Pine Streets. Samuel Keesee was owner of the town.

on the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad, 181 1/2 feet from the southwest corner of southwest quarter Section 25, Township 29, Range 18, was platted in October, 1887, and acknowledged on October 12 by Cyrus H. and Sallie L. Patterson. G. L. Childress was the only licensed merchant here in 1888.

Early History.-Seymour, on the north half of the southwest quarter and south half of the northwest quarter Section 2, Township 28, Range 17, was surveyed for Ralph and Frances Walker, who acknowledged the plat November 4, 1881. On this plat the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad is shown, dividing the town into two triangular sections. Frances, Commercial, Main, Cordie and Charles, intersecting Garfield, Clinton and two unnamed streets, are indicated. In 1884 a new plat was recorded, showing Market and Center Streets and Washington Avenue. The location is about seventeen miles southeast of the county seat, its elevation being 1,680 feet. The first public sale of lots took place July 11, 1882, when an excursion train brought a large number of visitors from Marshfield and Springfield. Fifteen lots on the business street were sold, at prices ranging from $50 to $160. At that time the following business men had opened their houses or were completing their buildings: Robertson & Trimble, general store; D. M. Long, dry goods, clothing, etc.;

J. W. Baden, confectionery; W. H. Miller, groceries, queensware, boots, shoes and furniture; Drs. Tunnel and Hackney, druggists; J. R. Lemons, hotel and transient house; D. W. Hoover, wagon yard, livery and feed stable; Mr. Hill, restaurant.

Thomas J. Robertson had a tan-yard in this neighborhood prior to the war.

Development.-In November, 1881, when the coming of the railroad was a certainty, the new town began to fill up, and the business circle included nearly all of the representative commercial interests. In 1886 a number of names belonging to the mercantile trade appear on the records, among whom were A. B. Chapman, David Sullivan, Joseph Jones, H. T. Little & Co., Trobridge & Wigginston.

The merchants of Seymour who paid license in 1888 are named as follows: Walter Clark, Carter & Matney, J. R. Lemons & Co., Robertson & Trimble, Jacob Good, Morris Cohen, J. W. Bader, S. A. Hoover, John Miller, J. W. Fuson & Co., R. S. Hill, Elms Shultz, John Freeman, Penelope Graham, F. P. Cardwell, Waldo, J. B. Mattock, John Miller, J. C. & S. C. Trimble, W. B. Tunnell, M. M. Reynolds, Sig. Sivils, Reaves & Gowin. H. J. White, John W. Nichols.

Seymour Cemetery, on the northeast quarter of Section 3, Township 28, Range 17, was surveyed by W. J. Trimble, William B. Tunnell, AIf. C. Heckendorn, trustees of Hazelwood Masonic Lodge, in May, 1888.

Incorporation.-The town of Seymour was incorporated February 4, 1886, on petition of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 2, Township 28, Range 17. John C. Trimble, J. P. Robertson, Dr. W. B. Tunnell, P. S. Wilkes and J. W. Bader were appointed trustees.

Tke Press.—The Seymour Herald was issued in May, 1888, by H. Drennan & Sons. The Enterprise, edited by A. J. Shelton and published by J. F. Kendrick, bears the numbers Vol. III., No. 50, on its issue of December 14, 1888.

Fires.—In August, 1878, the church building near the Rose farm, in the southern part of the county, was burned, but in September following measures were taken to build a new house of worship. Miller’s store, at Seymour, was burned January 3, 1883, entailing a loss of $5,000. An attempt to burn Seymour village was made October 17, 1886, J. M. Wammack’s office being selected as the starting point. The fire was discovered and put out.

Mountain Dale, or Waldo, or Love Ridge, may be said to be identical. The settlement is old, and society is well established.

The Mountain Dale C. T. A. was organized April 28, 1878, with Judge J. C. Trimble, President; 1. 5. Wilson, T. C. Love and W. T. McMahan, Vice-presidents; J. W. Thomas, C. S.; J. C. Forbes, B. S.; Mrs. Mary Clay, Treasurer; J. L. Stafford, L. M. A. Bailey, J. T. Hailey, Sallie Love and Jane Trimble, managers.

Prof. A. D. Trimble, who died in December, 1879, came from Kentucky a short time before to take charge of Mountain Dale Seminary. Prof. C. D. Whitman succeeded Mr. Trimble, and he, with Mrs. Trimble and daughters, continued the school.

Waldo, north of Seymour, was an important settlement years after the old hamlet of Hazelwood passed out of existence. The Waldo post-office was discontinued in March, 1886, and the United States property turned over to the Seymour office. Dr. I. S. Wilson’s house was burned August 27, 1879. Jefferson Hughes’ house, near the village, was destroyed by fire in December, 1880.

the same distance southwest of Seymour that Waldo is northeast, is a postal point, and the site of Hiram Jennings’ store.

was, in 1880, an important trading point. A traveler of that period calls it a "cross roads" hamlet of one store, some shops and three or four residences. Its location, eighteen miles south of Marshfield, is in a fine farm district, and there J. R. Taggard carries on the general mercantile trade. The building of the Gulf Railroad and the establishment of other towns overshadowed the name.

