Historical La Grange of 1902

Compared with many of the modern built cities of our country, La Grange, Missouri, has been a place of exceedingly slow growth. The crossing of two or more trunk lines of railroad, the discovery of gas or coal, the founding of a few great manufactures, the opening and settlement of some new and rich country may convert a prairie of today with populous city of tomorrow. It is not uncommon in the West to see a city of tents grow up white and ghostly during a night. If perchance some lucky miner has struck it rich, the pent up gulch or the wind-swept mountain side where his solitary shack or wickup alone gave evidence of human habitation, in a day becomes an incorporated city with pretentious courts and plazas, wholesale, houses, hotels, saloons innumerable and dance halls not a few. Sometimes the airy nothingness of the new made city quickly takes on substantial form, and again the argonauts pass adverse judgment on the location, disincorporate the city, disband the common council, hole an animated wake over the remains of the "future great," and between suns.
"Fold their tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal away."
La Grange has not like many western towns ever had anything akin to a boom. It has had a good while to grow., and it has not always improved the time as industriously as it might have done, yet it has lived through periods of depression which would have put many another community in search of a new location. The place was selected by its founders on account of the fine river front, the deep water close to shore the narrowing valley and higher land, the hills overlooking the great river, and the fertile farm lands adjacent, north, west and south. How the name came to be chosen, or who stood sponsor for the christening, is unknown to the writer, but certain it is that no more appropriate title could have been given. Doubtless someone of French proclivities or extraction foreseeing the agricultural possibilities of the new country thought well to make the future town the store house, so dubbed it "La Grange," the granary. The French too, carries in the term "la grange" the ides of the rural home, and the citizen who, living in the town and enjoying most of the benefits of city life, at the same time lives in the country and shares with the farmers the blessing of pure air and unstinted sunshine, may fully appreciate the fitness of the name.
Early in the '30s La Grange became a steamboat landing. Settlers looking for the rich farming lands along the streams of northeast Missouri disembarked from snail-paced, wheezy steamers which occasionally made trips on the upper Mississippi. The Bozarths, Bullocks, Wrights, Nunns, Longs, Briscoes, Givens, Singletons and a host of other pioneers who located on farm lands adjacent to La Grange furnished patronage for the pioneer merchants, and in due time large stocks of goods were housed in substantial brick buildings. Charles Skinner was the merchant prince of his day, and carried on a business which would have done credit to modern merchants of larger means. Then came John H. Talbot, the Louthaus, Hagoods, Richardson and Simpson, Olds, Cluff, Hay, and a score of others who proved good merchants, and helped make La Grange a really first class town. Merchants from Memphis, Lancaster, Unionville, Edina, Kirksville, Newark, Shelbyville and all over the northeastern portion of the state came with long wagon trains and stated periods to La Grange to deliver produce and stock up with goods from the wholesale houses. Steamers would often lie for several days at the wharf discharging and receiving goods. Abram Oyster, an extensive farmer, had saw and planing mills in the southern part of town which furnished employment for a great number of men. Talbot, Cashman and others had packing houses and operated them upon an extensive scale for that early day. A very large tobacco factory was built upon the corner where Johnson's warehouse now stands, and was operated in turn by Blackwood & Williams, and others. Another factory south of this building was operated by A. Quissenberry, and the two concerns in their time were known the country over. The large flouring mill, built by John Cashman, was equal in capacity at the time of its construction to any mill north of St. Louis.
In its palmy days "befo' the wa'," La Grange was a veritable beehive. If there were drones they kept themselves shady, and everybody hopeful, prosperous and progressive pulled for the best interest of the town.
The war did much to cripple La Grange. It was made the seat of military operations, the headquarters for the Federal forces, and a prejudice was engendered in portions of Lewis and adjoining counties which required a score of years to overcome. Most of the trade which should have gone to La Grange curing the war went to Quincy, and much of the prosperity which has attended our neighboring city may be traced directly to that troublous period, and the years immediately following.
La Grange Male and Female Seminary, founded in 1858, was successfully conducted by Professors Peak and Ellis until closed by the war. The building was used as military quarters for a time and was found in a most dilapidated condition at the close of the war. In 1866 its charter was changed and institution became La Grange Male and Female College. Under the presidency of Dr. J. F. Cook the institution made an excellent record, and during the thirty years of varied experience with hard times, flush times, crises in financial circles, and all of the difficulties attendant upon the unendowed institution, the doors were opened regularly upon matriculation day, and the terms successfully taught to the close. When all other institutions of the town languished or failed La Grange College kept on in the even tenor of its way. What it has been in the long years of the past La Grange College is today under the efficient management of Dr. J. T. Muir. With a larger and better building and with improved facilities in every department, with a scholarly and enthusiastic gentleman at the head, an efficient corps of assistants, which the association which controls and owns the institution united in its support, La Grange College will go on to greater achievements and continue as it has been the pride and glory of La Grange.
