The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-08-08
CALHOUN VISITED.
One of Henry County's Oldest
and Most Flourishing Little
Cities.
The Merchants Doing Well and
Hard Times Seem to Be
Unknown There.

situated about thirty miles south OF
Sedalia, in Henry county. on the top
of hill, where it commands beau
tifui view of scenery, which is ex-
celled only by the beauty of its bellies
and beaux. We found all the mer-
chants in a cheerful mood, and upon
inquiry learned that hard times had
cut but little figure with them, and
they were doing business right along:
The people all seem prosperous and
happy, and enjoying life as only such
people can. This is quite a thriving
town, owing to the fact that the tour
pottery establishments situated here
furnish employment to over lOo
hands. These were closed temporarily
only, and will soon be fiOurlshing
again. Over-stock seemed to be the
cause for the cessation of work.
After viewing the sights of the city,
Mr.. D. H. Pigg, one of the oldest
residents of the city, was visited. and
an hour was spent in pleasant CONVEX
sation with him. He is an elderly
gentleman, seventv-three years of
age, and hale and hearty, showing
plainly that he had lived careful,
prudent life, and time had dealt
gently with him, and he bids fair to
see many winters vet. His wife, who
is only one year younger, is still living
and it was d sight, fit for the gods,
to view them and listen to the CONVEX
sation furnished by them Of the early
days when they came from Kentucky
to make their home in the then wild
west. Mr.. Pigg said he came to Cal
houn in 1S43, and had to ride
horseback from Boonville, without
seeing a single house or human Until
he reached Calhoun. He saw all kinds
of game on his way through the coun-
try, such as deer, turkeys. bear,
and all kinds of small game.
The town of Calhoun was laid out in
1887. six years before he arrived. and
was one of the most prosperous towns
in the west at that time, commanding
trade for miles and miles around.
This was Reeves county at that time,
he said, and the name was changed to
Henry county, way back in the '4Os.
The first court everheld in the county,
said he, was in an old log cabin ON the
farm of John Gault, now passed away,
shortly after he came there. He had
lived to see the town grow and pros
per, and seemed perfectly content
with his pleasant home and good
health of himself and wife and the
share of this worlds goods that they
had accumulated. 1t is pleasant, in
deed, to converse with such good
people.
In viewing around the town We
saw that they had four houses of
worship, a good public school
building and many other good institu-
tions. The homes of the people were
all tastefully painted, with good lawns
and plenty of shade, and looked as
cosy as one could wish.
The merchants were next visited,
and as said before, were in a happy
mood, and no pains were spared to
answer questions and give any intor.
nation desired. Among them We
mention few whom it was our pleas
ure to meet, and hope soon tosee them
again:
w. T. Wigginton. a genial, kind
old gentleman, was found in his place
of business, where he dispensed grOce.
ries and notions to his customers,
where he has been for six long years.
He seemed to be very busy, and said
business was all right with him.
Mr.. Gidney was next visited. and
seemed to be doing very well. Said
he had worked for the company store
for nine years, and had been in bust
ness for himself for Two years. He
was selling groceries and notions.
j. w. Keyser, who sells dry good:
and clothing, said he had done busi
ness in the town for thirteen year.
and had always met with fair trade
His stock looked clean and nice, and
would have done justice to many
much larger cities.
w. H. Gutridge & Son come mex,
with handsome stock of drugs and
hooks, and their store presented 8
handsome appearance on account OF
the arrangement of goods. Had beer
in business since 1866, and seemed t.
be dong well.
n. H. Bush was busy in his res
taurant, where he served meal.
to the hungry. and said that he wa.
busy despite what other folks sait
about dull times. He is an old resi-
dent, having lived there for thirteen
years.
Hale Trevey, the genial and polite
clerk in the company's store, was bus,