HISTORY OF EOLIA
Article from a paper July 16, 1926

The beautiful little town of Eolia lies in the southern part of Prairieville Township and was founded by the late Major Henry W. Pollard, having located on his place known as "The Woodlawn Farm" about 1881 at which time the St. Louis and Hannibal railroad made its first trip to this point. The original town was surveyed and plotted by the late Frank N. Merriwether of Louisiana who also named it Eolia, as he said it was the "kindest" place he ever saw. The first house was built by George Turner, who dealt in grain and general merchandise. Tuggle Clark built the first drug store, Miss Alma Gilchrist the first telegraph office; and Charley Mosby the first blacksmith shop. Theodore Black, the post master, later moved his office to the new village of Eolia, near. He was a faithful servant of Uncle Sam and served twenty-two years. Mr. Enslow, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa had a lumber yard and built the first good residence, the house that Miss Leta Clark bought and replaced with a much better one and is now a pretty home. Other citizens soon built their homes, went into business of different kinds. The town soon boasted of hotels, rooming houses, restaurants, drug stores, harness shops, grocery stores, and was soon a very busy and thriving little place.

The Methodist, Baptist and Christian churches were soon built and are now thriving places of worship with good Sunday schools, good preachers and splendid superintendents who never let anything pass that will make Sunday school interesting for the children and grown-ups as well. St. John's Episcopal Church still stands at its old home, Prairieville, beautiful and majestic as a shrine of the old days when it was filled to overflowing with worshippers of that faith. It has the honor of being the oldest Episcopal church in the State of Missouri. Eolia and vicinity have always stood for good schools, education and refinement. The district schools, there were four of these in the township, all of which were successfully operated, but in 1912 they consolidated with the other schools and a beautiful and spacious high school building was erected in Henry's addition just north of the town in 1915. The school board has always tried to secure the best educators the school could afford, consequently the high school has been a wonderful success and stands as a peer in its class. Prof. Elsbury is Superintendent and the board now consists of W. J. Buchanan, W. Reid, Norman Goon, Charles Akers and Thomas Brown, all of whom are intensively interested in anything that shall help and advance the town in its educational progress.

Eolia has one bank that was organized about 1898. Mr. James, of Frankford was the first cashier. He remained only a short time, leaving on account of his health. Mr. W. J. Buchanan was then elected president and has been with the bank since that time and is a very efficient and courteous officer. Miss Leta Clark is cashier, W. L. Pollard having resigned to take charge of the bank of Frankford over one year ago. Jack Buchanan is bookkeeper.
Eolia has passed through many vicissitudes, having had two fires, one of which wiped out almost the entire business section, but from the ashes rose a better and more substantial Eolia, better stone buildings and shops.

WOMENS CLUB 
The original Club was organized in 1908 at the home of Dr. W. H. Pollard, the name being "The Eolia Literary and Library Society." The officers elected were: Dr. Pollard, Pres.; Dr. Hobertson, V. Pres.; Mrs. Non Wilkerson, Sec'y; Mrs. A. A. Bragg, Treas.; Mrs. Dr. Seig and Mrs. Lon Williams librarians. The motto was "Improvement and Progression." The Club did some wonderful work the first and second year, starting the Library, securing the first books through Dr. Jefferson City by subscribing for some fifteen or twenty periodicals for members of said club. After Dr. Pollard's death in 1910 the club was organized as the Women's Club, the gentlemen dropping out.
The Bank of Eolia was opened for business February 1st, 1902. J. D. Pitt of Frankford was at that time president. Claude James was cashier until October 1, 1902.
The first Masonic Lodge (Blud Lodge) was organized on the 28th day of May, 1859. Among the charter members were Thomas Vaughn, Daniel W. Allen, William Richardson, John W. Davis, Peter Carr, N. P. Minor and Capt. W. H. Knight. The first officers were: Thomas K. Vaughn, W. M.; David Allen, S. W.; W. Richardson, J. W.; Drs. W. H. Pollard and Gary H. Bankhead were the first persons made Masons by the lodge after its organization at Prairieville. This Lodge has a well organized Eastern Star Lodge now with thirty or more members.