The grouping together of manufacturers, the consolidation of packing interests and the general trend of all lines of business toward metropolitanism, which began thirty-five years ago, seriously crippled most of the smaller towns, and La Grange was no exception. Competition from the consolidated concerns took a rather too lively pace for the smaller ones left in the country towns. The lumber must be cut nearer the forests, the tobacco must be manufactured in a few great centers, the packing business must be done in a few cities and under united management; steel and iron must be made near as possible to the base of supply and distribution. One after another of the mills no longer blew its whistle to call the laborers to work; the factories closed their doors and took down their signs' the packing houses first grew spectral in the boding quietude, then fell into ruin and decay' the great rolling mill upon which the town had so much hung its hopes, like grandfather's clock, "stopped stock still, never to go again," and for the time it looked as if the doom of the town was sealed forever. There were those in neighboring towns, who playing the part of Job's comforter, suggested that it would be as well to wreck the substantial buildings of La Grange and move the material where it could be put to better use. Fortunately there were always those who with an abiding faith in the future of the place would neither leave nor sacrifice their holdings. They well said that with all of its natural advantages, with the many well built houses left unoccupied to be had upon easy terms, the time would come when capital would be attracted to the place. They reasoned that the pendulum of commerce has swung as far as possible away and must in compliance with the law of gravity soon return. The past three years have thoroughly vindicated the judgment of the citizens who believed that there must be a better future for La Grange. The change for the better came when the citizens with means showed their faith by their works, and answered their prayers for prosperity by proceeding to make the place prosperous. Small beginnings led to greater enterprises; the investment of capital by one person or firm encouraged others in the good work, until a most meritorious contagion spread over the entire town. Capitalists from outside, seeing the exhibition of faith by the citizens, made haste to get in on the ground floor, and the City of La Grange may now be said to be safely on the road to permanent prosperity.
The location of the city has in times past been of advantage to its interests and must be again. Almost equidistant from Kansas City and Chicago and from St. Louis and Burlington, the great river running at its base, and an agricultural country without a superior in the world spreading away from it upon the west, north and south, it has elements of strength which muse be seen and appreciated. Out of a railroad straggling through and swamps has evolved one of the best lines of the great Burlington system, and from tri-weekly train service has grown a schedule which gives to our travelers and shippers no less than fourteen trains a day. Either an electric line or another steam railroad will in due time come in from the western country for connection with the south and east, and as necessity opens up the way and makes the suggestion the required enterprises will take their allotted places. No other point between St. Louis and Minneapolis offers a better location for railroad machine shops than does La Grange, and in time it is hoped that the advantages afforded will be understood and appreciated. The mania for concentration of manufacturing concerns has partially run its course, and henceforth more and more there will be a distribution of manufactures over the country. The rule of survival of the fittest must hold in the matter of manufacture, and the concerns which locate with a view to the acquirement of the best materials upon the best possible terms will most surely succeed. The fertile fields of Lewis and adjoining counties will furnish grain for all cereal products; the yet remaining forests will furnish wood for agricultural implements, and low freight rates by river and rail will allow the shipment of such other lumber as may be required to supplement the local supply. If we may never see steel rains and structural iron turned out of the long idle rolling mill we may, at least, see the valuable property put to some more practical use. If we must send our hogs to Chicago and buy back the product at advanced prices, we may, at least, compel our Sucker State cousins to buy our matchless creamery butter. If we can not hope again to furnish the world it hammered tobacco, we can, at least, dictate at our own sweet will the style of overgaiters it shall wear and leave it without an adequate supply of buttons for its shirtwaist, or best boiled shirt. If we can not again pour out from our distilleries a stream of liquid fire that would make the world wobbly on its underpinning we can, at least, give instead the morning meal of Per-Fo, which will keep the babies healthy, the wives in good humor and increase the family bank account from day to day.
"All's well that ends well," and La Grange now issuing from the penumbra of its partial eclipse may well congratulate herself that the glad sunburst of prosperity again beams upon her. May the present propitious circumstances know no variableness nor shadow of turning. To those who have never wavered in the faith that the city would in good time again get well to the front, and to those who backed their faith with their money in the organization of local factories, nor flagged in their support of educational and other worthy interests is due the chief need of praise in this our day rejoicing. They have saved the credit of the community, and done good in so unselfish a way that all will receive benefit.
The census of La Grange, taken June, 1900, showed a population of 1,507 persons, which was an increase of 257 persons over the population in 1890. It is safe to place the present population of the city at the time this edition is issued at 1,800. Two years ago there were many vacant dwelling houses in our city, but today there is not a vacant house in town. During the past two years many new swelling houses have been erected and there are now a number of substantial buildings being constructed, and yet with all these facts there are many persons clamoring for houses in which to live. From the above it will be seen that our estimations on the present population of La Grange is not above reason.
The many old persons living in and around La Grange is an evidence of the healthfulness of the community. Persons above three score and ten may be counted by the scores and hundreds are found above the half century mark. 

