Butler county Missouri, "A View of A Growing Town" PAGE 5

Transcribed © BY: Susan (Sauerwein)  Opalka.    mopalka@alaska.net
contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives  
Rules for coping this work in on the first page of "A View of A Growing Town"




SAMUEL HILL.

Is a carpenter of long-standing in and around Poplar Bluff.  His age in the
city is almost contemporary with the city.  Sam is a man of perseverance
and industrious habits, and needs only to be tried to be trusted, and his
carpenter work recommends itself, having been tested in this community for
years and always giving satisfaction; in fact he is one of the pioneer
carpenters of the city and liked by all.


PRIEST & BRADLEY.

The two gentlemen, the subject of this notice, are both men of high esteem
in the community where they have long resided and followed their trade.

John M. Bradley came from the city of Memphis, Tenn., and settled in this
city in the year 1860.  He was the first house and sign painter who ever
lived in our now flourishing city.  He married in this country and settled
down among us to earn an honest livelihood since which time he has steadily
followed his avocation, that of Painter, which trade he has completely
mastered.

Joseph Priest, the other member of the firm hailed from the city of Little
Rock, Arkansas, about seven years ago and settled at Hendrick's Station, 13
miles north of Poplar Bluff, on the Iron Mountain Railroad.  In the year
1882 he moved to Poplar Bluff to engage more fully in his trade, on account
of the very greatly increased demand for business in his line in our
fast-growing city.  The same year he and Mr. Bradley formed a business
partnership under the firm name of Priest & Bradley , where they have ever
since been constantly engaged in their calling, which they have made a
success for themselves and for those by whom they have been employed.


MERRICK & BAUMHOEFER.

The gentlemen whose names appear in the above card hail from the city of
St. Louis.

Mr. S. E. Merrick owns a farm in this county, some three miles east from
Hendrick's Station, on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., but
in the early part of the year 1883 he moved to Poplar Bluff for the purpose
of following his trade which he has proved himself to be master of as the
many fine residences constructed by him will fully attest; and as a
crowning effort of his mechanical skill he is now, completing the mammoth
hotel and saloon building, near the depot, for H. H. Blackstone, which,
when completed it is said will be the master-piece of architecture in this
part of the state.

Mr. Baumhoefer also came from St. Louis to this city and in the summer of
1883 formed a partnership with Mr. Merrick under the firm name of Merrick &
Baumhoefer.  He is of German descent, and has won for himself no mean
reputation as a architect and builder.


ASHER & MASSEY.

These gentlemen are too well known in Poplar Bluff and throughout the
County to be complimented or benefited personally by anything we can say in
their favor or about them; but we cannot do justice tot he outside world,
nor the business directory of this little work, without bringing into
notice the immense business carried on by them.

Mr. A. P. Asher came to Poplar Bluff from Asherville, in Stoddard County,
Mo., in 1872, and engaged in business of different kinds, which he always
made a success, until 1878 he and Mr. W. E. Massey formed a co-partnership
for the purpose of embarking in the timber business which has proved a
financial success, and the crowning one of their lives, shipping as they do
seventy-five car loads of piling per week from the different switches at
which they carry on business in this County.

Mr. W. E. Massey is a Kentuckian, and with long and constant contact with
the people in his business, and others he has won for himself friends among
all who know him.


NEAL McDONALD.

The young man whose name heads this notice came from the state of Michigan
and bought extensive tracts of timber lands on Black River in this county
and engaged in getting out ship timbers for the different docks or ship
yards of the world, viz:  New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and
Galveston in America, and Liverpool in England.

Mr. McDonald employs from fifty to one hundred men.  He has now on the
banks of Black River sticks of timber twenty-six inches square and seventy
five feet long, which illustrates the quality of timber found in our
country.

WARDWELL'S BOAT HOUSE.

Those visitors and citizens in search of piscatorial sport can be furnished
with boat and fishing tackle of all descriptions by a call at this Boat
House which is situated on Water street in this city and conducted by
Captain Steven B. Wardwell.  Captain Wardwell is an experienced Knight of
the Rod and Gun, a most successful sportsman, and a jovial gentleman who
will be found companionable and communicative upon all points in his line.

REUBEN  WYATT.

Fourth and Cedar streets is the location of Reuben Wyatt, an honest colored
man, who puts his industry to use and sustains himself and family on a good
income derived from his blacksmith shop, where he has a good custom in his
line.

STOCK YARDS.

On of the "features" of our city is the Stock Yards, situated in the
southern part of the city, and covering an area of twenty acres.

Under the regulations established by congress, requiring cattle to be
rested at certain intervals in transit, this yard has been established for
Texas and other stock.  It is large enough to accommodate four hundred cars
of cattle in a day, although the usual business is not over one half that
number.  The yard is under the superintendence of E. M. Smith, formerly of
Pittsfield, Mass., who has made the conduct of the yard a model system.
Mr. S. is a quiet and reticent man, ever awake to business interests,
highly respected as a citizen, very pleasant company to those with whom he
is associated, and passionately fond of the rod and gun to which his
leisure hours are often devoted.  It is largely due to Mr. Smith's
endeavors that so many of those of similar taste in St. Louis have been
induced to try the rivers and forests of Southeast Missouri, and these
gentlemen usually come again.

THE POST OFFICE.

A two-story frame building on Main street, opposite the Court House, is
pointed out to the enquirer as the business house of "Uncle Sam."  In
October, 1882, J. L. Clevelen, a young man barely twenty-one years of age,
but having the advantage of considerable experience in business circles was
appointed Post Master at this place upon the retirement of Mr. Wm. A.
Spence who had filled the same position for a number of years past with
credit to himself, but who was compelled to resign on account of failing
health.