EOLIA BUSINESS INTERESTS AND EARLY SETTLERS
Below we submit an inventory of the business interests of the town to date:
Two dry goods stores, Flemming and J. Bolodian; three grocery stores, Hunter Lewis, Doug Reynolds and Tom Mitchell; 1 millinery shop, Mrs. D. Reynolds; 1 butcher shop, Ed Edwards; 1 carpenter shop, Will Shoemaker; four churches; highschool and colored school; 1 furniture store, Gooch's; 2 hardware stores, Buchanan and Robertson & Co.; Edwards Hotel; two confectionery shops, Chas. Mosby and B. Pollard; Candy Kitchen, John Boloobian; two blacksmith shops, Anderson Bros. and Pat Graham; 1 Barber Shop, Madden & Son; 2 garages, Hewitt and Graham and Ralph Meyers; two physicians, Dr. Guy and Dr. Robertson; one drug store, Ed Beall. Ed Beall is also Eolia's postmaster, succeeding his father-in-law Theo Black to the office. He is a courteous and efficient officer and is loved by the entire community.
Thus the agitation which commenced as early as May 23rd, 1871, which finally led to the building of the Short Line, carved into existence the principals of Eolia, Kingdom of Pike. The pioneers of this section are mostly Virginians and Kentuckians, good, kind refined people and whose children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are "carrying on" in the same kind and gentle way.
The railroad was completed April 1882 and the Short Line connected with the Wabash at Gilmore, makes the entire distance from Hannibal to St. Louis 123 miles.
Among the early settlers to the Eolia community were John T., Geo. S., and J. B. Turner, Judge Fugg, Wm. Richardson, Dr. M. M. Clark, Austin Beasly, Walker Meriwether, Major H. J. Pollard, W. H. and T. W. Lewis, Dr. F. Meriwether and others.

THE SHORT LINE RAIL-ROAD
The Short Line Rail-road was begun in the mid-1870’s as the St. Louis, Hannibal & Keokuk Rail-road. The intentions of the company were stated in its name—to build a rail road between those named towns. The construction was begun at Hannibal and headed toward Gilmore, a town east of Wentzville on the Wabash Railway’s line from St. Louis to Kansas City.
Construction was finished in 1882. The first trip over the completed line was an excursion trip to Hannibal to a performance of the Sells Bros. Circus. The trip was run on May 2, 1882. Roundtrip fare was $2.00 from Troy, $1.50 from Silex and $1.25 from Eolia.
The president of the road was John Blair of Blairstown, New Jersey. The general manager for many years was J.A. Jordan and the superintendent was W.C. Modisett.
In May 1893 a branch line was completed from Ralls Junction near New London through Center to Perry, 17.8 miles. In Perry the road served the poultry business and the coal mines and for many years was a profitable part of the railroad. This line was opened with a gala excursion trip. The two coaches were packed with people. The conductor was Snow Stark of Frankford.
Through reorganization Keokuk was dropped from the name and the idea of reaching Keokuk was dropped. The name was then the St. Louis & Hannibal though most people called it the Short Line. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, which followed the Mississippi River was known as the Long Line.
In 1917 the Short Line was purchased by John Ringling, one of the brothers who started and owned Ringling Bros. Circus. Ringling became president, W.C. Ramsey was vice-president and general manager. After Ringling died in 1936, John Ringling North became president of the Short Line and other Ringling properties, like Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey Circus.

THE ST. LOUIS & TROY RAILROAD
When the line from Gilmore to Bowling Green was abandoned the Troy Chamber of Commerce appealed to the ICC, the C.B.&Q. Railroad and the St. Louis and Hannibal for continuation of rail service from Troy to Moscow Mills. After a great deal of work permission was received for operation of the St. Louis & Troy Railroad, 5.2 miles. Officers were: W. C. Ramsey president and general manager; A. G. Stuart was vice-president, superintendent and agent at Troy. Operations began in 1933.
In 1944 the St. Louis & Troy was sold to 25 local business men. Officers were: Harry T. Gooch, President; H. H. Garrett, Vice-president; Roy W. Blair, Secretary-treas. The St. Louis & Troy Railroad was very successful until the late 1950’s. In 1960 permission was received to abandon the line. The last run was on September 30, 1960 with a celebration at Moscow Mills. A large celebration was held in Troy with speeches and music furnished by the High School Band. The engineer was Oscar Cox and general manager was W. H. Watts. A former engineer was John Yocum of Oakwood.
In the late 1920’s the “brass” (owners and managers) decided to abandon part of the line in order to save the rest, all of which was in serious trouble. The 52.6 miles from Gilmore to Hannibal were considered the most unprofitable and most run down part of the railroad, so it petitioned the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon. Hearings were held in Bowling Green in 1931 and permission was granted. The line was removed south of Bowling Green, except for the 5.2 miles between Troy and Moscow Mills.
In 1943 the branch to Perry was abandoned. Many of the coal mines had closed or the coal was too inferior and expensive to mine.
In 1944 permission was received to abandon the rest of the railroad, 32.8 miles. Expenses were too great and income too small.