HUGH P. WOOD

Hugh P. Wood, living seven miles southwest of La Grange, is the oldest citizen in the community. A few weeks ago the celebrated his ninetieth birthday by giving a dinner to his children, grandchildren and a number of friends.
He was born in Virginia, but removed to this state sixty-five years ago. Although 90 years old, Mr. Wood enjoys extremely good health for a man of his age and is able to do some work around his home and comes to La Grange quite frequently in good weather. He has been a useful citizen and it is hoped he may be spared to round out a century of usefulness. 

JAMES W. BOHON

The second oldest citizen known in this community is James W. Bohon, residing two miles north and west of town. This venerable old gentleman and his wife lived together over fifty-six years before her death, which occurred less than one year ago.
Mr. Bohon's life has been one of Christian usefulness and he has been spared to pass the eighty-fourth milestone in life. He is quite feeble but visits La Grange often.

GEORGE W. McLEAN

Another aged citizen is George W. McLean, who has spent most of his days in La Grange. He was 84 years old in March last, and is favorable known to everyone about town.

HON. EDWARD ALLEN DAVIS

Born in Leake county, Mississippi, 1852, the subject of this sketch moved with his parents six years later to Adams county, Illinois, where he received his early education, after which he attended La Grange college. Upon leaving college he returned to Illinois and entered the Burlington railroad office at Paloma, where he learned telegraphy. This was in the year 1875 and he has ever since remained in the employ of Burlington company. 
In 1882 he came to La Grange and took charge of the office work at this place and soon after purchased in the north part of town a tract of land consisting of forty-five acres, on which is situated a neat two-story brick house.
Besides his railroad work, Mr. Davis conducts a dairy farm, which is superintended by him, but much of the real work is done by his two sons, Sumner and Oma Lee. Mr. Davis takes great pride in his Jersey herd, all of which are thoroughbreds.
In 1901, when the time was approaching for the regular city election, the citizens at a mass convention chose him by a unanimous vote as candidate for mayor of the town, and after one year's service in that capacity he was unanimously renominated and reelected to the same office. His official acts have been highly satisfactory to our citizens, as is shown by their choosing him for a second term in office. Mr. Davis has served for fifteen years as a member of our local school board, and has taken a keen interest in the educational welfare of our town.

BENJAMIN CHARLES KLUSMEIER 

One of the most responsible public offices in each town is that of postmaster, and not many persons are qualified to fill the position to the satisfaction of the entire public. La Grange is fortunate at this time in having a man who has been able to give almost unanimous satisfaction. Benjamin Charles Klusmeier was born in La Grange June 7, 1878, and was appointed to his present position four day after he attained his majority. The office had just then been advanced from a fourth to a third class office. He was then the youngest third class postmaster in the United States. He has been courteous and accommodating to all the patrons of the office and is popular with all classes.

WILLIAM ELLERY, M. D.

The pioneer physician of La Grange today is Dr. William Ellery, who has followed his profession continuously in the place for more than a quarter of a century. He was educated first at La Grange College. Attending a St. Louis medical college one year he went to Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and received his diploma from that institution in the year 1877. Returning to La Grange he immediately began the practice of his profession, and has been eminently successful in his work. He endeavors to keep posted as to the progress made in the medical profession by reading the best medical journals published. His practice has been heavy and he now owns an elegant residence and a small tract of land at the west edge of our city. 

STEPHEN ACCOLA

Within another week Stephen Accola will have established a bakery in practically a new building on the corner of Marion and Main streets. The oven is now being constructed, and the other necessary equipments are being installed, and when completed he will have a strictly up-to-date bakery in every particular.
Mr. Accola has worked at this trade over six years, having served as foreman two years in one of the largest bakeries in Denver, Colo. He conducted a bakery in La Grange about one year ago and his services were highly satisfactory to his customers, who were numbered by the scores. This time he enters the business to remain and help push forward the interests of La Grange. He is skilled in all the latest methods and no doubt will succeed.

JOSEPH LEGRAND BARKER

As important business in every town is that of drugs, and La Grange is not without her representatives in this line. Joseph L. Barker conducts a drug store in the brick building owned by D. B. Jeter on Main street.
Receiving a scholastic education in our public schools and La Grange college he studied pharmacy in the St. Louis School of Pharmacy two years. After completing the course there he returned to La Grange five years ago and purchased a stock of drugs and has since received a large patronage. Mr. Barker does a heavy prescription business, as two of our practicing physicians have their offices convenient to his store.