History of Henry County, Missouri (1919)

GenealogyBuff.com - History of Henry County, Missouri (1919) - Chapter XXI - BEGINNING IN 1900 - THE FRISCO BUYS THE BLAIR LINE - THE BEER INSPECTION LAW - INDUSTRIAL IRON WORKS - THE FRISCO CONTROLS THE MEMPHIS - GAS AND OIL - THE CASEY HERD - RURAL MAIL DELIVERY - THE URICH REUNION - THE FIRST CLINTON CHAUTAUQUA - THE HENRY COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY - THE YOUNGERS - STREET CAR HISTORY - GOOD ROADS MOVEMENT - HENRY COUNTY AT THE WORLD'S FAIR - THE CANDIDACY OF FOLK FOR GOVERNOR - THE "FOUR COUNTY FAIR" - THE WEATHER

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Date: Thursday, 23 March 2023, at 11:42 p.m.

CHAPTER XXI

An important railroad merger was effected early in 1900, when the Frisco railroad bought the Kansas City, Osceola and Southern, or what was familiarly known to the people of Henry County as the Blair line. The Kansas City, Osceola & Southern railway had been built by John I. Blair and after the death of this capitalist the Frisco had leased the road and operated it since the middle of the year 1898 until the completion of the link between Bolivar and Osceola. It had never been a paying proposition, but with the road running to Springfield it had become a paying investment. The purchase of the road was consummated in New York between the Frisco directors and representatives of the Blair estate. It was announced that the Frisco management planned to expend $1,000,000 on the reconstruction of the line and would ballast it with rock and relay with sixty-five pound rails.

The Democratic county convention met in Clinton on Saturday, April 7, 1900, for the purpose of selecting delegates to the various conventions. After an enthusiastic meeting the following prominent Democrats of the county were sent to the convention at Kansas City to nominate State officers and were instructed for A. M. Dockery for governor, Sam B. Cook for secretary of State, E. C. Crow for attorney general and W. C. Bronaugh of Henry County for railroad commissioner; J. P. Allen, C. E. Griffith, L. P. Beatty, R. H. Garrett, W. L. Pinkston, Dr. W. H. Gibbons, C. H. Whitaker, Sr., Henry Adkins, J. E. Gutridge, J. E. Jeter, J. R. Bradley, Clay Adair, P. A. Parks, W. L. McDonald, W. W. Adamson, Dr. J. S. Wilson.

The school census of Clinton, which was compiled by T. P. Bates, showed that in 1900 there were 1,682 white children of school age, of whom 795 were boys and 887 were girls; with eighty-six negro boys and ninety-five negro girls, making a total enumeration of 1,863 in the school district.

One of the unique characters in Missouri politics was Gen. Billy Rider. Every session of the Legislature, he was certain to appear. His object in attending the Legislature was problematical, but every citizen of Missouri who went to Jefferson City for any purpose, always saw Billy Rider and never forgot his peculiar appearance. In the Legislative session of 1899, there was passed a pure beer law, but this statute was more popularly known as Billy Rider's beer bill from its author. While nominally designed to prevent adulteration or introduction of impurities the principal object of the bill was to raise revenue from all beer made within or imported into the State. It provided for the appointment of a State inspector and assistants for the inspection of all beer and for the placing of labels on beer so inspected, the manufacturers to pay specified fees into the State treasury. Proper penalties were provided for in the bill, and as the breweries refused to recognize its constitutionality the attorney general determined to test the matter legally and determined to do so in Henry County. In order to make this test the attorney general wired the Henry County authorities to summon a special grand jury to bring necessary indictments and the following prominent citizens of the county were summoned: C. W. Gains, John Doyle, H. L. Hunter, T. E. Baskett, W. W. White, W. L. McDonald, Robert E. Harman, W. E. Sams, Ellis Smith, Al Craig, T. P. Carnes and J. T. Hendricks. Two well known saloon keepers were arrested on indictments returned by this special grand jury and the constitutionality of the statute affecting the whole State was determined by proceedings instituted in the Henry County Court.

