Villages of Crawford County, Missouri - STEELVILLE

STEELVILLE

Steelville, the county seat of Crawford County, is located in the valley
and on the hillsides of a beautiful little stream called Yadkin Creek.
Since very little history of Steelville has been preserved much has been
forgotten or rests on tradition.

The earIiest history of Crawford County and the facts concerning the first
settlers are given above.

In addition to the families of William Britton, James Steel, Lewis Pinnell
and Elias Matlock, all arriving in the vicinity from 1833 to 1837, others
soon followed. Among those coming early into the valley were Peter
Whittenburg, Simeon Frost, and James Davis. These early pioneers surely
envisioned a charming town because the confluence of the two little streams
formed a beautiful valley. One of them bear in the historic name of Yadkin
Creek, famed in Kentucky history as the early home of Daniel Boone, and the
other which flows past the town from the south bears the name of
Whittenburg which is the historic setting of "The Story of Midland" found
elsewhere in this book.

Peter Whittenburg opened the second store in the locality, James Steel
having had the first. The Whittenburg store in the Steel Building, and
operated by Peter Whittenburg from 1842 until 1846 when he sold his
business to another. James Steel moved away about 1842 and Peter
Whittenburg died in 1853.

The third storekeeper of Steelville was Christopher Smith who opened for
business shortly before Peter Whittenburg retired. The time was about 1845
and he continued in business as the principal merchant until the Civil War.

James Davis kept the first hotel in the town, erecting a brick building and
joining to it a log addition. A portion of the brick building may still be
seen. The site is at present the location of Grieg' s Store.

For many years his hotel did a good business. After about four years James
Davis sold to Thomas Fisher, who sold to Halliburton & Wilson in 1848, and
in 1851 it was purchased by R. C. Dunlap. The owners of the hotel during
the Civil War years are not known, but it has always been called Steelville
Hotel. The last known owner was William D. Bass in 1881 who was perhaps the
owner when it was destroyed by disastrous fire in 1904.

The Renfro House was built behind the Frisco Depot about 1872 and was a
favorite boarding and rooming house for people traveling on the newly built
railroad.

The Bouse House was built about 1900 at the end of Main Street on a site
which is now the center of Highways 19 and 8.

The Houston House, across the street from the depot, was built about 1908.
In recent years it has been converted into a rooming house. It is now
called the White Eagle and is owned by Mr. Opa,l Pitts.

The last hotel built in Steelville was Hotel Main erected in 1908. It was
the first concrete block building in Steelville and when it was being
constructed it was quite an attraction for the people of the town. Morris
Cooper, Steelville's local historian, relates, "I watched the laying of the
blocks one morning as I was on the way to school. I was late for school and
had some trouble with my parents".

This prominent hotel has been the scene of many poIiticaI "pow wows,"
compromises and decisions. During the years the ownership passed into
various hands. More recent owners were Charley Scott and Tony Sutherland.
It now belongs to Paul Bell,
county magistrate, who has converted it to office space on the first floor
and apartments on the second.

Today [1972] there are no hotels in Steelville, b u t like many other
towns, moteIs have been built to accommodate the traveling public. Several
years ago James Creek built a fine motel at the turn of Main Street near
the west end of town. Wildwood Springs, a beautiful resort, was built in
1922 on top of the hill north of town. It did a thriving summer business
until the nineteen thirties when business declined.

In recent years the trend of the tourist business seems to require more
family units and conversion of tourist places were slow in meeting such
demands. The changing times brought about changes in the hotel and resort
business.

The first saddler and harness maker in Steelville was James N. Johnson who
came in 1838. In addition to his business operations he owned and
cultivated a farm nearby .

The first blacksmith was A. W. Johnon who began in 1847 and continued in
the trade until 1855. The first carpenters were John and James Davis. Later
came L. S. Thompson and these three did all the carpentry work in the town
of Steelville until 1855.

The first frame house built in the town was used as a post office, and the
second one was built by John Davis for Azaro Emery who came here from Ohio
about 1846.

The first tailor, whose name was Vanburg, came to Steelville about 1844 and
was killed at a large Democratic barbecue during the presidential campaign
of 1848 by the explosion of an anvil loaded with gunpowder.

