August 14, 2026
Searching through old newspaper gives insight into who the first settlers of Marceline are. Marceline grew so rapidly that the number of pioneers is numerous. Below are the articles with many of the first settlers of the town.
December 1, 1887
The Edina Sentinel:
Ed. M. Randolph, packed up his household goods and moved over to Marceline, in Linn County Tuesday last. ... Ed. M. Randolph returned Saturday from the new town Marceline where he has been overseeing the surveying of that town.
December 1, 1887
Brookfield Gazette:
D. J. Welbanks informs us he has a contract for a building to be put up in Marceline, and that there is every prospect of a wild west boom setting in there in the spring. Several small structures are already up and material rolling in.
January 19, 1888
The Edina Sentinel:
John Kelso is packing up to move to Marceline, Mo.
January 20, 1888
Savannah Reporter and Andrew County Democrat:
A Post-Office has been established at Marceline, Linn County, with Harry K. West as postmaster.
February 7, 1888
Carrollton Daily Democrat:
Ollie Welch returned yesterday from the new town of Marceline, in Linn County, where he invested in four town lots. Henry Deigle will soon be a full fledge and enterprising citizen of the city, and will hang out a real estate and Insurance shingle.
February 9, 1888
The Bulletin:
Mr. Geo. Perry has started a restaurant. ... Mr. Reynolds has bought property in Braggan's addition to Marceline, and is building a residence there. Mr. Jas. Logue is also building a residence in Braggan's addition. Mr. W. H. Myers has also bought property in Braggan's addition. Braggan's addition is having a boom.
February 22, 1888
Carrollton Daily Democrat:
J. D. Gilbert and his son, Peter, will remove to Marceline next week. They are clever gentlemen and substantial citizens. We regret to lose them from old Carroll and wish them success in their new home.
March 1, 1888
Chariton Courier:
J. L. Potts left for Marceline yesterday morning where he will embark in the jewelry business. We commend Mr. Potts to the citizens of that place, and hope he may soon grow rich in "the new town."
March 1, 1888
The Edina Sentinel:
W. D. Pugh has gone to Marceline to go in the real estate business.
March 22, 1888
Carrollton Daily Democrat:
... Mr. Young, one of the farmers who sold his farm to the Santa Fe Land Co., has bought a farm three miles southwest of Brookfield and will move about April 1. ...
February 11, 1898
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
Davis S. Day was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, in the year 1836, so that he is now near his sixty-second mile post, well preserved, however, and good for many years yet in the regular course of nature. He is one of Marceline's pioneer citizens, and has seen all the various steps from tents to solid business blocks and beautiful homes. ... In September, 1888, Mr. Day first set foot in Marceline, not the city of today, but a mere village struggling to take shape and provide shelter for the constant influx of "prospectors." ... Mr. Day selected a site for a residence, having determined on looking the ground over to locate and establish a bank. To select the location for the bank was more difficult than to settle on a site for a dwelling. The plat of the town, and the purpose of the first investors, was to make Santa Fe Avenue the principal street. Mr. Day watched the streets to see from what direction most of the country people came, and decided that the bulk of the trade would come from the south. He went down to the corner of Kansas and Howell, and drove his stake on the well known site of the Santa Fe Exchange Bank. The "uptown" people of those days laughed and asked him why he "settled up in the country." He predicted then, and a few years proved, that the business would leave the north end. At the time of Mr. Day's first visit there were, or course, no vacant dwellings in town, and he returned to his home in Mason City, Ill., until a dwelling could be erected, Wm. Taylor remained to superintend the work. Later in the fall the family came. ...
May 12, 1905
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
Dr. A. J. Davis died of heart disease at his home in this city Saturday afternoon. For several years the Doctor has been subject to attacks of heart disease. He was ill a short time Friday evening, but Saturday morning was able to get up as usual, and built the morning fire. A little later he fell unconscious from the couch on which he was sitting. Medical aid was called and he regained consciousness, but did not rally perceptibly. At noon it was known the end was near, but life held out tenaciously and it was between four and five when he passed away. ... In 1863 he was married to Ellen B. Butler, who survives him. Three years later he located at Bucklin and practiced medicine for a number of years. When Marceline was founded about seventeen years ago, he was one of its first citizens, and has been loyal to its interests ever since. ...
August 14, 1914
The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald:
... Judge Paul Teter is one of the first citizens of Marceline, having located here in 1888, and he held the first justice court here for twelve years. He married the first couple in the city, held the first inquest, and is still here in good health and ready for any business in his line.
June 30, 1916
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
William Frederick Neal, Sr. was born August 5, 1852, in Linn County, near Bucklin, Missouri; died June 19, 1916, at Marceline, Mo, at 7:35 p.m. ... Mr. Neal was the first colored citizen of Marceline, locating here in its early days. He bought property on the block which is now Ripley Square, living in this home until the Park was created. He then removed to the corner of East Crocker Street and Missouri Avenue where he was living at the time of his death. He was employed at the Santa Fe station for sixteen years, and for twenty-six years was the faithful janitor for the First National and Marceline State Banks, being employed in this capacity at the time of his last illness. ... Mr. Neal was one of the most respected and beloved of our colored population, for whom all had a kind word and in whose passing Marceline has lost a worthy and good citizen.