The Industrial Iron Works at Clinton, which had been but a small enterprise at the first, had been recently making a remarkable growth and foreseeing the increasing demand for small motor engines of the gas and gasoline type experiments were made by William F. Hall, proprietor of the concern, looking towards the manufacture of an engine superior to those then in the market and at such a low price as to bring it in reach of all requiring small power. Hall's efforts were remarkably successful and the engine manufactured embodied the two points aimed at by other machinists, strength and simplicity. In 1900, two sizes of upright gasoline engines were manufactured in these works at Clinton and it was intended to build engines of greater horsepower. The largest machine so far made was an eight horsepower engine for the Windsor waterworks and proved to be very economical in operation and successful in use. The plant planned additions and was preparing for increased growth.

Early in 1901, the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad obtained control of the Memphis. The purchase of the control in the Memphis railroad by the Frisco gave the latter railroad three parallel lines between Kansas City and Springfield. The Clinton division of the Memphis had never been a money maker and it was the general opinion that the rails of the Clinton division from Olathe to Ash Grove would be torn up and the line abandoned. However, it was believed that too much money was invested to warrant such a wanton destruction of property. The succeeding years proved the contention that both the Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield and the Kansas City, Osceola & Southern railroads could not be profitably operated. In other words, there seemed to be abundant business for one good road, business that would warrant one railroad being maintained in first class condition, but not enough business to justify the best of service on two competing and almost parallel lines. In the succeeding years, it was continually found necessary to try to harmonize the conflicting interests of these two roads. The consolidation of the Memphis and Frisco lines first went into effect June 1, 1901, and played havoc with train service and employees on both roads. The Frisco local agents at Kansas City, Harrisonville, Lowry City and Osceola lost their positions, their work being taken over by the former agents of the Memphis road and the Memphis agents at Belton, Clinton and Walnut Grove were let out, while the Frisco agents took charge of the interests of both roads. The change also affected employees and a number of the passenger conductors and passenger trainmen went back to the freight service or were transferred to other lines. The consolidation of the two lines was productive of a reduction of train service, and yet there were some benefits that came to the traveling public and to the shipper as well.

By orders of the manager of the road, a purchaser could buy a round trip ticket to Kansas City on either road and return on the other if he did not care to come back on the same road. The same choice was given him in regard to the shipment of freight. This arrangement seemed to be a forerunner of the conditions in the World War when the Government sent freight by the shortest and most direct line, no matter what road received it.

The articles of association of the Clinton Light and Water Company were filed with the county recorder in May, 1901, preliminary to incorporating the company under the State law. Col. John L. Woolfork had sometime before acquired control of both the Home Waterworks Company and the Clinton Gas and Electric Company, and the consolidation made no change, except to effect the management of both systems as one property. The articles of association stated that the purpose of the company was the manufacture, distribution and sale of gas and electricity and to furnish public and private consumers with water. The capital stock was $180,000, divided into 1,800 of $100 each.

In the spring of 1901, agitation was begun for the boring for gas and oil and it was claimed that Clinton was in a gas belt. This feeling had already led to the drilling of the artesian wells which furnished the town with water, and while there had been discussion from time to time as to the practicability of boring for gas or oil, nothing ever had been done, although on several occasions a movement was started to resume drilling. There is good reason for the belief that gas underlays Henry County. About 1890 a flow of gas was struck at Lewis while drilling for coal. It was so strong that it was piped to the boiler of the engines at L. W. Good's mine and for several months furnished the fuel. It may only have been a large pocket or the pipe may have been defective, but at any rate it finally ceased to flow. However, fuel gas has been frequently struck in digging wells and oftentimes in considerable quantities. These gas pockets, while not large, afford convincing proof of the proximity of some larger sources of supply, but this can only be reached by drilling, and probably to a great depth.

A special city election was held October 22, 1901, to vote on the question of annexing eighty acres more ground adjoining the southern part of the city. There was a light vote cast, but resulted overwhelmingly in favor of extending the city limits; the total vote being as follows: For 261, against 49. The addition to the town included the Artesian Hotel and part of the lake, not the bath house or auditorium, and also included the waterworks and electric light plants, the Martin grocery store and the vacant lots known as the Salmon & Britts addition. The extension of the city limits was deemed wise and desirable, both on account of police and fire protection and for the purpose of taxation.

