Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-29
MIDDLEBROOK, IRON COUNTY,
MISSOURI.
A Lovely Village and the Best Kind
OF People.

a Lovely village ana the Best KIND
OF People.
Middlebrook, eighty three miles
south of St. Louis, and four north OF
Ironton, Is one of the loveliest villages
in the State, being blest by Nature
with hill, and vale, and brook, and by
mans handiwork in architecture, land
scape gardening, and monumental
glory.
From the hills, fields like velvet
gradually slope to the beautiful homes
in the valley, which have gardens,
orchards, and arbors.
Brooks gurgle and glisten through
the place, and birds seem to have con-
gregated from every cline.
On the side of hill with we'll defin-
ed evergreen avenues, and beautiful
the Middlebrook cemetery. The
charming location, the grandeur of the
monuments, the trees, and the floral
display make it a lovely resting place
only equalled by those of metropolitan
beauty and constant care.
Adjoining the cemetery is roman
tically beautiful park, with fair fish
ponds, like miniature lakes, in which
gambol the finny tribe in schools.
In the center of some of the ponds
are island fortresses, and the mimic
seas are over six feet deep. The larg-
est little lake is in circular form and
from the mainland has a beautiful
bridged pier which leads to hand
some pavilion away out in the breezes.
At the park is a grand orchard of
four acres and quite creek flows by,
and is covered by rustic bridge near
where geese and ducks hold high car
nival. Futher down beautiful large
pond glistens in the sun, a huge re-
village spreads along.
Such is part of the view from the
cemetery and inside it is very beau
tiful. The dwellings of the silent
are kept in excellent order with flow
ers and shells and tributes of constant
thought, adding beauty to the shafts
and many planned monuments, while
and trees seem the abode of
feathered songsters.
The monuments of granite are from
the local quarries, three miles away
and resemble very closely the Aberdeen
granite of Scotland.
The Hon. Tom Foley monur ent is a
splendid showing at granite and sculp-
tor work and the Archie block is rich
in size and polish and carving. TWAS
made by David Archie himself.
The Newall is a magnificent gran
tie shaft and towers above all-while
a lesser shaft adorns the grave of John
Boss, the first German to locate at Mid
dlebrOok.
For proportion and elegance the
Seitz monument would attract atten-
ton in the noblest cemetery. 1t is of
polished granite and is crowned by a
circle and cross. The ground is re-
ligiously kept, seats and flowers max
ing it further attractive.
The Hartmann granite is also grand
and was built by the hands of the son
in honor of the father. Andrew New
all McKernan has also a rich tribute
to his memory; and in fact not only in
brook cemetery is beautiful, and shows
that some memories never sleep.
Middlebrook is certainly peauti-
full place and tribute is due the living
in that regard. The ponds, the parks
the cemetery, and many commodious
and handsome buildings, and the most |
notable commercial enterprises gained
birth by Michael Seitz and have been
nurtured by his watchful eye and warm
heart: the truth is he is the daddy of
The district.
Ever since he came to Middlebrook |
in 1857 his progressive spirit never
tired. Always energetic and enter
prising. he would make money, and as |
soon as he did he had another public |
in hand, and out his |
money would go.
He is now hale and hearty, conduct
ing various enterprises, and as happy |
as good deeds can make man.
Middlebrook in the SOS was very !
busy trade center. Goods were ship
ped by boat from St. Louis to St. Gen !
svieve and therefrom hauled to Middle /
brook, which became a distributing |
point for $50 miles of country at least.
John Boss had big store and so had |
Frank johnson, who is now in WASH
ngton county. and they would do more
business in a day than IS done now in
\ week.
In 1857 when trade was rushing |
came Michael Seitz frem st. Genevieve
county, where he had located in 1852 |
rom Baden, Germany. A brewery
vas built at Middlebrook and it was |
N operation for quarter of a century,
put the big breweries have swallowed
he small ones, and the same is the |
Ease with tanneries, wagon shops and
,ther factories.
A grand cave $50 feet long and cost
ug NJ. Seitz $1,000 is still at Middle
brook and may DO reutilized some day;
Who can tell?
In 1865 MIR. Seitz began merchandise
ng and is now head of the incorporat-
ID Seitz Mercantile Company. Their |