This story was written by a Springfield Leader reporter, “Rambler,” after he visited Jerico Jan. 27, 1893. Note that that he misspelled C. E Whitsitt’s name. He also listed the population at 800, some 300 more than either the 1890 or 1900 Census.
Jerico Jottings
A thriving town tributary to Springfield
The town of Jerico, its business and tributary territory
JERICO, Mo., Jan. 27 — Your correspondent visited this thriving little town today and found everything moving nicely. For the information of your readers who are not familiar with the location, I will say this little city is located in the richest portion of Cedar county and in the best agricultural section in the county and is 18 miles north of Lockwood, (which is) on the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis railroad, with a daily mail stage line between the two places. The town has about 800 inhabitants and is well built up.
There is a college here run by the Lutheran Church with a large attendance and is well patronized; also a high school and good public school; also four or five churches with large memberships.
There are two large steam flour mills all doing a good business selling all their products in Cedar and adjoining counties. Hartley Banking Company is the leading financial institution of this section.
In the dry goods business are J. H. Clayton, Alonzo Hall and Carrico and Shepherd, they also carry a general stock as well as dry goods.
Mr. F.M. Woodruff is in the exclusive grocery business.
Mr. W. S. Pickett is running the only furniture store in the place.
C. B. Pickett is running the Palace Drug Store and J.S. Divine the City Drug Store
The real estate interests are represented by Messrs . Whitsett and Brown, who do a large real estate business. They inform me that a great many buyers are expected this coming spring.
There are two good livery stables, one is run by C. R. Smith, the other by Josiah Six. Both keep good rigs and can always depended upon to furnish good rigs to take you to any part of the county.
There are two good hotels here, the Montezuma and the Newman House, and will treat you well during your sojourn with them.
There are two hardware and implement houses . J. C. Brown & Co. and J. K. Peer, both carry full lines of implements of all kinds
(Paragraph mentioning springs obscured by fold in page of paper)
In company with C. E Whitsett, we visited the springs. They are beautifully located and this should be one of the most prominent places of resort in Southern Missouri.
There is to be extensive improvements made on the buildings and grounds this coming spring with a view of accommodating the guests the coming season. There is hot and cold shower baths arranged to suit the most fastidious. Another thing unusual health resorts is in having a first class hotel accommodations at reasonable rates. Taking this in consideration there is no more pleasant place to be found to spend a few days during the summer months for recreation than this.
While here I met Mr. J.B. Carrico who has resided in this immediate vicinity for 40 years and says he can remember when the Indians used to make their annual visit this place to use water of this celebrated spring for their health.
Persons desiring to visit this place during the coming season will take the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis railroad to Lockwood and from there take the United States Mail Stages and enjoy the beautiful scenery on the route,
There are several things to be taken into consideration by capitalists in this immediate section. All of it is under-laid with the best of soft coal and as soon as a railroad is secured this will be a valuable coal field, and as the land is now cheap and no better investments are offered in the United States than the land at the present figures. For the benefit of those who desire to make inquiries about land or other investments in this section, I will refer them to Messers . Whitsett and Brown, who will answer all questions and take pleasure in doing so, and furnish you with analysis of the Springs and full particulars.
I will add that the The DAILY LEADER, the leading newspaper of the Southwest, has added 25 subscribers to its list here and it is read by more people in this town than any other newspaper Springfield is the best and closest market fo its merchants but strange to say the jobbers of Springfield fail to make known their business to the people of judicious advertising. The LEADER is read by every merchant and businessman in this section.
Will write against soon.
Rambler.
Jerico Springs on parade 