At the American Royal Cattle Show at Kansas City, in October, 1901, Col. G. M. Casey of Shawnee Mound, Missouri, brought fifty-two head of pure bred Shorthorns, and he captured a great many more cash prizes than any other exhibitor. His total special prize winning aggregated $2,190, which does not include the numerous prizes awarded his cattle in the regular classes in which they won every day. The first day of the show Colonel Casey received thirteen ribbons and at the conclusion of the show Colonel Casey made a deal with a butcher of Kansas City "whereby the latter bought fifteen head of fat steers which attracted so much attention at the show, for $16.00 per hundred pounds on the hoof, which, up to this time, was the highest price ever paid for a carload of fat stock in the history of the world. Among the noted animals exhibited by Colonel Casey in the show rings was Alice's Prince, which headed his herd and for which he paid $2,750; Rose Prince, which was placed at the head of the Shorthorn aged cow class; Princess Violet, Prince of Tebo Lawn and other prize animals well known to the breeders of this section. Colonel Casey enjoyed the reputation of producing the best fat steers placed on the Kansas City or Chicago markets.

Early in 1901, the first rural free delivery routes were established in Henry County, the service being inaugurated by two carriers over two routes and shortly afterwards increased. Its effect on the country post office was almost immediately apparent and before the end of the year the post office department had formally discontinued the offices at Quarles, Hortense, Alberta, Sparrow and Huntingdale. This was the beginning of the present system of rural carriers that reaches every farm in the county every day in the week with regularity that was unthought of in the cities but a few years before.

Henry County Court, at its first session in 1902, let a contract for enlarging the county jail. When the jail was built the jail portion of the building was designed for two cell rooms, one above the other, but only the lower room was completed and it had been insufficient to meet the county's need. Designed to take care of sixteen prisoners, there have been twenty or more confined there and once thirty were crowded in by the jailer, who was compelled to exercise the greatest vigilance to guard them in the crowded condition of the jail. The work cost the county about $4,000, and was completed within a few weeks.

The Democratic campaign was opened most auspiciously in the county by William J. Bryan, who spoke to a magnificent audience at Clinton on September 10. There was a tremendous crowd present from all over the county and at the close of his address he was overwhelmed by men and women who tried to shake his hand. The entire Democratic county, State and National ticket was carried in Henry County in November. Delegates to the Democratic State convention which was to nominate candidates for supreme judge and railroad and warehouse commissions were selected at a county convention which met in Clinton June 16, 1902.

Hon. W. C. Bronaugh of Levds was a candidate for railroad and ware house commissioner. The delegates were instructed to support him and to use all honorable means to secure his nomination and as a further testimony of esteem the convention permitted Mr. Bronaugh to name the delegates to the convention, who were as follows: G. M. Casey, W. F. Carter, Joseph P. Allen, P. A. Parks, C. F. Morrow, F. W. Bronaugh, George H. Hackney, James E. Bennett; alternates, T. J. Lingle, James M. Spangler, Rolla M. Owsley, W. H. Shackleford, Ed Avery, J. E. Finks, Mack Thralls and Bruce Wilson. The delegates from Henry County labored to their utmost, but unavailingly, for the nomination of their distinguished fellow citizen at the State convention which was held at St. Joseph.

The annual reunion of the Henry County Veterans' Association was held at Urich September 16, 17, 18 and 19, 1901, and was noteworthy because of the attendance of Dr. R. E. Bronson, department commissioner of the Grand Army of the Republic of Missouri and Major Henry Newman, adjutant of the United Confederate Veterans of Missouri. The attendance was very large and the occasion was one that marked an epoch in that section of the county.

Three very prominent and popular citizens of Henry County died within a short time of each other during 1902. George H. Blakemore, for over forty years in business in Clinton, was one of the trio, departing this life April 13. Col. John B. Colt, long a resident of Clinton, one of the original contractors for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad when it was built and highly successful in carrying out various business interests, died on April 21 following, while B. L. Quarle, well known all over Henry County and beloved by every man who knew him, entered into rest July 10. Mr. Quarles had been one of General Price's bodyguard during the war between the States and from time to time had held the offices of county and circuit clerk. All three of these men left large families and their places in the community were hard to fill.

The ever-recurring Rock Island rumor was revived early in 1903, that the impression prevailed generally that there was some merit in the contention of the city council of Clinton which had inaugurated proceedings against the Frisco for consolidating parallel lines and it was the general impression that the Frisco would be willing to sell the Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield railroad to the Rock Island and thus avoid the necessity of defending itself in the suit brought against them by the State of Missouri.