Thomas Smith was the first shoemaker and he, like the wagon maker, the
saddle and harness maker, started and finished the complete article. These
pioneer craftsmen filled an important place in the early days but since the
industrial revolution have virtually ceased to exist.

In the early days of the town drugs were sold in the stores with other
goods, but in 1858, AIexander Gibson, father of Thomas R. Gibson who was
cashier of the Steelville Bank for many years, opened the first drugstore.

Listed among the firsts as preachers who either resided in the area or came
as circuit riders are Baptist Missionary E. R. Fort; Reverend James Halbert
in 1839, having come from St. Francis County; Isaac Eaton who lived eight
miles east of Steelville; and Frank, James, and John Braley who were all
Cumberland Presbyterians. The first church building was constructed by the
Cumberland Presbyterians on the site of the Steelville Community Center and
post office. The building was used later by the Steelville Academy and
finally sold to the Steelville School District about 1871 for public school
purposes.

The first person buried in the Steelville Cemetery was Mrs. Simeon Frost.
Mr. Frost was the fourth representative of Crawford County serving in the
Genral Assembly of 1838-40.

The town of Steelville was laid out in 1835, the plat consisting of
thirty-six blocks, each full block having four lots; Main Street runs east
and west varying at thirty-three degree angle south of west.

Seminary Street runs at right angles to Main Street. More streets were
added and named as the town grew by addition of subdivisions. One of the
first was Brickey Addition in 1871.

The first incorporation of Steelville was May 4, 1859, and the county court
upon a petition presented by Silas P. Brickey appointed R. P. Jamison,
Silas P. Brickey, William G. Pomeroy, John Halbert , and William M.
Robinson as trustees for one year or until the next election. Apparently
the town soon became unincorporated for in August 1873 another petition was
submitted for a new incorporation. At this time the petition was presented
by R. W. Dunlap. The incorporation was granted, but again was allowed to
become unincorporated by default.

Finally after twenty-five years of an on and off trusteeship form of
government the citizens on May 20, 1885, voted to change the form of city
government by dividing the city into two wards, electing a mayor, marshal
and four aIdermen, two from each ward.

At this first election William M. Robinson was chosen mayor. From the first
ward Thomas R. Gibson and R. W. Dunlap were chosen aldermen; from the
second ward Hermon Fergusen and Charles Everson. William Turner was elected
marshal, R. W. Dunlap was chosen clerk, G. W. Matlock treasurer, and C. H.
Hibler street commissioner.

Lebanon Lodge No. 77, A. F. & A. M. was chartered October 14, 1846. The
charter members were John Orchard, W. A. Anderson, and H. R. Edgar.

The Founders Lodge No. 224 was organized by J. J. Upchurch on July 30,
1880. The purpose of this newly organized lodge was to unite together labor
and management, based on the principle, "The greatest good to the greatest
number."The charter members of this organization were J. J. Upchurch, W. C.
Evans, JohnA. Headrick, FredGrueber, I. P. Brickey , 0. Everson, J. H.
Boggs, D. J. Puckett, G. B. Holmes, Thomas W. Holmes, and Doctor J. T.
Coffee.

"History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford & Gasconade Counties,
Missouri" [Goodspeed 1888, herein after called Goodspeed's History. . . I
listed the businesses in Steelville which showed the progress of the town
since the beginning in 1835
when James Steel opened his first little store. The list included in dry
goods, grocers, and readymade clothing Scott, Bass & Company, Matlock and
Haley, Davis and HambIe, James Key, and R. H. Houston; drugstores: W. A.
Martin, Eugene Trask, and A. Gibson & Sons; harness maker: R. M. Baucom;
shoemaker: Andrew Pabst; blacksmiths and wagon-makers: Swack and J. P.
Webb; blacksmith: ----- Brandle; barber: John Starks; carpenters: Upchurch
Brothers;postmaster: Andrew Jackson; hotel proprietor: William D. Bass;
physician and surgeon: Doctors J. T. Coffee and Gibson & Metcalf; lawyers:
G. D. Clark, E. A. PinneIl,, and B. F.
Russell; abstractors: Pinnell & Ramsey, livery stable Bass Brothers; meat
market: Pinson & Myers; marble works: Cook& Hopkins; insurance & realestate
agents: Fergusen & Rus sell; jeweler: William HaIliburton; lumber yard: J.
M. Sawyer; agriculture implements:
Upchurch Brothers.

