IN TODAYS 92.1 Local News broadcast WE feature the History of Bates County through a weekly release from the Papinville Association, the weekly series will air through September 24th. This year Papinville will celebrate its 175th birthday.
The information has been written by Phyliss Stewart, to be shared with the public, through the broadcast on 92.1 and will be published on the website at www.921news.com.
The first series of Papinville history aired on Friday, August 19th and will continue through September 23rd. AND NOW WE PRESENT THE SERIES OF BUSINESSES IN PAPINVILLE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
Border wars were starting as early as 1854. In 1861 Kansas entered the union as a free state and in 1821 Missouri was admitted to the union as a slave state. There were many warfares and raids between Kansas and Missouri until the end of the Civil War.
General Jim Lane and his troops burnt the greater part of the town of Papinville in the fall of 1861. This was two years before Order 11. They burnt the courthouse and the river bridge going over the Marais des Cygnes at Papinville. This was done to prevent General Price from entering the county with his army. Most people thought that the bridge was burnt in Order 11 which was issued by Brig. Gen.Ewing on August 25, 1863. The Civil War ended April 9,1865 with the Confederates surrendering.
After the Civil War people started coming back to Papinville looking for their homes that had been burnt and building them back along with businesses. The following businesses are the ones that we know about: Xavier Kienberger was a wagon maker and made coffins for the people who couldn’t buy a ready made one. Major Wilson and Tom Sanderson had a furniture store and later moved to Rich Hill. Mike Kaufman made shingles, later had a drug store and a saloon. Dr. Zachariah Anderson came back and opened a drug store and later in 1880 his son ran the drug store. Other doctors that doctored in Papinville were Dr.C.C. Wilson, Dr. A.C. Thomson (1871) and Dr. Lindley. W.H. Graves was an attorney. Phillip Zeal had a general merchandise store on the southside of Main Street. Zeal sold his building to Ed Keller. Through the years the building sold to Sunderworth, Burgesses, Ben Smith and the last owner was W.O. Griffin. Griffin ‘s owned the last store in Papinville and in the early 40’s it closed. Ogle and Wilson had a hotel on the north side of Main Street between Prairie and Court Street. John Fry had a butcher shop on the northwest corner of Main and Court Street. Robert Alford had a dry good store on Main Street before 1873. E.H. Hirni had a butcher shop in 1869 for a few years. Frank Diehl, Chris and Jacob Hirni built a flour mill in 1870. This was a two story building north of the river bridge on the east bank of the river. Amos Bennett and his son bought the mill and operated it until it burnt about 1891. Mr. Diehl also ran a carding shop. Diehl was one of the builders who helped to build the bridge back after the Civil War. McDonald had a harness shop on Main Street and George Reeves had a grist mill by Ogle’s hotel. Fred Kamm, George Raps and Lemuel Cady were all blacksmiths. D.H. Wilson ran a dry goods store and H.E. Yaw had a saloon and hotel. Elias Shaver was the justice of the peace. As you can see Papinville was a busy town in Bates County after the Civil War.
Papinville had many businesses and many families lived in the area after the Civil War to the 1900’s. The river trade was starting to end in the late 1800’s and soon the railroads were being built. The M. K.&T. Railroad was built through the southeast corner of the county and new towns started up on the line of the railroad. Papinville remained only a local trading point and not the business center that it used to be.
Next week the story will be about what happened to the town in 1900 to the present. Hope you will continue to read the stories or listen to them on the Butler Radio Station. They thank Mid America Shopper \ News and the Rich Hill Mining Review for printing the stories and to the radio station for putting them on the radio for you to listen to how much history is in this little community. The Papinville Committee hope it will continue for a long time, but they need your help to continue. If you would like to help or volunteer call 417-395-4288 or 417-395 2594.
The Papinville Annual Picnic is September 24th. Mark your calendars to come to Papinville to celebrate our 175th celebration. By now you know that B Highway will not to closed until October 23. We will be able to have the picnic after two years of not being able to have it, because of the Covid. Let’s pray for beautiful weather. Until next week.
Submitted by: Phyllis Stewart (Activity Director)
Information taken from: “Papinville History 1997 “compiled by Beverly Sullins and Phyllis Stewart and “THREE MILE SQUARE” written by Mildred Marquardt