One of the most important matters to come before the forty-second General Assembly was the election of a United States Senator for a term of six years, beginning March 4, 1903. In the Senate the speech nominating William J. Stone was made by Senator C. C. Dickinson of Henry County. Senator Dickinson said in part: "I desire to present the name of the distinguished Democrat who by the Democratic caucus has been named for the high position of United States Senator. He is known to you all. He is a man of commanding ability, a fearless leader of his party and unquestioned fealty to its principles and nominees. He is a worthy successor to that great Senator, George G. Vest, and worthy colleague of the Hon. F. M. Cockrell. Born in Kentucky he has fought his way to success. He has been crowned from time to time because he deserved it. He has overcome obstacles. Every leader is assailed. It is the part of him who stands in the forefront of battle, but the people respond, so they award this high honor to this great man. The voice of the people is the law of the Republic. The voice of the people has recorded their desires. I take great pleasure in presenting the name of William J. Stone. I have been his friend for twenty years. I helped him when he was first nominated for Congress. He voluntarily retired when he could have been renominated without opposition. I placed his name in nomination when he was nominated for Governor. Now, after six years of private life, he has asked for higher honors. The people desire that he shall be the United States Senator from Missouri." The Republicans had nominated R. C. Kerens of St. Louis and a vote on the Senator was as follows: In the Senate Stone 25, Kerens 7; in the House, Stone 82, Kerens 59.

Early in 1903, agitation was begun for the holding of a chautauqua at Clinton with the idea of making it a permanent institution, and, at a meeting of business men a committee consisting of Col. J. L. Woolfork, Major H. W. Salmon, J. R. Gunn, T. M. Casey, J. F. Lindley and S. Degen were appointed to ascertain the sentiment of the community and to try to determine on some original plan for undertaking the project. The matter of acquiring Artesian Park for chautauqua purposes was touched upon, but not gone into in detail. The committee finally arrived at an agreement with the Seven Hills Chautauqua Company and formed a permanent organization by the election of J. L. Woolfork as president, T. M. Casey first vice-president, S. Degen second vice-president, J. R. Gunn treasurer and W. M. Godwin secretary. A splendid program was prepared and the preparations for the holding of a most successful meeting were perfected. The chautauqua was very largely attended and was a great success. The most prominent celebrities who took part in the chautauqua were William J. Bryan, who opened the meeting; Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, and Capt. Richmond Pearson Hobson.

A statement of business transacted and financial condition of the Henry County Mutual Insurance Company for the year beginning December 1, 1901, and ending November 30, 1902, is interesting to the farmers of the county and affords a ready means of comparison between the present Farmers' Mutual and the organization existing at the time above-mentioned. H. T. Burris made the statement in the weekly Democrat to the effect that the company at that time consisted of 885 members, carrying a total assessed valuation of $755,000. The business had increased $81,477 in the last year. During the year 1902 two assessments of fifteen cents each on the $100 valuation were made and it was explained that the assessments were so heavy because of unusually heavy losses that were sustained in the latter part of 1901. An abridged statement for the business done in the period above mentioned follows:

 

Receipts, balance in treasurer's hands                   $27.05    

Receipts from eighteenth and nineteenth assessments    2,506.35    

===============================================================   

Total                                                 $2,533.40      

   

Expenditures, loss by fire and lightning from 1901      $950.00    

Expense account carried from 1901                       $149.26    

Loss by fire and lightning, 1902                      $1,139.50    

Expense account, 1902                                   $215.36    

Balance                                                  $79.28    

========                                                =======   

Total expenditures                                    $2,533.40    

   

Assets, balance November 30, 1902                        $79.28    

Assessment No. 20, of ten cents on the $100    

   valuation and a total valuation of $755,000           755.00    

==============================================           =======   

Total assets                                            $834.28    

   

   

Liabilities, losses carried to 1903                     $154.00    

Expense account carried from 1903                       $215.00    

Balance to meet any losses that may occur               $465.28    

=========================================               =======   

Total liabilities                                       $834.28    

Capt. Wall C. Bronaugh spent the latter part of his life in attempt ing to secure the liberty of the Youngers, who were confined in the State prison at Minnesota under punishment for the final raid of the James Younger desperadoes of the Northfield, Minnesota, bank, in which the cashier, Haywood, was killed, September 7, 1876. The three Younger brothers were captured in the pursuit that followed the attack on this bank and were condemned to life imprisonment, and for years Captain Bronaugh devoted his entire efforts towards securing them their liberty.

