Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/342

 282 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI the Odd Fellows' hall and the business blocks of W. W. Sample and Robert Drum. The pop- ulation of Lutesville is 551. The Lutesville Baniur is a weekly paper and is Republican in politics. Gayoso This town received its name in honor of the Spanish governor of Louisiana, Don Manuel Gayoso. When the site was selected for the county seat of Pemiscot county in April, 1851, there was not a house standing on the fifty acres of land purchased by the commissioners. This land was bought from James A. McFar- land and the town was surveyed by William Bigham. No house was erected until 1854, when Sanford Jackson built a small residence. The next house was built by Charles A. Kim- ball. W^arriugton & Pennell of New Madrid were the first merchants. They began busi- ness in 1854 and were succeeded by Benjamin Sellers. John H. Kelly was another early merchant. The first hotel was built in 1856 by Wade H. Spencer. Francois Baxter, who was an Englishman, taught the first school in the school house, which was erected in 1859. Other schools had been taught prior to this time, but they were conducted in the court house. This court house was erected in 1854 and was a small frame building on the public square. This building was used until 1873, when it was moved away and used as a stable by George W. Carleton. James A. McFarland, who owTied the land on which the town was laid out, was one of the first physicians in Gayoso, as was Robert E. Clowd. In 1858 Dr. John H. Alexander came from Point Pleasant to Gayoso. He seems to have been the first graduate of a regular medical college in the county. The principal resident of the town during many years of its history was Major George W. Carleton. whose life is recorded in another chapter. To his enterprise and business abil- ity was due in large measure the prosperity which the place enjoyed. Gayoso met the fate of many other river towns. The Mississippi gradually encroached upon it until little was left. The county seat was removed to Caruther.sville and the place ceased to exist. C.VRUTHEESVILLE Caruthersville, the present comity seat of Pemiscot comity, is situated not far from the old village of Little Prairie. It was named in honor of Hon. Sam Caruthers of Madison count.v, and was laid out in 1857. G. W^. Bushlej- and Col. J. H. Walker were the men instrumental in locating the new town. It grew very slowly and attained no real impor- tance until after - the war. Among the first merchants were Harbison & Christie, and Davidson & Edwards. At present Caruthersville has a population of 3,655. The three banks in the town have a capital stock of $175,000, with large deposits. Among the business interests are an ice plant, four cotton gins, a cottonseed oil mill, a large egg case factory, heading factory, a handle mill, bottling works and about thirty general stores. Besides these there are a number of other business interests of minor importance. The town is lighted with electric lights and has a modern system of water works. The public schools of Caruthersville are in a good condition, there being one large brick building for the grades, and a new high school building. Seventeen teachers are employed. Besides the public schools there is a Catholic parochial school, which has a large attendance. There are church organizations of most of the denom- inations and several of them have church buildings. There are published in the town the follow-