The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-16
Missouri OOrrespondence.--Eo. 2.
srElsorlElp ID. 49, a.. -

Government, and commenced Improve
ments TOR farm. To the following year
one J. 3. Campbell came here from Ten
nassee, and settled upon piece Of land
adjoining that Of Fullbright. They were
soon after followed by three friends and
neighbors from those States respectively;
and thus far laid the foundation, for the
city Of Springfield. Il was, al that early
day, the very outpost Of civilization in the
South West. For many years those early
settlers went one hundred miles TO get their
letters at the Post Office, and suffered the
usual hardships and privations OF pioneers
They were rude and rough race. In con-
versing to day with an old gentleman, who
vas the first Sheriff Of this county. then
embracing all the South Vest part OF the
State), he said We had a pretty rough
time Of il for 4 few years Fights and
homicides were frequent. | have had many
q hand 10 hand conflict with ruiiiaa5 and
desperadOes, but always succeeded in Sc
curing my man, when once had put my
clutches upon him. From his stalwart
proportions. now in his green old age, l
have no reason to gainsay his assertions
He continued "But for twenty years i'm
meiiatey before the war came up, every
body here speaks OF the war as having
cD1ns up) We lived peaceable happy and
prosperous lives. / often wished during
the war that those happy years might come
again. GIe was rebel sympathizer, and
was obliged % leave the State. d" after the
war came up During the thirty years
Immediately preceding the rebellion, the
country had become quite thickly settled,
by substantial men principally from Ken
lucky and Tennessee. a majority Of whom
were shareholders, who had opened and i'm
proved large farms, built comfortable
houses planted out large orchards, grown
corn tobacco, cotton and wool, and great
herds Of cattle. horses. mules and hogs and
had grown Iich and aristocratic. The town
Of course, kept pace with the country, anG
had grown 10 population IN ls60, oil about
i've thousand Ii was at that time noted
throughout the State. Is possessing at
once. the pleasantest location, tbr finest
climate the most wealth, and Tie best ar
istocratic southern society. OF any inland
town in the STATE
The war has played sad havoc with the
wealth anl the aii,tociatic notions of this
people. One of The earliest battles OF the
war was fought only about eleven miles
from here upon the banks OF Wilson's
creek. which nows through the city This
was considered strategic point, and from
first 10 last of the war, it was occupied 10y
soldiers. numbering. much of the time a.
many as twenty thousand. Judging from
what | see here the presence Of II large
body of soldiers Quarteret in town, IS
no advantage 10 H. They burned here up
wards of forty buildings including, two fine
brick colleges. They burned much of the
fences in the city, and all in the country for
miles around They cut down and used for
military works. and burned for fire woods
thousands of acres OF beautiful black jack
aud walnut grove; which before their adj
vent, made this truly charming spot OF
shade In erecting forts and rife pits, they
tore up The ground generally. Well
was it Tor this city and people, when the
soldiers left
But must cut short this hasty glance at
Springfield "A it has been, and endeavOr to
give your readers some faint idea Of
Springfield as It IS It is laid out around
public square Two main streets cross
this square 10 the centre, and extend
through the city One from East TO West,
and the other from North To South All
the other streets, cross these at right an
giles These main Streets are McAdamiZed,
and once had good side walks of either
stone or brick, with stone surbng, but
which are now much out OF repair. The
square contains an area ofabOut two acres.
also McAdamized. Within ii is an immense
cistern covered with a circular platform,
now used Is an auction block, where,
have no doubt, in times past, many a hui
man chattel has changed masters Tha,
line of goods is now thank God. forever
out Of the market
On the West side OF the square stands
the Court House, an imposing brick struc-
ture, three Stories high with the Jail adj
joining aud in the rear, two stories high.
The ground floor is occupied for county
offices, the second for court room. and
the third for a Masonic lodge On the
North side stands the bank, also OF brick,
and Of very respectable dimensions aud
appearance. On the East side. is large
brick store. The remainder Of The square.
is occupied by frame buildings some vi
them in respectable condition, but many
Old and dilapldaied. The business of the
city extends a considerable distance from
the square up each Of the main streets be-
fore mentioned From the following. Your
readers may get a pretty correct idea OF
the business of the city. There are OF
stores, p Dry-goods 10 Groceries and /
Provisions 5 Drugs Clothing , Millen- |
cry Hardware Watch and Jewelry. /
Q Blacksmith Shops IS Boot and Shoe-2 /
Tin and St0ve-4 Cabinet Wares Saddle /
and Harness Bakeries Hat Shop 7
Flour Mills Foundry and Machine shop (
3 Tobacco iactorics-+ Wagon shops
Printing Offices Livery Stables Ho- +
.ols-l Exchange Ofice-l5 Physicians and /
p Lawyers. All these appear TO be doing
a living business. There are churches
Methodist, Presbyterian and Christian,
With stated preaching in each, aud where
he gospel Is regularly d" dispensed with, -
IS Mrs. PartingtOn would say. The schools
Ire few, aud decidedly common, hut steps
ara being taken by the authorities, 10 re-
iuscitate the common school system Of the
State, and We hope for better things Prot
Ryan, whom many OF your readers viii re-
member, as having entertained them with
lis lectures, readings and presentations in
he winter of 1868. resides here, aud con-
templates establishing college here at no
T-.-e, 4 g. 81. -.