For more than thirteen years he devoted his entire time, talents and means toward the liberation of Cole Younger and it was generally supposed that his activity was due to the fact that he was an old-time personal friend of the Younger boys and knew them before they became outlaws. This fact Captain Bronaugh himself denied, saying that he had never seen Jim Younger before he saw him in the Minnesota prison and had never seen Cole Younger more than once or twice before visiting him in prison and that the only times that he had seen Cole Younger were when they were serving together with the Confederate Army. Captain Bronaugh took the attitude that he knew the conditions surrounding men in western Missouri in war times, and he believed that because they were his old comrades he should do all he could to liberate them, and he traveled thousands of miles, securing signatures to petitions for pardon and letters from men of influence. When Cole Younger was finally released from prison Captain Bronaugh was the first man to meet him and brought him with him to St. Louis and remained with him day and night. In April Captain Bronaugh brought Cole Younger to Henry County with him on a visit and while Younger's coming was unexpected he was readily recognized from his pictures and was greeted cordially by the hospitable people. Younger recognized a great many landmarks as he came on the train from Kansas City through Cass and Henry Counties and pointed out land formerly owned by their family, which he had not seen for probably thirty years. He remained at the Bronaugh home for some days and was visited by a great many people of the county, particularly those who had known him in the Confederate service.

Clinton was at one time very proud of the fact that it had a streetcar line and the citizens gave themselves metropolitan airs over the horse-drawn cars that made semi-occasional trips from the terminus of the line, which was where the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad crossed Franklin street at what is now the Cozart Hotel, to Artesian Park. The line was a great deal like the railroad in Texas which was said not to have any destination at either end, but for a number of years it was popular and used to a considerable degree by the people. However, as the popularity of the "well" declined and people ceased to visit it with the regularity that they had formerly done, the patronage of the car line decreased and finally all attempt at the regular schedule was abandoned and trips were made only at very rare intervals, sometimes as much as thirty days apart, simply for the purpose of maintaining the franchise.

The question of paving the streets came up about this time and it was proposed to put down brick pavement in Clinton and consequently (part of the work being planned for in the year 1903 and much of it completed in that time) the street car track was an obstacle to the successful progress of any plan for paving. There was no public action taken in regard to the track. In fact, no one ever knew what had become of it. The only thing we could be certain about at this late day in a court of law is that one evening as the sun set the track was in existence and functioning as well as could be expected, ready to carry the streetcars on their semi-occasional trips and that at daylight the next morning there was none within the limits of the town, nor anywhere in the neighborhood thereof. Some resident of the town or county detained later than usual on the street might have seen the rails and ties being carried away during the night by unknown parties, but if he did, nothing was ever said.

Among some of the prominent citizens who appeared before the city council which met in March to discuss the matter of paving, were James L. Elliston, Dr. S. T. Neill, Col. J. L. Woolfork, James T. McKee, Dr. J. H. Britts, W. F. Crome, John Bixman, Joe Harness, John Price and C. A. Calvird.

Henry County Good Roads Association, which held a meeting in Clinton on May 9, 1903, was presided over by Dr. John H. Britts as president. Interesting talks were made by James Finks, H. H. Armstrong, Jacob Snyder and 0. L. Kehler. Concrete results of the meeting were embodied in a series of resolutions empowering the several vice-presidents of the association to call meetings in their township or school district for the purpose of promoting good roads and selecting of delegates in addition to the vice-presidents to attend the county meeting. The men who acted as vice-presidents of the Good Roads Association were pioneers in Henry County and should be remembered. A list of the vice-presidents for 1903 follows: Bear Creek, C. E. Dutro; Bethlehem, W. A. Hastian; Big Creek, A. M. Butcher; Bogard, Dr. Joseph Noble; Clinton, E. P. Mitchell; Davis, John Miller; Deepwater, Van Brown; Deer Creek, William H. Combs; Fairview, F. P. Aldrich; Fields Creek, George Spangler; Honey Creek, R. W. Covington; Shawnee, S. M. Thompson; Osage, A. Johnson; Springfield, Thomas P. Parks; Tebo, Chase E. Avery; Walker, William Moore; White Oak, Benjamin Henny; Windsor, William H. Davis.

