Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-03-10
ODESSA.
Her History. Prospect. and Destiny.

ODESSA.
Her History. Prospects and Destiny.
From the Odessa News.l
In the spring OF 1873, the ground on
which Odessa now stauds was mead |
4 heavy crop wss gathered that year. |
In the winter of '7S, the Kansas City,
St. Louis 81 Chicago railroad was
completed to and beyond Odessa.
During '73 a town site had been Sc.
lected, comprising eighty acres.
" hich was laid out by B. d. Weediu.
the plat fled III recorders office in and |
for Lafayette county, and = few lots
sold during the winter Of '7S and '79.
Several small buildings were erected
and few sm Ill stores opened. In the |
spring OF '79 several good business
houses were erected, aud business
opened up briskly, aud demand crea-
ted for more houses, both business and
dwellings. In the fall of 70 quite u
number of buildings had. been erected.
aud Odessa bad the appearance Of
town full OF life and vitality. The
trade during the wiuter of '79 and go,
grew to such magnitude that it set |
tied III the minds of the people the
question as 10 whether -we had the ele-
ments within the scope OF our territory
out of which q large and furnishing
town coult be maldtamed: Tue sub.
stantlal moneyed Menwefe satisfied, aud
during the ssaion OF 80, we llad grown
through the acces ession, 81. capital, to a
town OF 600 Inhabitants. LII The mean-
time, the bank OF Odessa had been
organized. with paid up capital OF
BIZ, 900, which was opeued in lhs
store OF L. B. Smith, while the large
and substantial brick building on tho
corner of Mason and Second streets
was ueing erected. Quite number OF
experienced merchants settled in Odes-
sa during 1880, and business had
steadily increased. Almost every line
Of business had been represented.
There having been no arrangement tor
the manufacture OF brick in 80 only
three brick buildings had been erected;
the bank, the Christian church and one
brick dwelling. Iu the spring Of 81
brick yard was started, but too late In
the season to afford building material
for any extensive improvement. couse.
Quently, only one brick business house
va. erected, which was built by s. T
Corbitt. in block IS. In the spring OF
'e2 another brick yard was opened, and
during the summer and fall, the two
were pushed forward, furnishing an
abundance of good brick. The inten-
| tion was to accumulate u supply for
early building in the spring of 'S3.
before the yards could be worked, but
after the beginning Of winter, when
the yards stopped work, building
went forward until large amount Of
the briok were absorbed. There are
now only enough remaining to build
about three houseA whiie at least slx
ars already arranged 10 bs built. The
yards will be opened up rs early a.
the groand will permit aud made to
turn them out rapidly.
Since the original plat was fled, five
additions have been made, and plats
of the same were made out aud filed as
the law directs; in the followiDZ:-
McBurpey's, Patterson & Rea's, Rus.
sells first addition, Patterson s. Smiths
aud Russell's second addition, 80 that
Odessa now comprises an area sbont
three times the size OF the original
plat. .-i...
Iu the winter of 1880 the town oi
Odessa was incorporated by the coun.
ty court Of Latsyette county. uudcrths
kprovlsious Of the statute m ,de for the
linenrr nf towns aud viilages,
and board OF trustees1n1Ipaec
which has been very successful IN ad
ministering the town government, ,mos
of the members being ro.electsd d
esch succeeding elsctiou. The popu
lation OF 0Iessa has steadily increased
until now 1t numbers, at the loves
estimate, 1850, with prospects of I
rapid Increase III the future unprece
dsuted. lii addition to the c. & A
railroad. there is surveyed, and ali th'
preiiminaries arranged, for the exten
sion OF the e. j. A. road to Fl. Scott
Kansas, aud ultimately to Galveston
Texas. known as the Ft. Scott, St
Louis s. Chicago Railroad, on " hicl
work will be commenced eaily in th'
spring. ,.-..s,-. ,.
Odessa 10 the center OF a large are,
Of the anest farming lands IL
Missouri, on which corn, wheat. oats
fruits, vegetables, hemp, fax. aud. II
isct all products Of the west are pro
duced IN great abundance. The sol
is fertile to an extraordinary degree
with healthy climate and abuudan
timber. The principal industry il
farming aud stock raisiug. The bes
breeds of horses, cattle, swine ant
sheep are to be found on our exten
sive farms, and the farmers are gradu
ally growing into wealth, which i
manifested by the extensive and costl.
improvements growing up Oh thei
farms. Lands are ranging from $40
I ! mar nero In tina amin hs of ioWn In a
. low As $40 few miles away, and III tn
judgment OF our best citizens. is boun
to advance to All equilibrium with land
in the older states.
Our town has been remarkable TO
, the thrift Of its business men, sewers
OF whom, from q small beginning
: have gradually grown up till their bui
4 iness counts high up iu the thousaud
Several of our pioneer merchant
;, have been unusually successful.
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