The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1900-01-13

which enters the Usage rear Warsaw.
On the east Is the source Of Blackwater,
the principle stream of Johnson
county, which reaches the Missouri by
way Of the Lamine lear Boonyille.
Blackwater starts with 9 big spring
in the Hat just east Of Chapel Hill. In
the early days this spring was the main
dependence for water, which was
hauled in barrels up the hill for the
whole town. From this high ridge one
gets q view OF the valley Of Blackwater
almost the entire length of johnson
county. AT night the twinkling lights
of Warrensburg, twenty-five miles
away, are visible. Ten miles to the
north, through a gap IN the Sni hills,
may be seer the trains Of the Chicago
& Alton railroad a few miles west Of
Odessa. Twenty miles to the south
faint streak Of smoke here and there
betray The location Of Holden and other
towns on The Missouri Pacific railway.
The solitude Of this region Is I'M
broken save for the distant jangle Of
COW bells in the yet unredeemed wood
land, or the ceaseless bark Of the farm
house dog.
West Of Chapel Hill a beautiful
country stretches away toward Lone
Jack and Kansas City; but In every
other direction the land is exceedingly
rough. Approaching Chapel Hill from
the Warrensburg side you do not see
the town till you emerge from the
scrub oak timber, and there 1t is-a
tiny village Of about 100 inhabitants.
A general store, a blacksmith shop, a
custom mill and a postofice-this is
the brief and simple business directory.
A district school looks after the mental
wants OF the inhabitants and a Cum.
berland Presbyterian church supplies
their spiritual necessities.
The blight Of the civil war fell heavy
on Chapel Hill. The torch flushed
the original town. Only one building
IA rev Standing tat antedstes that
troublesome period and even It was
Quilted by tina flames. only the walls
remaining standing. The walls are Of
rubble, like the stone fences 90 COM
mon in the neighborhood. The town
is disappearing BY piecemeal, the
buildings falling to rack, the young
people going to the cities, and the old
ones to the cemetery.
Nothing in the present aspects Of
Chapel Hill suggests to q stranger thai
1t was once the seat Of a famous school
where distinguished men were euuohteu
The founder OF Chapel Hill-towI
and collegs-and for many years tn
leading spirit there, was Archibald
William Rulings. December 8, 1915
was the date Of bis birth in Surf.
county, N. C. After receiving q liberia
education no, taught several years II
the schools Of bis native state. 81
came to Missouri in 1889, entering
large tract Of land about twenty mile
southwest Of Lexington. Born in th
bills, he chose the hills for bis perma
nent home. He began with grsa
energy the improvement Of his ne'
farm. 1t was on both sides Of ID
LAfayette-Johnson line, and q part Of
Is the present location Of Chapel Hill
Western Missouri was q wilderness
almost the whole country being COY
. cred with dense forests or yirgi
pralries. WarrenSburg was an Unfair
q year old, Kansas City was Westpol
landing. Kansas war eOnsldere
scarcely hAbitsble for white men, an
the Indians held almost undispule
: sway up to the state line.
MIR. Rulings married Miss Mary &,
} Stapp Of Lafayette county, a sister
: the first wife Of Senator Cockrell. 81
3 was a lady Of naturally strong mir
Z and Of fine attainments. Her brothe
Milton Stapp, was fond Of hunting al
other active pursuits. When a lad
II, Milton wal accidentally shot by
o companion while bunting. His left ],
was am~putated. This untitled him {
any occupation requiring pbysic
strength. Mr.. Rulings determined
give him an education. There we
!, no schools in all that section, and N
Rulings could not yet afford to Gel
him to an eastern college. An Id
struck him. Well educated himse
why not undertake the education Of
crippled brother-in-law7 He to
young stapp into bis own house q
studies began.
This was . radical change in NJ
toms habits and, fearing he would 1
DO satisfied alone under the connI
!. ment, Mr.. Ridings had him briug Alo
with him two or three Of bis you
companions. A year passed with m
q satisfactory results. Mr.. Rulings Il
lie the boys 10 eoms back In The follow
be September. Whsn fall came not Of
did these boys come back, but Il
/; brought eight OF ten other, with the
ne The school was conducted In ]
d; Rldlngs' house which stood on The o
n. Of the hill at the east side Of
IL present town. By the middle Of
on second term the house was full 10 oy
tie flowing. Soon a school house q
o. boarding places had to be provided
g. the fast increasing throDg. The sch
'ot was built on the hill, overlooking
y, home Of Mr.. Rulings. It was fanL
lie on the north and on the south
all boarding houses and a. the sch
grew additions were made W It sOr