Mr. Clevelen attained his position through the influence of admiring
friends drawn to him by his industry an energy.  Without other assistance
than his energy he started in Poplar Bluff as clerk in a store and by the
faithful discharge of his duties accrued friends who were ready to aid him
in securing a place which he has filled to the satisfaction of all.  In
connection with the Post Office Mr. Clevelen has a nearly arranged stock of
Stationery, Newspapers, and all the Periodicals of the day, and Cigars and
Tobacco.

BLACK RIVER BRIDGE.

In writing up the "Past, Present and Future" of Poplar Bluff, not the least
among the items of interest is the new bridge now just finished across
Black river, at the foot of Vine street, in this city.  This bridge was
constructed by the Morse Bridge Company, of Youngstown, Ohio.  The full
length of the bridge is one hundred and eighty feet.  It is constructed of
wood and iron on the "Howe Tress" plan, built upon a piling foundation.
The middle span is one hundred feet long with a forty foot span on each
end.  The approach on the west end is about seventy-five feet long.  The
approach o the east is forty feet long, making the entire length of the
structure two hundred and ninety-five feet.  This bridge together with the
one across Little-raft Slough, one mile above the city, was built by the
before-mentioned company, through their agent, Mr. J. M. Yohe, at a cost of
two thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars, besides the approaches,
which the county has just completed under the supervision of Commissioner
T. M. Lane, at a cost of about five hundred dollars, making a total cost of
about three thousand dollars.

The bridge was advertised tot he lowest bidder, and it is estimated by many
of the citizens that as much as two thousand dollars were saved to the
people by the method adopted by the bridge commissioners in advertising and
letting to the lowest bidder.  We are neither a mechanic nor bridge
builder, and will not, therefore, attempt to describe, nor give in detail
the architecture of the superstructure, but suffice it to say that those
who profess to be judges pronounce it a good bridge well constructed.

COURT HOUSE.

Poplar Bluff being the county seat of Butler County the Court House is
located here and is a two-story brick house which was completed in the year
1866.  The upper floor is used as a court room, attached to which are two
Jury Rooms. The lower floor is occupied by the county officials as offices.

The office of Circuit Clerk is filled by Thomas D. Ferguson who was raised
in this county and has held this office for the past ten years, having each
time been elected without opposition.  He is an excellent clerk,
exceedingly popular as a man, and his continuance in office is sufficient
proof that the people appreciate him.

Mr. Ferguson is one of our most wealthy men and has secured his share of
wordily goods only by industry and attention to business.

Isaac N. Pearce Judge of the Probate Court and presiding Justice of the
County Court is a middle-aged gentleman who was elected to his position
last November.  He is an able officer and counts his friends by scores.

Charles W. Addy is Collector of the Revenue,  Mr. Addy came to this county
in 1862 and has held the office of Sheriff and Collector, alternately, a
number of times.  As a man he is respected and esteemed by all who know him
and as an officer he is recognized by citizen and stranger alike, as able
and faithful.

Henry Turner, a young man, born and raised in this county holds the office
of Sheriff.  Mr. Turner is the ideal, self-made man having started in life
as an exceedingly poor boy, and by industry and energy raised himself to
the esteem and respect of the people, and to be well provided for
financially.  In November of last year he was elected to the office of
Sheriff and is an attentive and courageous official, and the possessor of
many friends.

Andrew S. Armstrong and Ezekiel Miller are Associate Justices of the County
Court.  They are both farmers and intelligent men.  As officials they are
well qualified, of the strictest integrity, and their official acts are
likely to do the greatest of good to the county.


PHYSICIANS.

George T. Bartlett, M. D., the subject of this sketch, was born September
9th, 1890, at a parsonage called Smyrnia, Davidson county, Tennessee, and
was raised in Williamson county, Tennessee until twelve years of age, when
his parents moved to the state of Arkansas.  He received a common school
education at Cone Hill College and other schools, and then began the study
of medicine in 1854, and graduated at the Nashville Medical College in
1857.  

After leaving college Dr. Bartlett moved to Springfield, Tenn., and
afterwards located in Dunklin county, Missouri, where is 1861 he joined the
first regiment of M. S. G., of which regiment  he became Assistant Surgeon
and was later promoted to full Surgeonship.  On the disbandment of the
State troops the Doctor went with Gen. Jeff. Thompson, to Memphis, as
Surgeon and Medical Purveyor, consigned to duty on the fleet at Fort
Pillow, after which he was promoted to the position of Brigade Surgeon.

Dr. Bartlett played quite an important part in the late unpleasantness,
being in the renowned Marmaduke raid with Colonel Kitchens and General
Jeff. Thompson and also on the famous raid of Sterling Price.  
The Doctor moved to Poplar Bluff in November 1865 where he has since remained.  In

1879 Gov. Phelps commissioned him as a Regent of the Cape Girardeau Normal
School, and in July, 1883, he received a commission from Governor
Crittenden as a member of the State Board of  Health.  For the last ten
years his attention has been confined to the practice of Medicine and
Surgery, the latter being his stronghold.  As a surgeon he has no equal in
this section of the state, and few superiors elsewhere.  He is a
hard-working student and a lover of his profession.  He is 53 years of age,
is slightly grey but enjoys good health.  He has a good practice and has
performed some wonderful cures through his skill with the knife.