Particularly enthusiastic over the question of good roads was the Calhoun Clarion, whose editor, James Bush, advocated the building of them with perennial persistence. In June, 1903, this newspaper had just moved into a new office and its efforts for the upbuilding of the community were appreciated by the people who had shown their appreciation in a practical fashion. The summer of 1903 will be remembered as a period of most disastrous storms. Continual rains threw all of the creeks out of their banks, flooding the lowlands and making all connection by rail or wagon road impossible where either went through the bottoms or across a watercourse. Water stood six or eight feet deep in the Kansas City Union Depot and for some days no trains were able to reach Kansas City at all. Finally one of the Frisco trains from Clinton got into Kansas City.

The storm that swept over Henry County the twenty-first of July, 1903, was one of the worst ever known. The chautauqua had just adjourned when the storm broke. The damage over Clinton and Henry County was very considerable. The Frisco round house in Clinton was destroyed and a great deal of damage was done in town. The county alms house was damaged and a new barn belonging to W. L. Bowman was scattered over an eighty acre field. The house of W. L. Petermans was damaged and one of his children was badly hurt. Barns belonging to Ed Empey, Andy and Fritz Detwiler were unroofed. The roof and porch was blown off of Charles McDonald's house and damage through the whole county was excessive and serious.

Preparations for the Henry County exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition, to be held in St. Louis in 1904, were made in the summer of 1903. Most of the samples of grain necessary were selected from the products of 1902. Clay Adair was made commissioner for the county by order of the executive committee, of which Thomas Day was chairman.

Notification was made that the exposition would offer prizes for the best twenty ears of white corn and of yellow corn; also prizes for the ten largest and for the ten longest ears and for the best twenty ears of calico or bloody butcher corn. It is worthwhile to note that the prize offered was $10 for the best ten ears of either white or yellow corn and only $5 for the best twenty ears of bloody butcher corn. Twenty years later, prizes of $150 were offered for exhibits of corn under certain conditions by some counties of the State.

The candidacy of Joseph W. Folk for Governor began to be agitated in midsummer throughout the county. The popularity gained by Folk when as circuit attorney of St. Louis he had successfully prosecuted the boodling aldermen of that city caused the Democrats of the State and of Henry County to look upon him as a fit candidate for Governor. Early in September, a Folk Club of fifty members was organized at Huntingdale. The meeting after organization was addressed by C. A. Calvird of Clinton, who was present by invitation, and fifty of the seventy Democrats in Huntingdale precinct of Shawnee township quickly enrolled. Jesse Spitzer, a prominent farmer, was elected president and E. E. Schroff, a well known Huntingdale merchant, was elected treasurer. A Folk Club was organized at Montrose of which James H. Vickers was elected president and Judge James M. Ballard was elected secretary. This club was also of large membership and numerous others were organized throughout the county.

James A. Reed of Kansas City announced his candidacy for Governor in a formal meeting held in Sedalia in September, 1903, and was followed by Joseph W. Folk, in his announcement in October, whose opening speech was made at St. Joseph.

Harry B. Hawes of St. Louis and Judge James B. Gantt of Henry County were also candidates.

The Democratic county committee at a meeting held in March, 1903, decided to have a county primary, at which time the voters might express their preference between the several candidates for Governor, and adopted resolutions to the effect that the names of all candidates for the nomination for Governor who might desire to contest Henry County be printed on the primary ballot to be voted at the primary election to be held in the various precincts of the county on the ninth day of April, 1904. The candidate for the nomination for Governor receiving the highest number of votes at such election should be the choice of the county for such nomination and such vote be taken and considered positive instruction of the democracy of the county for such candidate; that the delegates to the State convention should be men who were known to be unqualifiedly for the candidate for the nomination for Governor who should have received the highest number of votes at the primary; such delegates shall pledge themselves to use all honorable means to secure the nomination of such candidate, and finally, that each candidate for Governor who may desire his name printed on the primary ballot may have it done by notifying the chairman of the county committee in writing at least six days before the primary election. On motion it was ordered that no assessment be made for State candidates at the coming primary, and in explanation it was stated that many candidates were making heavy charges upon State candidates, which example, if generally followed, would prove burdensome and unjust to the candidates. The committee voted that the county convention should be held on Saturday, May 28, and the delegates thereto be selected on the basis of one for every fifty votes cast for Bryan or fraction of twenty-five votes or over.

