Mexico weekly ledger., 1914-07-02


court houses that have been built ii
the history of tae town have stood
with one exception, on that block
As to the location Of the first house
quote from a contemporary history
as being the best authority obtainable:
The fact is that Edward Jennings
never owned a house IN or near Mex
leo. tho is popularity supposed 10
built the first HOUSED but after
laying OF the town and prior
TO the act Of the legislature
above referred to, Jas. T. Fenton had
purchased from the proprietors OF the
town. lots six and seven OF block
twelve, and had located on lot six
where the book store Of James II. Sa-
lee is o located, a grocery and gen
eral store. the business OF which was
conducted by the firm OF Jennings q
Fenton, From Rufus S Pearson, o
living In Mexico, and at that time a
hoy of ten years of age, residing with
his father on a farm adjoining the
northern limits of the town. IL was
learned that the house where this
store was maintained is the first house
ever built within the original limits Of
the town plat, and from a suit begun
by Cross and Robbins at the July term
1887, at Mexico. against Jennings, it is
learned he had ceased to be a resident
Of Andrain county
A monument to the memory Of John
Bingle Morris, in the court house yard
Of Mexico, credits him with the honor
OF building the first house. This has
been proved a mistake. However, out
side of the Fenton house. Morris did
build the first dwelling house and
store. 1t was a log house on LOT 4,block
q, where he kept a store and tavern
for many years. and where was kept
the first postoff1ce in the county. Nor
ris afterwards served as a county
Judge.
On life in the country surrounding
Mexico, the following from Judge Ed
wards sketch of the county. is inter
The territory which forms
Audrain county up to 1887. was known
as Salt River Region and not even
with all its horrors was more
aninviting to the timid female than a
home within its borders.
up to 1929 there was not a human
labitation within its borders. Its pri-
neyal stiffness was broken only by the
howl Of the wolf or the hair raising
yhoop Of the Sac or Pottowattomie.Y ,
Life IN this hedging town was prim- /
tive at hest Practically ali tine stores
ook out licenses to sell spurious IL :
uors, and the many tavern travis {
'ere the result Amusement was fur |,
ished by a rae track which was laid z
Ut from Washington street. east % 8
hat Is now Londen. Wagers we're 4
laced on all the races. and never paid
Ut without a nstic encounter.
Despite all these existing conditions,
church was organized and erected in ,
'Ss at the corner OF Jefferson and D.
homemade streets where the city =,
All now stands), To the Methodists =
the honor Of erecting Mexico's a,
church. the Baptsts had erected !
ne three years before, two miles west :,
7 town on the Columbia road.
The first court met on the 9Th day ?
February 1897. and its first act af-
r converting was 10 grant license 10
ines E. Fenton TO sell and retail y,
'~iritous liquors and groceries upon n,
ie payment Of a i've dollar fee. At q
ie same meeting, the court which had }.
let al the home Of Fenton. appointed !.
enton and Geo. W. Turley commits {,
to supervise the building Of !,
first conrt house. This was to be
temporary structure on the north :,
corner Of lot 6. and was !,
D be Of good white oak hewed logs. !,
story high. ten feet between floor Z,
nd sealing ~thirty-six feet long. and !.
ighteen feet wide. with a partition Of :
1gs through il, making one room :
Fenty-two feet long, two outside doors :,
one middle door. good walnut bat
doors -Four. fifteen-light windows.
God square joint floor Of plank, the r.
iealing' to'be lathed and plastered h
nth n coat Of plastering. cracks !
linked and scanned with lime and
and, with a good roof Of shingles.
ne good chimney of brick. one plane
piece and wash board all :,
round said house" :
Thus. the first people came to Mex ,
o, the first stores and dwellings we're
nilt, courts were organized, and re- ,
gion introduced. The growth Of the :,
'wn from a mere handful Of log cab
Is to a city Of 5000 souls will be TAX !,
q up in the subsequent chapters OF n
ia WORK