Fordland was surveyed for Joseph S. Ford and Samuel B. Dugger, on Lot 2, northeast quarter Section 6, Township 28, Range 18, and acknowledged by them April 4, 1882. W. S. Thompson was surveyor. The Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad and depot are shown on the southern boundary of the village. The town of Fordland was incorporated February 5, 1883, with James S. Taggard, John Heckart, Fred Constans, Henry Sifert and W. M. Blansett, trustees. The merchants who paid license in 1888 are J. H. Williams, H. Rabenau, J. S. Taggard, J. H. Williams, Jr., W. M. Blansett, A. C. Smith and L. Latham. The Fordland Journal, formerly the Webster County Record, is now published at this point, G. P. Garland being its editor. Vol. IV, No. 1, new series, was issued December 13, 1888.

The Fordland Sunday-school was organized in May, 1886, with E. Collins, superintendent; G. Collins, secretary; T. F. Evans and Sarah Butcher, teachers. There is a union church and school building in the town.

Fordland Post No. 249, G. A. R.. elected the following named officers in December, 1887: J. S. Taggard, C.; David Hardy, S. V. C.; James Cheatham, J. V. C.; Jesse Farr, Adjutant; William Lemming, Surgeon; M. McDales, Chaplain; S. Johnson, Q. NI.; William Lee, 0. of D., and James Farler, 0. of G. The post then claimed sixty members. A camp of Sons of Veterans was mustered in in the fall.

The elevation of Fordland is 1,600 feet.

Rogersville was surveyed by J. J. Watts, May 17, 1882, for D. M. Beaty and his wife, Mary Beaty, on the southeast quarter of southwest quarter Section 18, Township 28, Range 19. Bason, Clinton and Front, intersected by Cherry, Norton, Main, Pond and Baltic, were the names given to the streets. The location is one and three-fourths miles south of Henderson, on the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad, about 220 miles northwest of Memphis, Tenn., and a few miles east of Springfield, Mo. Its elevation is 1,475 feet above sea level. in 1882 W. L. Davis had the only store there, but during that winter Dr. I. N. Rogers had his drug house built, Bails & Johnson erected their store, the Green Brothers had commenced building, while Alderson & Adair’s large blacksmith shop was operated by Damon Horn. Horn & Hughes, of Henderson, were the principal grain shippers. L. C. Sams had the first modern cottage erected there.

The gunpowder explosion of March, 1884, resulted in the destruction of W. J. Rabeneau’s store and stock, also the buildings and stock of Green Brothers. The merchants who were licensed in 1888 are Farmer & Boals, Beaty & Forrester, R. S. Johnson & Co., W. L. Davis, Rogers & Horubeck.

Henderson was surveyed by J. J. Watts and J. F. Neace February 9, 1880, for Samuel H. Caldwell, on the southeast fractional quarter of northwest quarter Lot 1, Section 7, Township 28, Range 19. North Row, Rockridge Row and College Row, intersected by North Street, are shown, with the college grounds in the southwestern corner, south of the Sherman and Brashear lots.

A contributor to the Industrial World, writing of the village of early days, says: "Henderson is a beautiful and growing village of 300 souls, located on the new railway, in the midst of a rich and prosperous farm region. It has a flourishing academy, half a dozen stores, a steam flouring and sawmill, and the usual complement of mechanic shops. The attraction of this town is the Henderson Academy, an academic school of more than usual merit. This institution was founded in 1879, and is under the presidency of Prof. J. W. Thomas, assisted by an able corps of instructors. It offers all the advantages of a comprehensive academic course, and enjoys a high measure of prosperity. About 120 students were catalogued in the various courses and classes in 1880, and the present academic year opened with a large attendance. Henderson is an admirable trading point, and has some excellent mercantile men."

The first fire occurred in December, 1880, when Duff’s dwelling was destroyed. The fire of March 14, 1884, destroyed Horton, Morris & McFarland’s building and stock, and a house belonging to S. H. Caidwell, the losses of the first named firm being estimated at about $7,000. The village lost in another fire Dr. Watt’s store and dwelling with contents, also W. L. Davis’ Grange store, while Horn & Hughes dry goods store was damaged.

A Knights of Labor lodge was organized at Henderson July 10, 1886.

The merchants of Henderson who paid license in 1888 were J. J. Newcomer, T. B. Horn & Son, Morris & Bouldin, W. J. James, T. J. Sage and S. S. Lawing.

OTHER TRADING POINTS.

Compton.-Thompson McClelland was the only merchant licensed at Compton in 1888. This settlement is near the northwest corner of West Dallas Township, and near the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad.

Duncan.—T. W. Young was the only merchant licensed at Duncan in 1888.

Elkland—J. H. Davidson & Son were the only merchants licensed at Elkland in 1888. The country in the immediate neighborhood is only sparsely settled, but a large area of excellent land awaits development.

Back to Goodspeed History