Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/323

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 263 president was A. H. Brevard, and Thomas P. English was cashier. The bank was very prosperous and did a very large business imtil its removal to Cape Girardeau in 1853. In 1852 it was examined by a committee from the legislature which reported that its assets then amoiuited to $340,850 and its circulation was $199,050. During the fifteen years of its existence its net profits were $79,628. This branch was disposed of in 1 857 when its assets were purchased by Robert Sturdivant, who removed it to Cape Girardeau. As we have said in another place, the first newspaper in Southeast IMissouri was pub- lished at Jackson, and during this period there was published, almost constantly, a newspaper under some name or other. A list of these is given in the chapter on newspapers. The town suffered very greatly from chol- era. The first epidemic was in 1833. Among those who died were Col. Alexander Buclcner and wife. The total deaths at this time were 128, and the cholera reappeared in 1849, but there was only one death at that time. It was again in town in 1852, and this time it swept away a large number of the inhabitants. During this period before the war. the schools were private schools. They were taught either by some person who acted en- tirely on his own account, or else were con- ducted by chartered associations, as was true in the ease of the Jackson Academy. This association was incorporated in 1820 and erected its first building, a two-story brick, in 1838. Civil Government Jackson was incorporated in 1819, but there seems to have been no organization of the government of the town until 1828. In that year Nathaniel Vanhorn, Franklin Cannon, G. W. Davis and Edward Criddle seem to have been the trustees or members of the council. They were chosen at an election held by William G. Kennett and Joel Blunt, commissioners appointed by the county court. They passed ordinances and rules for the gov- ernment of the board. In 1831 George W. Juden was clerk, and Welton O'Bannon was town constable. The organization seems then to have lapsed and there is no record of any business transacted by it until 1847. At that time incorporation was revived, and an elec- tion held which resulted in the choice of N. Jason Watson and Cyrus Walker as trustees. In 1859, the town secured a special charter from the legislature and the first trustees under the new organization were: Thomas B. English, John W. McGuire, Jacob Neidert and Chas. Litterer. Present County Seat Just as was the fate of all other towns of this section, Jackson suffered greatly during the war, though not to the extent of some others. It began to improve, however. The coming of the railroad, a branch of the Iron Mountain which was built from Allenville in 1884. added greatly to the town's prosperity. Its population is now 2,105, and is rapidly increasing. There are about fifty business establishments of various kinds, most of which are doing a fiourishing Imsiness. There are a luimher of good general stores carrying large large flouring mills, a creamery, packing house, heading factory, brick kiln, and other smaller factories. There are two banks in the town. The Cape County Savings Bank was organized in the 80 's. It has a capital of $50,000. The Jackson Exchange Bank was organized in 1894. Its capital is $20,000. The possession of the county seat adds much
 * M. Watkins, Charles Welling, A. J. Brevard,
 * ind varied stocks of goods. There are two