The city election in Clinton resulted in the selection of E. A. Barnhart, Republican, for mayor by a majority of sixty-nine over Henry Stark, who was the Democratic nominee. The balance of the Democratic ticket, except two aldermen, was elected. The total vote cast for mayor was: Stark, Democrat, 528; Barnhart, Republican, 597; Simison, Prohibition, forty-four. The Prohibitionists cast fifty-four votes for Norcross for marshal, which was the highest number received by them. When the day came for the county primary, no candidate for governor except Joseph W. Folk filed. Out of a total of 3,100 votes cast in the county primary. Folk received all but about 100 and probably half of these simply scratched his name without writing in that of any of his rivals. The vote in Clinton township for Governor was an example of what was going on throughout the county. In this township Folk received 862, Reed seven, Gantt nine, Hawes one. It was a fact that at the time of the holding of the Democratic primary in Henry County, the selection of Folk as a Democratic candidate for Governor was assured and the other candidates had practically withdrawn from the race. The Democratic ticket as nominated in the primary and which was elected in the fall consisted of John I. Hinkle, candidate for prosecuting attorney; E. M. Goodwin for collector, J. D. Hall for sheriff, A. T. Loyd for assessor, A. M. Highnote for surveyor. Clay Adair for treasurer, Alfred Slack and T. W. Ogg for county judges, John Drach, Jr., for public administrator and B. B. Barr for coroner.

On May 11, James A. Reed formally withdrew from the contest for Governor. In his statement, he announced that it was now manifest that he was defeated and under the circumstances to prolong the contest would be without results. He thanked his friends for their support and pledged his loyalty to the ticket. Folk was elected Governor and the rest of the Democratic ticket defeated.

The new opera house was opened in Clinton on December 16, 1903, with a gala production of "Peggy from Paris." The house was crowded with people from Clinton and delegations from Windsor, Calhoun, Montrose and Deepwater. The building was erected by John M. Bixman and had a capacity of about 1,100 people. It covered an area of sixty-nine by ninety-nine feet. The stage was thirty-five feet deep by sixty-two wide, the proscenium opening being twenty-eight feet. It was forty feet from the ground to the top of the "shoe." The playhouse was one of the most complete in the interior of the State and afforded a splendid place for county and State gatherings.

Joseph Pollock, who was for many years a resident of Clinton and for nearly thirty years in the clothing business, died in late September and James M. Avery, who had been born in Henry County in 1838 and lived there continuously ever since, died in November. The death of these two well-known citizens was a distinct and enduring loss to the county, both of them being progressive citizens and always standing for the upbuilding of the town and county.

Organization of the "Four County Fair" was effected at Windsor in February, 1904. J. G. Callison was made chairman of the organization and W. M. Amick secretary. It had already been demonstrated that Windsor could maintain as good a fair as any town in the State and it was proposed to make the association permanent and hold a fair annually at Windsor, Missouri.

The Henry County cattlemen were very much elated at the victory of the celebrated Casey herd of Shorthorns at the Minnesota State Fair. These Henry County products headed by choice goods were shown by the best herds from several neighboring States as well as Canada and received first premiums. From Minnesota the Casey herd were shipped to the World's Fair at St. Louis, where the finest herds of cattle in the United States and Canada were on exhibition. Expert cattle judges were aware of the fact that this herd would come in contact at St. Louis with the best and most expensive herds of Shorthorns in the world and Henry County people were very much delighted when Choice Goods took the first prize in the World's Fair Shorthorn contest and was judged to be the best male in the world.

At the time of the World's Fair, a meeting of the Missouri Division of the United Veterans of the Confederacy was held on October 6 at the Missouri building at which time Major H. W. Salmon of Clinton was elected major general of the division. The compliment was appreciated by the old veterans of Henry County and by the people among whom Major Salmon had lived so long and where he had so many friends.

George M. Casey was in some ways the most prominent citizen of Henry County. Born in Kentucky in 1837 he settled in Henry County in 1842. He served throughout the war in the 16th Missouri Confederate Infantry and at the conclusion of the war between the States he resumed farming beginning to systematically breed Shorthorns. At the time of his death in April, 1904, he was recognized throughout the Union as one of the greatest breeders of fine Shorthorns that there was in the country. The seventeenth of June Judge James Parks died in Clinton. He was born in Kentucky in 1827, but had lived in Henry County since 1834.

