CALDWELL COUNTY, MISSOURI HISTORICAL BUILDING In doing research on the Caldwell County Historical Brick Building in Kingston, Mo., we find that after the Mormons left Caldwell County, Far West continued to be the county seat until the spring of 1843. At this time some of the residents made it known that they thought the county seat should be moved to a more central location in the county. Commissioners were appointed to find a new location. They first selected the site on a tract of land south of Log Creek or two miles SW of where Kingston now is, but the owner refused to donate over 40 A. so the commissioners looked elsewhere. James Ramsey and Wm. Hill cheerfully donated between them 160 A. of land for county seat purposes at the location where Kingston, Mo. is now located. In the spring of 1843, the town was regularly surveryed and laid off into lots and blocks and Charley J. Hughes, then a young lawyer of Far West was appointed county seat commissioner to conduct the sale of lots, etc. He was the first attorney in Kingston. Land records show that Stephen D. Sloan bought the following lots: Mar. 23, 1846 Lots 7 & 8 in Block 6 And Lot 12 in Block 19 $36.00 Jun. 2, 1853 Lots 5 & 6 in Block 6 30.00 Jul. 15, 1853 Lot 9 in Block 6 18.25 Mar. 15, 1854 Lot 4 in Block 6 16.00 ________ $100.25 These lots are where the "brick building" is today. The Sloans came from Ohio to Missouri in the early 1840's. In the 1850 census, Stephen was listed as a cabinet maker, as well as two other men living in his household. In the 1860 census, Stephen with his wife and three small children were living in the town of Kingston. Stephen D. Sloan was the highest bidder on some land sold at the south door of the courthouse, Oct. 2, 1865. This land was in Rockford Township and was being sold to settle a partition suit following the death of his Mother. Just two weeks after this purchase, we find Stephen D. Sloan and his wife Ann Eliza, selling their property in Kingston. Oct. 16, 1865 Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 in Block 6 $l,700.00 in town of Kingston, being the West 1/2 of said Block Sold to John Wright Since Stephen received so much more for the property than he gave, it is assumed the "brick building" was built before 1865. In a newspaper article dated 1941, the D.A.R. made a historical tour and made a stop at the oldest house in Kingston; a red brick built in 1860 and still used as a home. Another paper states that the Wright house was build in 1860 and is now the site of a store. (This paper dated 1960) It has been told that the Union troops were quartered in the building during the Civil War. It may have been used, also, as an inn in the early days. Daniel E. Gudgell was born in this building Jun. 20, 1864 as stated by his daughter, Coleen Bethel of Hamilton, Mo. In the 1876 Atlas, it shows a picture of this building as being the residence of John Wright. In 1865, Mr. Wright was appointed by the county court to fill the unexpired term of Geo. W. Buckingham as judge of the probate court. A newspaper clipping from the Kingston Times dated Sept. 1888 states that John Wright was building a new residence just west of his present brick, for the comfort and convenience of himself and wife in their declining years. He deeded the property to his grandson, John T. Smith in Jan. 1894 and there have been numerous owners through the years. Wm. Spivey, a millwright by trade, lived in the building in 1899. He had emigrated to Caldwell County in 1857. Fay Fort Malotte and her brother Harold Fort lived in the building for a time while attending high school, probably around 1908 & 1909. Their Grandmother Fort lived with them and kept house. J. D. Edwards lived with his folks, Leon & Mollie Brown Edwards in the building, when he was a small boy. He was born in 1905. His grand- parents, John E. & Amanda Edwards had, also, lived there for awhile. Others known to live in the building were Glen & Ella Tunks, Millie Lewellen, May Love and the Roy Wingates. Mr. Wingate was a minister and Forrest Whitsett and Ella May Davidson were married in his home in 1933. We know the building did not serve solely as a residence in later years because it housed a barber shop operated by Pete Tinsley. He, also, lived there. Wilma O'Dell operated a cafe in the building for several years. The Health Office and the O.E.O. office, later known as the Human Resources Corporation were housed there for a while. L. Houghton was the last individual owner. He died in 1979 and in 1986, his heirs gave the property to the Caldwell County Historical Society. The building holds lots of memories for many people and it is the desire of the Historical Society to renovate the historical structure and to preserve it for years to come. HISTORICAL SOCIETY BRICK BUILDING Stephen D. Sloan bought the ground where the building is in 1846. In the spring of 1843, the town was surveyed and laid off into lots and blocks and were sold by a commissioner of the county seat, a young lawyer named Charley J. Hughes. Daniel E. Gudgell was born in the brick builing, Jun. 20, 1864, told to me by his daughter, Coleen Bethel of Hamilton, Mo. John Wright was appointed judge of the probate court in 1865 and at this time he bought the "brick building" and moved into it. Apparently, he lived there until 1888 when a newspaper article states that he was building a new residence just west of his present brick, for the comfort and convenience of himself and wife in their declining years. John Wright died in 1897 and at that time, the building went to his Grandson, John T. Smith. It is not known whether John Smith ever lived there or not. Arthur & Jane Hodgkinson came from England to America in 1887 to help care for her uncle, John Wright. (Taken from Jane's obituary.) Their son, George Hodgkinson and family, also, lived in the building about 1924/25. According to a newspaper article, Wm. Spivey lived in the building in 1899. Glen & Ella Tunks lived in the building at one time. J. D. Edwards lived with his folks, Leon & Mollie (Brown) Edwards in the brick building when he was a small boy. He was born about 1905. His grandparents, also lived in the building for awhile. They, John E. and Amanda Edwards, moved to Caldwell County with their family in 1884. Fay Fort & Harold Fort lived in the brick building for a time while attending high school, probably in 1908 and 1909. Their Grandmother Fort lived with them and kept house. Fay was born in 1891. Forest and Ella May (Davidson) Whitsett were married in the brick building at the home of the minister, Roy Wingate in 1933. Tom Virtue owned the building and lived there in 1940. Millie Lewellen was a resident in the brick building. She died at the Rest Home in Kingston in 1962. May Love was a resident im the building. She died in 1964 In 1960 Dr. Bertha Booth took a group of people on a historical tour of the county. The paper states that "They visited the Wright house which was built in 1860 and is now the site of a store." Pete Tinsley's barbershop was located in the east side of the building for several years. He, also, lived there. Wilma O'Dell operated a cafe in the building. The Health Office set up a demonstration unit in the building in Mar 1976 and remained there until Jul. 1978. O.E.O. office was located in the brick building. O.E.O. later became known as the Human Resources Corp. There were numerous owners through the years. The last one being A. L. Houghton, but he did not reside in the building. He died in 1979 and in 1986, his heirs gave the property to the Caldwell County Historical Society. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Karen L Walker ====================================================================