Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-09-13
, yXvx,Et, FROM MISSOURI.
PILOT GROVE, Cooper Co, Mo-,
Sept. 4th, 1879.


make that promise good, although una
yoidably, | am week later than
nromised. The first thing to be men
Toned in this letter is the village or
town of Pilot Grove, which lies on the
Mo, Sc Texas II. r., twelve miles from
Boonville, and 25 miles from Sedalla.-
The way Pilot Grove got its name Is
somewhat interesting. When emIgfa-
lion began to flow into Central ahd
Southwestern Missouri. the land III tn'S
section was almost entirely destitute u
trees, even along the banks OF Tue f''o'e
and creeks, there were few TO De seen'
The great crossing place on me M'SSou-
ri for emigranis going to the 02u'''"e S'
was then where the town OF bnohViiie
nov, Glands Immediately after leaving
,bo river there was slight hill to as
cen5 and the emgrant there had an ex-
tended view OF the country through
which his Journey lay. To the South
west of Boouyille could be seen twelve
miles distant a small grove OF trees,
standing alone in the midst OF the praI-
RE tract;and this grove the emigrant IN
variably took as his pilot or guide Tor
that much of his journey; and III course
of time this grove was called fllot
Grove. The road thus located 10y the
emigrants, was afterwards used as post
road between I5oonville and George
town, and postotiice was established
at or near the grove and called Iliot
Grove postoifice; and about live years
ago this town was laid off aud called
Pilot Grove.
When the grove of trees we have
mentioned, was first known, 1t consist
ed of about twenty shcllbaIk hickories;
but now they Number about twe!ve,s some
of them having died. 1t is nOt known
that any person ever destroyed even so
much as branch Of these trees, and the
remnant of them still stand now cmcios-
I'd, a monument 70 the past AID 10 one
person who is buried under thcir SiIad-
Ow; aud suppose they will stand until
time causes them 10 crumbIe INTO dust
Five wears ago, when the Missouri ~
Texas railroad was being built through
this county, the town OF fiIot Grove
was laid oil, aud in short time, store
houses dwellings. etc, were ercc;cd,and
Il great deal Of trade attracted Gcrr,
which notwithstanding the dU!l times
has, in large measure, been retained.
The place c0utair,s only about 500 IN
habitauts and probably never will con
iain many more, bat those engaged III
business here are generally solid husi-
ness men. who by industry and attcn-
,inn 10 business have amasSed consider
able wealth. We hsve three dry goods
s;ore,. q duo store, confectionery, hard
ware store. q LARGE warehouse aud dc.
oot. &c. Sc; aud have in the way Of
churches. one Baptist, one N l.. Church
S,p,l (;,,.t buildiuolorc ". T. Church,
su5a Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN Church.
Al, have fine school called The I'i,ot
E.,.. CoIl.aa ,rL,,, .rl.lyrs msv re-.
,.'.,,;,I,ar -, o..d.u.,c 81, c,ii,.,,iate
,,n-,n - ;,.,rnc,inu TIL, school h"s
f,,, !, nn.,..,i,., o,I, ave yoar Jut
,,rn,,,is,s - I,a . success The building
49,, ,-,...,,.d ,nd tta. school ,.,,;i,i;lclpd
s,.,,o,, ,.,,,, J., R.v & NJ Fjcnclbey-
s,.....,. ,...;l.,. ,FI.h..rl.s-
- ~" -, -: ,.,,.,. .,lj H.
l.l I,,ll,,,,, Sur;,,, ,l,n rr,.-e,,t VA
S., , o o"', III .i.n cL,re Il conore
',;,., - C,,,Ln,I.,I p,oshytcrisns
r go :, Ir,ina;s Tba ,,s,ruYs Of
.',,',i na,.r.t Ii, darort,r, yery
'''H $50. ,l,a,o.., a,,a so.i.llg
''",7 - 10 tf,.'.'",E,I ,aon,.r
'', ,I,raa s...r.t s,c;a,is
g. , NJI L'IIla,I ' MODS and Granoers.
,Thn Nfssons are. crec,inp a hall over the
Sow, n +, Church South. tina, | spcal,
80, ,Li. L.t,er The Grspprrs ere nu-
n.rnns and take considerable interest
IN their oIpauiza,ion.
For means of communication with
the outside world we have here Il telc-
.,rsnb Office. auI two daily maila, Sun
dsys not executed. The Register, whose
arrival is welcomed with delight, is re
ceived here on Sunday afterno0u-0ne
dsy later than i, is received at Hall
town, only eight miles from Shepherds
town.
There are great many persons IN
Pilot Grove who are native Nirginians,
and several OF those are from Shepherds
town.
There are many NTg'manS every
where IN Missouri. In some places
that We have been we almost came to
the conclusion that II we were TO put
every other man down as beng from
Va, We would not be lar wrong. ne
remainder must then be set oo~h as De
ing native hentucNianS rs there are
also MANY OF them here too. But We