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The
following history of Monroe City, was taken from the News,
in its issue of July, 1876: -‘The first time the
writer saw the place where Monroe City now stands, was
in the early summer of 1841 or 1842. This whole
prairie was then a pathless sea of grass: there
were a few small farms in the edges of the timber, but
from the spot on which the seminary now stands, no
improvement whatever was visible in any direction. The
place last named was called “The Mound,” and one
of the land-marks along with “’The Round Grove,”
“ The Lone Elm “ and some others, by which
travelers were guided in traversing the lonely
prairie. It was not until some ten years later that
the farms began to encroach much upon the great body
of open land lying between North and Salt rivers. In
1852, the first accurate surveys for the Hannibal and
St. Joseph Railroad were commenced; these were
completed in the following year, and 50 miles of the
road, extending from Hannibal to the head of Crooked
creek, were put under contract. After that date there
was a steady increase of immigration to this vicinity,
with a corresponding extension of old farms and
opening of new ones. The work on the railroad
progressed slowly, so that it was not until 1857 the
track was laid in Monroe county. Mr. E. B. Talcott was
at that time partner of Mr. John Duff in the contract
for building the road. This placed him in a position
to know where stations would be needed and using that
knowledge with the business energy and judgment for
which he was conspicuous, he purchased the east half
of section 13, township 56, range 8, and laid off the
north half of it into what is now known as the “ Old
Town of Monroe City.” This was in the spring of
1857. He also immediately commenced
the erection of the hotel now known as the Livingston
house. The present proprietor of this hotel and Mr. J.
M. Preston made the first improvements; the former
having made a contract on the 1st of March
with S. F. Hawkins for the erection of a store house,
in which, on the 1st of April following, he
opened the first stock of goods offered for sale in
the town. On the 4th of July the same year,
an old-fashioned barbecue was held and a public sale
of lots took place.
Several of the purchasers immediately commenced the
erection of 2 stores and dwellings, and by the close
of the year, the place began to assume quite a
village-like appearance. The proprietor of the town,
Mr. Talcott, having offered to give the outlot upon
which the seminary now stands for the site of such an
institution, a charter for such a purpose was secured
from the Legislature. The stock was mostly taken by
the farmers in the neighborhood, and the buildings
were erected in the summer of 1860; and in the autumn
of the same year by the Messrs. Comings, who, have had
the control of it uninterruptedly ever since. During
the war this building was taken possession of and
occupied by the United States troops in 1861, and the
town was the scene of one of the most satisfactory
battles fought throughout the entire campaign most
satisfactory, because not a drop of human blood was
shed on either side. The effect of the civil war was
not only to check all improvement, but in fact to
diminish the population of the town. But immediately
on the restoration of peace business was resumed and
business revived. The original town plat embraced only
the north-east quarter of section thirteen. An
addition on the east was made by T. W. Davis, the plat
recorded February 7, 1867, and another by Dr. E.
Bailey on the south, the plat recorded March 4, 1872.
The first church building erected was St. Jude’s,
which was begun in 1866, and first occupied for
worship about July 4, 1867. This was followed by the
Christian Church in 1869; the Baptist in 1870; the
Presbyterian in 1871; the Methodist South is now in
process of erection. A building which had been used
for a private school-room by Mr. J. M. Mc Murry, was
purchased for public school purposes in 1867, and has
been used for such purpose until the close of the past
scholastic year. One which it is hoped will do more
credit to the town and afford better facilities to
both teachers and pupils is now under contract to be
finished in time for the fall opening at the usual
time. The incorporation of the town was effected in
1869, trustees being Messrs. H. Cary (who was elected
chairman), W. P. Bush, T. M. Hubbard, S. E. Coming s
and F. B. Sheetz. The town owes its existence to the
construction of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad
and its prosperity has been furthered and its
facilities increased by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
Railway, which commenced operation in 1871. A. banking
institution under the title of the Monroe City Bank
commenced operation in 1875, John B. Randol being
president and W. R. P. Jackson cashier. At the present
time the town has a population of about 800, has
eleven stores for dry goods, groceries and general
merchandise, three drug stores, one printing-office,
two hardware and tin stores, two furniture stores, two
wagon and carriage manufactories, one for agricultural
implements, one marble yard, one flouring mill, one
jeweler and one lumber yard. If the growth of the town
has been slower than that of some others, it is a
satisfaction to know that it has been substantial ;
relying on the basis of a good surrounding country,
peopled by those who for intelligence, industry and
enterprise will bear comparison with any similar
community in our State. The future of the town, it is
believed, will depend upon the enlarged development of
the agricultural resources of the surrounding
country—on the continued encouragement given our
educational institutions, both public and private -on
the liberal support and increase of our manufacturing
interests -on the continued activity and enterprise of
our business community, and
above all, on the maintenance of a public character,
marked by morality honesty and liberality.
Monroe City, which now contains a population of about
1,200, is the largest and most important town in the
county, excepting Paris. The people are wide-awake and
enterprising, and have done much to forward the
interests of their little city, both its material and
educational interests, and are justly proud of the
advancement they have made, and the present position
the town occupies, as to business and financial
solidity. It is the only town in the county which has
the advantage of two railroads. These, centering as
they do at Monroe City, give the farmers, business
men, and shippers, ready and cheap markets for what
they may buy or sell.
The
surrounding country consists principally of level
prairie, which presents to the eye a pastoral
landscape of great beauty. This prairie is
dotted over with farm houses, many of which have been
built not merely as places of abode, but exhibit in
their construction and outside appearance and
equipments, much taste and ornamentation. The farmers
are generally thrifty, not a few of whom are large
landed proprietors, and have made the pursuit of
agriculture a success. Here they surely possess, in a
great measure, that most essential prerequisite to
good farming, rich land, and have ample room to carry
out their most sanguine wishes as tillers of the soil.
As already stated J. M. Preston erected the first
building that was put up in Monroe City. It stood on
Winter street. J. M. Preston opened the first business
house, it being an eating house. The first regular dry
goods store was opened by John Boulware. John Wells
was the first saddler. Al. Gorrall was one of the
early blacksmiths. Dr. Thomas Proctor was the first
physician, locating in August, 1864. Judge Thomas Van
Swearinger was the pioneer attorney, becoming a
resident before the Civil War. Buchanan & Freeman,
agents of Rowe & Toll, of Hannibal, Mo., were the
first lumber merchants in the town. Mrs. Locke taught
the first school; Prof. J. M. McMurry taught the first
public school, in 1866. The present public
school-house is a brick building, and was erected at a
cost of $4,000. Dr. Thomas Proctor and Prof. J. M.
McMurry opened the first drug store. John Gates was
the first postmaster. Among the manufacturing
institutions are the Monroe City Creamery Company,
which was chartered during the latter part of the year
1872 by a joint stock company, J, A. Peirsol, general
manager; the broom factory of Patrick Cochlin, and the
hay stacker and rake factory of Eli Wayland. S. B.
Gilliland also makes hay rakes. C. H. Poage also
manufactures hay rakes and bee-hives, and operates a
planing-mill. Two wagon factories are in operation.
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