The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-01-16
Correspondence.
Interesting Letter about Atchison
and Holt Counties.

|
| Interesting Letter about Atchisor
and Holt Counties.
| MINNESOTA VALLEY, Holt Co, No, Jan. 6, "a
EDITOR REpuHLICAS-My last to you
left me 1t Irish Grove, Atchison county
From thence l went to Phelps City. on
the 3lst ult.. and stopped with j.. II.
Parker until after New Years. Phelps
City is quite a business place. 1t is in
the Missouri bottom and surrounded by
Il rich farming country. learn that
there is more shipping done at this point
that n other point on the railroad be-
tween St. Joseph and Hamburg, Iowa.
There are a number of business houses
here, but | think the city is behind some
other less preten:ious towns in churches
and school accommodations. There is
but one church building in the city. 1t
is a plain, substantial building, belong
ing to the Christian Church. 1t is also
rented 6y the School Board for the
public school. there being no school
building in the place. There is a large
amount of stock being fed here in this
vicinity, which gives the farmers a good
market for their corn, which commands
q good price at present. This is n oil
the best corn growing regions in North
west Missouri. A MI. Holt, of your
county. is feeding considerable stock
here. and intends building permanent
stock yards here for stock feeding.
| Feeders are Offering thirtv-five cents foI
corn here. but are asking forty
cents per bushcl.
On Friday. the I'd instant, i left Phelps
for Watson and Sonora. The former i.
a small station on the railroad, located
in n low bottom, and has the appearance
of having plenty of mud and water in
the wet season. The latter place is To-
Gated on the bank OF the Missouri river,
two and Il half miles west of Watson.
This is an antique town, and reminds
one of .'Goldsmith'S deserted village"
Village property can be purchased here
very cheap. This used to he 4 shipping
point on the Missouri river, but ''big
muddy" played them a '.trick' and
passed them by on the other side, having
changed her channel over to the Ne
braska side and lett this place without n
landing. Since the railroad has been
built the business has gone there. and
trading houses here are now standing
empty for want Of occupants. During
my stay here / was the guest Of Mr.. G.
O. Spencer, formerly of Whitesville.
lie is Postmaster. superintendent of the
Sunday-school, elder III the church,
school director, secretary of Masonic
lodge. keeps boarding house and is en-
gagged in farming, which is enough TO
keep his head and hands employed if he
discharges all the duties incumbent on
him in those several relations. They
have a very good school building here.
with two teachers employed. In relig-
iouS matters the cirizens of this villa are
very much divided. there being y small
society each of Methodist Episcopal
North and South. Methodist Protestant
and Christian. There is no church
building here. If the religious portion
of the village would ~allunilc. they would
be able to build Il good church-houSc.
and sustain regular preaching. As they
are now situated they can have neither.
There was quite an excitement here
on Tuesday, the 9Th instant, consequent
on the arrest and bringing here of a
couple Of persons charged with horse
stealing. 4 boy about fifteen wears of
age took 4 horse ont Of 4 Stllk-iield on
evening of the first instant and
nurthwlrd into Iowa, and was
followed the next day by the owner and
overtaken neal Council Bluffs and
brought back. The boy claimed that he
had bought the horse from m old citi-
here. and was authorized by him to
take the horse. The citizen was arrested,
and they We're both being held in cuSto-
d. for an examination before the Justice
", Wednesday. The probability is. that
will have the opportunity to
At Il trade at jefferson City before
On "Wednesday. the 9TH instant, l took
the train for Craig. in Holt count
This is a small station on the railroad.
with not Il very preposscssing appear
lnce. and more noted for bad whisky
and afrrays than sohricty and good or
der. On New Years day. after having
a shooting match, a couple OF persons
got into IN affray and "A young man
stabbed an old gentleman near the
which caused death in a few min
The young nan has been COM
To Jail to await his trial for muir
der. Bad whisky was at the bottom of
it. When will the people learn that the
peace and safety Of the community de-
mand the cytirpa;ion of the monster
evil? From Graf. | wendell my way
across the country to this place. Enough
for the present. SPECTATOR.