University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1912-09-16

Six towns In Boone county, each al
one time prosperous and promising
have either passed out of existence OF
have gradually decreased In popula-
ton until they became mere whist.
ling station Stonesport, once a
thriving place on the Missouri river
competed with Jefferson City for the
honor of state capitol, lost out and is
now defunct. Persia, a town laid out
in 1920 was once talked of for county
seat and now exists no longer. Nash
vile, a former shipping point, was
swept away in night during the ia.
nous freshet in 1874. Smithton,
where the first session of the circuit
court in the central part of the state
was held has been swallowed up by
Columbia. and its identity lost. The
most striking example of the "faller.
town" however, is Providence. now a
mere village, situated between two
bluffs facing the Missouri river.
Providence. once the main shipping
point between ST. Louis and Kansas
City. once place for spending vaea-
tions, a summer resort as well as
commercial center, is now the prop
erty of one man. The half-dozen' or
SO dwellings which are all that is left
Of the place are the property of James
c. Gillespy, a lawyer. former mayor
of Columbia Mr.. GillesDy, is the
brother of Christy G. Gillaspy. night
chief of police of st. Louis. They
spell their names differently but are
brothers Just the same. Gillespy is
a gentleman of the old planter tyne.
For some time he has owned a farm
at Providence 1t was only seven
years ago that he acquired the full
title to all the town. Small and in
significant as the place is-one would
scarcely notice it in passing by on a
train-Mr Gillespv is proud to be its
owner. He points to it's various spots
Of historic interest with a good deal
of pride and is ever ready to take
a visitors over the hills and bluffs to
show him some Indian mound or to
tell a tale Of the old davs when the
steamboats, piled the river and the
town manor" was alive with enter
tainment
Founded by Refugees.
The town was founded by refugees
from the devastated town Of Nashville
which was sweDt awav bv the tor
rents during the rise of 1874. 1t is
recorded in histories that this was
the greatest freshet ever known in
the state. The citizens of the lost
town. cast out Of their homes, hurried
away to higher ground. The site Of
Providence appealed to them and not
withstanding their loss it was not
long before the place took on the
semblance Of a town. The shin"in"
industry of Nashville was transferred
to the new place.
One of the first settlers and until
his death the most influential man o.
the community was John Parker. wh"
established in PrOvidnnc" a rork
packing house and built for himself
mansion worthy Of more elegant srr-
roundines. The house which was N"
nucleus about which tn" place or"
IFS owner who ORIGINALLY came f""''
Virginia was Southerner of an in
spirinp and masterfrl nersonalitv an"
It was due to him that the nlace at
tanned the height to which it did.
The Parker mansion was known
then as one of the best in the state
Its woodwork was brought from Phil
adelphia. The front door was hand
carved. 1t stood on the gentle slooe
of the valley between the two bluffs
the town and was sur
by stone wall with a broad
stone stairway leading up to its front
walk. The house built in 1S45 burned
down about 10 years ago. however IT
was in a good state of preservation
ND to the time of the fire which de-
it. The old wall and the stone
stairway remain. The place where
the house stood is covered with trees
and scrub oaks.
Noted For Its Hospitality.