June 13, 1919
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
In the passing of William H. Wilson, who died at Mercy Hospital in Marceline, Friday, June 6, 1919, this community lost one of its old settlers and pioneers. Born in Davis County, Iowa, Aug. 16, 1845 and coming of one of those sturdy, rugged families who do so much for the development of new land and the uplifting of moral standards, he launched out into the world at an early age coming to this part of Missouri in the late fifties. Hearing the call of his nation in distress he served his country throughout the Civil War, returning to his old home After helping save the Union, he busied himself at once with the tools of industry, and throughout his life was always know for thrift and integrity. ...
August 5, 1921
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
... Claud Dail, now President of the Chamber of Commerce, was the first white child born in Marceline. Among the first men to locate in this city, probably the first business men were W. D. Finney, ex-Lieutenant Governors, of Kansas, and Joseph Hemmings, another Kansas man, who came here in 1888 to manage the business of the town land company. Mr. Hemmings was elected clerk of the city at the first election held in 1888. ... W. A. Cannon established the first lumber yard in this city, where the Marceline Lumber Co. now stands. A small building then located on California Avenue and the right of way, east of the present site of Carnegie library, housed the first post office, W. A. Cannon's lumber office, H. K. West's law office and the Santa Fe Town and Land Co. office. This building, converted into a residence, now stands at the corner of Lake Street and Missouri Avenue. ... Among the early settlers of Marceline, who saw the wonderful possibilities of the town, was Dr. W. A. Cater, now deceased. It was to Dr. Cater's acumen that the solid business block contagious to the intersection of Howell Street and Kansas Avenue owe their origin. He it was who was largely responsible for the trend of business southward and westward. ... John R. Wrenn, was one of the first merchants in Marceline, and for years conducted the leading Mercantile establishment in the city. He was a live merchant and people often speak of the big stock of goods he carried and of his aggressive and square dealing. ... Sig Steiner is among the first businessmen in Marceline who are living today. Mr. Steiner claims credit for being the oldest merchant in town in the same line of business. Doubtless his claim is correct. He has always been actively identified with the town, and is a public spirited man. One of his hobbies is good roads, as he believes that a community should have a large tributary territory. ... The Tayler store is perhaps the pioneer store of Marceline. It was first established on a farm near town in 1887 by E. H. Tayler, father of the present proprietor of the store, for the purpose of supplying the workmen who were then building the Santa Fe. In the winter following he moved the store to Marceline. E. W. Tayler, who was educated in the schools of this vicinity and the Avalon Business College, learned the trade under his father, and is his successor in business. ... Judge Clellen G. Bigger was truly a pioneer settler, locating on his Marceline township farm in 1872, years before the coming of the railroad, and the town that followed its advent. He was a native of Marion County, Kentucky, born Oct. 22, 1837. His parents, Harrison E. and Keziah (Crews) Bigger, located in this county in 1844. Judge Bigger was a surveyor in his youth, filling the office of county surveyor for 27 continuous years, and now in his youthful eighties he is again county surveyor. ...
January 19, 1923
The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald:
At the age of 79 years, 2 months and 1 day, the call of the reaper of all mankind came to John R. Wrenn, honored and respected citizen, business man of the city of Marceline. His death occurred at the family home on West Santa Fe Street half an hour after midnight Saturday night, or just as the Sunday he revered was born. His death was from anaemia, and he had been confined to his bed only a few days, bet the vitality had left him, and there was no opportunity to recuperate. Mr. Wrenn was one of the first citizens of Marceline, and one of the first business men also, having been in the dry goods line for some years. He was also the last of the members of the township board of Marceline township, the others Paul Teter and a man named Schering, being dead, and the first clerk also, who was Lark C. Pendleton, father of Walter Pendleton of this city. This board was appointed by the county court at that time. ... In August 1869 he moved to Thomas Hill, and engaged in business as Wrenn and Rigg. He remained there till 1888 when he came to Marceline and engaged in the dry goods business till 1895. In 1897 he entered the insurance and loan business, remaining active in the same till he passed away. ...
March 19, 1926
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
John Harrison Duke, one of the early settlers of Marceline, passed quietly away at his home on W. Gracia Avenue about 7:00 o'clock, Tuesday evening. Mr. Duke was missed at the supper table by Mrs. Maggie Rensimer, with whom he boarded and she telephoned his son, P. J. Duke. It was found necessary to force open the door of his bedroom, and there he was found in his last sleep, his head pillowed on his arm, and from indications death came to the aged man without a struggle. Mr. Duke was born at Eaton, Indiana, Jan. 17, 1850. In early life he located near Neosha Falls Kansas, and in 1880 married Miss Ida Dixon, a native of Robinson, Il. When Marceline was founded they were among the first settlers, and Mr. Duke was one of the first barbers here, opening a shop where the reading room now stands. There was one other barber shop in town, located in an old brick building, still standing on East Lake Street, and operated by John Spencer. Houses were scarce in Marceline and Mr. Duke's home was a tent for several months. ...
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