In 1888 the town had a Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist
church, a Masonic Lodge, an Odd Fellow, Lodge, and a lodge Of United
Workmen.

In 1883 the Evans Flouring Mill was built about one and one-half miles
southeast of Steelville. it was a two story frame structure twenty-two by
thirty-eight feet in size, and contained two runs of burrs. The machinery
was Powered by water and had a capacity of about thirty barrels Of flour a
day. The mill owned by W. C. Evans and W. E. Evans, brothers, was burned
down On September 23, 1886.

W. E. Evans retired from business after the fire but his brother, W. D.
rebuilt the mill, making it more modern. This mill continued to operate for
many years.

Another mill, known as the Steelville Mill, was built in 1879 by E. Hiller.
It was a three story building and constructed on the elevator plan. The
capacity of this mill was about twenty barrels a day. Jacob Hiller, son of
the original owner improved the capacity of the mill. The Mill was
propelled by water and served the people as a flour mill until recently
when all the flour mills in the county ceased to operate.

One of the oldest existing firms in SteeIviIIe was Cooper & Son, dealers in
lumber and furniture. This firm began in 1888 and remained in the same
family eighty-one years, from 1888 until 1969. It began with Reverend P. D.
Cooper, then his son Edward D. Cooper, and last, Maurice Cooper who retired
from the business in 1969.

The Steelville Bank began operations in October 1884, With twelve
Stockholders, namely: W. H. Lee, J. T. Coffee, W. C. Devol, L. H. Scott,
and Thomas Everson, J. D. Taylor, E. A. Bass, M. D. Jamison, G. W. Matlock,
G. W. Saunders, W. H. Ferguson, and Thomas R. Gibson. The directors were H.
Lee, J. T. Coffee, W. C. Devol, W. H. Ferguson and G. W. Matlock, and the
first officers were G. Matlock, president; J. T. Co f f e e, vice
-president, Thomas R. Gibson, cashier.

The building constructed for this first bank in Steelville was of brick,
thirty-six by tweenty-four feet and today is the same. Later it was used
for the Crawford County Farmers Bank which was liquidated about 1935. In
1931 the cashier was W. F. Arnett, assistant cashiers W. L. Wingo, W. E.
Evans and J. H. McGinnis.

In 1925 this bank was the scene of a very exciting time when bank robbers
made an attempt to rob it. Citizens of the town and the bank officicials
were "tipped off" about the plan and most of the robbers were killed in the
attempt.

Across the street from the Crawford County Farmers Bank was the First
National Bank organized about 1900. In 1914 the cashier was M. Lichius, the
president was W. J. Underwood. The directors were W. J. Underwood. M. W.
Lichius,, Claude Bass, William M. Chapman, J. H. Mincer, G. N. Banta, A. L.
Reeves. A. J. Schweider, J. E. Summers, W. J. Todd, Jake FiebeIman, F. C.
Flickinger, D. A. Houston, J. W. Walker, R. Stephan, Luke Ross, and A. J.
Sanders.

For a few years after the financial crisis of 1929 Steelvflle had no bank
of its own. Most of the banking was carried on with the Peoples Bank of
Cuba. Realizing that for a community to be in a growing and healthy
condition it was necessary to have a bank, citizens of the town organized a
new bank, the Community Bank. The present officers of the bank are
President L. D. Perkins; Cashier Morris Cape; Assistant Cashier Bob
Cottrell.

One of the most important assets of a community is the newspaper, and for
Steelville and the community for many miles around the "Crawford Mirror"
has been a great leader in the field. This year [1972] the newspaper is
celebrating its centennial and truly it has been a hundred years of
service.

The "Crawford Mirror" was established May 4, 1872 by Thomas H. Roberts and
was printed in a small log cabin four miles from Steelville for two years.
It was then moved to Cuba and was published by B. F. Russell, who moved it
back to Steelville and published it as a Republican paper. The "Crawford
Mirror" maintains an office staff in Cuba and today it represents a merger
of The "Crawford Mirror", "The Steelville Ledger", and "Cuba News and
Review".