He was assessor by appointment and assessed Henry County in 1860. He was circuit clerk from 1863 to 1867 and probate judge of Henry County from 1879 to 1899, retiring on account of advancing years. For a time he was a member of the law firm of Parks, Thornton and Gantt. William T. Thornton, one of the partners, being an ex-Governor of New Mexico and J. B. Gantt, the other, was later chief justice of the State of Missouri.

Mrs. H. T. Baird, who was founder and president of Baird College, for fifteen years a noted school, died in October, 1904. Her leaving the college sealed its doom as an educational institution, as her personality made it the school that it was.

In June, 1904, the agitation for oil had come to the point where a company of fifty representative citizens had agreed to pay $l00 each, and with the $5,OOO thus raised to bore for oil. The company which was organized as a result of this agreement was called The Clinton Oil and Development Company, and after some delay selected as a point to begin drilling a location about a mile from the corporation and on the dividing line between the farms of Dr. G. Y. Salmon and R. E. Harman. In the fall of that year the derrick which was built for the purpose of drilling was destroyed by a wind storm and after work had been suspended for several months L. C. Davis, a new contractor, took hold of the enterprise, rebuilt the derrick and commenced drilling in December, 1905. After about two weeks' work the derrick and all its machinery was destroyed by fire. It was believed that the fire was the work of an incendiary, as Mr. Davis stated that he was certain there was no fire left. The well had only been drilled fifteen feet after cleaning out the hole, but it was claimed that they were working in sand that gave promise of results. The local company had put $500 worth of pipe in the hole, but after so many discouragements, there was little hope of pursuing the drilling any further. The matter was abandoned for three years when again the idea of drilling for oil was discussed and in September, 1908, President Stark of the Clinton Oil and Development Company called a meeting and reported that the hole which had been drilled afforded strong evidence of oil. A windmill and pump had been installed and had been operated for a week and as the hole was piped the water drawn up came from the bottom of the well. The character of the water changed as the standing water was drawn out, first becoming very salty and then holding in suspension large quantities of heavy brown oil. All who visited the well at that time believed that the project had been abandoned just as results were at hand.

The meeting was presided over by Henry Stark and James L. Elliston was secretary. It was found that about half the original company had died or moved away and the secretary was ordered to correspond with the pioneer members or their heirs to see how many were willing to retain their membership and the stock of those who refused was to be allotted to new members who would be received on the same basis as the old ones. A committee to solicit new members was appointed, which consisted of R. E. Harman, J. M. Blakemore and F. P. Kitchen and a committee to secure a new lease, the old one having been forfeited, was appointed, which consisted of Henry Stark, William Ming, A. C. Landon and E. A. Bamhart. About this time the Windsor people were organizing a company to bore 2,000 feet for oil near that town. In spite of the hopes entertained, no results were obtained from the search and Clinton has never been successful in locating oil in paying quantities.

The extremes of weather in Henry County were exemplified in February, 1903, when, on the twelfth the thermometer showed what it really was capable of accomplishing when it wanted to perform. On the morning of February 12 it was eight degrees below zero. By 2 o'clock in the afternoon it had moderated until it was six degrees above zero and then the mercury decided to hunt the bottom of the tube and by 8 P.M., that same day, Government thermometer showed thirty-three degrees below zero, ordinary thermometers showing thirty-four and one registering thirty-eight below. This was the coldest day ever known in Henry County.

An attempt to organize a company for the manufacture of an automobile delivery wagon was made early in 1905. Charles McKiearnan, a well-known citizen of Clinton, had long been studying and working on a new automobile with the idea that it should be of simple construction, of substantial character, but built in an economical way so it could sell for about $350, which was several hundred dollars less than any similar machine. Mr. McKiearnan arranged to incorporate and manufacture the machine and was backed by sufficient money to insure the success of his project, but owing to various obstacles the plan did not materialize. Had it done so the county would have been greatly benefited. The proposal to establish an automobile factory at Clinton failed, however, and in 1910, Mr. McKiearnan went to Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was offered a large amount of money by way of a bonus, together with a site for the establishment of his factory.

Missouri School Yearbooks by County

History of Henry County, Missouri (1919) is maintained by GenealogyBuff with WebBBS 5.12.