In 1905 another newspaper was established in Steelville called the
"Steelville Ledger". It was published for many years until it was merged
with the Crawford Mirror by A. J. Slack. The Ledger was Democratic in
politics and was fearless in expressing the
views of the editor and the party it represented.

The Steelville Baptist Church was organized about 1836 and has had a slow
but continued growth. At present it has a large membership.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized about 1845, by the
Reverend John E. Braley, with R. C. Dunlap and SamueI Lofton as elders.
Services were held in the courthouse until 1850. Within the last decade the
Presbyterian church building, which was located on the hillside in the
north side of of town, was replaced with a fine new stone building.

The Methodist Church of Steelville was organized in May 1886 with thirteen
members. A church building was erected at a cost of $1,100, Reverend S.
Richmond being pastor at the time. In the early part of this century the
building burned and was never rebuilt.

There are now four churches serving the town. They are the First Assembly
of God, First Baptist Church, St. Michaells Catholic Church, and the
Steelville Presbyterian Church.

Steelville as an educational center in Crawford County is unsurpassed in
the annaIs of Missouri history. As a special feature the history of the
famous Steelville Normal and Business College is given in another chapter.
It has been said that more prominent men and women passed through the doors
of this little institution between 1890 and 1900 than through any of the
great colleges of the east.

The Steelville Academy under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church was
the forerunner of academic education in Steelville. After it closed the
building which was used. for the Academy was sold to the Steelville Public
School. This building was located south of the Yadkin at the site of the
present Conimunity Center.

After a period of years the Steelville School moved into the building
formerly used by the Steelville Normal Business Institute. After a
disastrous fire in the nineteen thirties the Steelville School was moved to
a new building at the west end of the town. Although there are no colleges
in Steelville today, the pubIic schooI ranks among the best in the state
for towns of comparable size.

The Steelville schools now within the reorganized system of the county, are
called Crawford R-III Schools. The total school population of the district
is about one thousand. All of the students outside of the town are bussed
to the central system.

Coming into the 1970 s the town of Steelville emerges from a long period of
apathy into a renaissance of growth. It has had reverses from disastrous
fire s, from two floods, and has sometimes gone to seed on politics. The
new generation brought to the community the Brown Shoe Company, The
Steelville Manufacturing Company, and more recently the San Val
Corporation. These concerns have increased the payroll to the breadwinners,
encouraged the young people to remain and establish homes, and Iifted the
morale until it seems to be the dawning of a new era for the town.

The population of Steelville in 1950 was 1157, in 1960 the census bureau
showed a drop to 1127, but the official 1970 census gives the population as
1392. This growth in the last ten year period is creditable to the work of
an energetic group represented by those working inthe Community Betterment
Program, the Boosters Club, the city government, and above all a wide awake
citizenry.

From the day that James Steel was honored as the founder of the town that
bears his name, Steelville has proudly upheld its honored name. It has been
the home of some great educators, among them the "Old Master" Professor J.
B. Hayes, William A. Chapman, and William P. Summers. Among the noted men
as jurists and 1 a wy e r s were Albert J. Reeves Tom Woodruff, A. J. Seay,
Harry Clymer, Ashley Harrison, W. R. Lay, Frank Farris, W. I. Harrison, and
Roy Clymer.

Among the noted citizens was the famous Doctor John Zahorsky, a physician
known throughout the country and the author of several books. His last
book, From the Hills, is a beautiful autobiography portraying the
picturesque and beautiful Yadkin
Valley.

At the close of this feeble effort to give a brief historical narrative of
Steelville and its past, it is well to pause and reflect that there is in
the town a living monument to Steelville. The "Glory of Rome andthe
Grandeur of Greece" have long ago crumbled into dust, bit the old
Steelville Springs still flows gently into the valley of the Yadldn and on
down through the town.

Long ago William Britton's little gristmill was furnishing meal for the
early settlers of the valley. After ten years he left the Yadkin Valley but
the beautiful little spring, clear and cold, has inspired thousands who
passed by. Today the area is Steelviille's City Park and a fine little
museum has been built to preserve some of the memories of Steelville's
illustrious past.

------
CRAWFORD COUNTY AND CUBA MISSOURI
James Ira Breuer, 1972 p. 57-69

====================================================================
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: Joe L. Miller <mio@netins.net>
====================================================================