STATIONS AND STOPS ON THE SHORT LINE
Hannibal
Oakwood
Salt River (f)
Ralls Jct. (f)
Jones (f)
Frankford
Feno (f)
McCune (f)
Bowling Green
Cyrene
Edgewood (f)
Eolia
Whiteside
Silex
Wommack (f)
Briscoe
Davis
Famous (f)
Troy
Ralls Jct.
Uwensdale (f)
Briggs (f)
Center
Urrwood (f)
Perry

****(f) flagstops

HISTORY OF EOLIA, PRAIRIEVILLE
by Mrs. T. J. White

The original road from Eolia to Clarksville ran along the west side of the church, and the ruts in this old road are still visible in the church yard. Although the new road was built in 1856, the old one was not closed until several years later. During the Civil War, soldiers would hide out on the old road and steal the horses on which people had ridden to church. It was always the fine horses stolen, and the "old worn out nags" were never disturbed.
When Captain Carr came to this community he brought 100 slaves with him. During the Civil War the people in Prairieville community were strong in their sympathy with the Southern cause. A number of the young men who wore the "Confederate Gray" never returned to their homes, but died fighting for what they thought right, which was the question of "state rights" more than their wish to continue slavery.
It has long been the custom for the Bishop to come in October for his annual visit. A basket dinner was served in his honor. This year there was a big celebration at that time marking the 100th year. This was October 7, 1956.

STAFF OF SCHOOL SYSTEM
The first public school in this community was a two-room building situated on the rise just east of the Eolia cemetery and was called Prairieville Seminary. This was originally a subscription school and was built and maintained by subscription along about 1856-58, but later was made a public school when the Missouri public school law went into effect.

Pupils attending this school lived within a radius of four or five miles and many made the daily trip afoot. Some of the first teachers were Eugene Banflis, Charles Gladney, Tom Jacobs and Joe Meriwether.

CONTROVERSY OVER SITE
This school building burned about 1878 and the people on the western side of the district demanded that the new building be put nearer the center of the district. There was such a controversy over this that there was no school that year.
Finally a one-room building was erected on land donated by Mr. Sharp and was called Glenwood school. Rev. Jim Reed, a Baptist minister, taught the first school in this building in 1881. During the next five years the population of Eolia increased so rapidly due to the fact that the Short Line Railroad had been built that the people wanted to move the Glenwood building to town. Another controversy resulted, but was finally settled by dividing the district. Glenwood built a new building and Eolia moved the old building to town, placing it slightly north of where the road leads out on blacktop from our school now.
The old frame building served until 1902 when a new, two-room brick building was erected next to the Methodist church.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILT
Prior to 1912 a few ambitious people who wished to get an education above the grades attended McCue College, Louisiana; Watson Seminary, Ashley; and Pike College, Bowling Green. In 1912, however, the people of Eolia began to realize their children should not have to leave home to secure the advantages afforded by high school training. Accordingly, in the spring of that year it was voted to build a one-room addition to the old building for high school purposes. When school opened in September, 1912, there was an enrollment of 12 in high school and 79 in the grades.

Sterling Thompson of LaBelle was the first superintendent and high school teacher. It was during his five-year stay that the school made advancement with rural schools consolidated. In 1915 a new building was ready for occupancy with 57 high school students and 231 grade pupils enrolled in the consolidated district.
That year the State Department of Education placed Eolia school on the approved list of first class high schools where it remained. This had been the culmination of a series of crusades for the betterment of educational conditions for Eolia's children.

FIRST TO CONSOLIDATE
Eolia has the distinction of being the first consolidated district in Pike County. This new building was located in the center of a five-acre tract on the west side of town. It had three stories, including the basement and was heated by steam. The school had a thriving orchestra, chorus, and a P.T.A. It was accredited with 1½ units by the state inspector, and a graduate could enter any college from this high school. At this time there was not a vacant house in the town, so surely the attraction must have been the school.
This building was destroyed by fire March 22, 1931. The building was replaced by a new structure costing $20,000.00 in the same year that the other building was destroyed by fire. This building still stands today and is used for the first six grades in elementary.
Today Eolia is Reorganized District R-III with the communities of Clarksville, Annada, Whiteside and Paynesville. Eolia, Paynesville and Clarksville support three elementary schools, while the high school students are transported to Clopton which is centrally located on the blacktop road between Clarksville and Eolia.
The new high school was built on a 22 acre plot. The site for the building was donated to the district by Washington University. This land was given to the University by Dr. Halvern B. Clopton. The schools reorganized in 1949 and approved a $200,000 bond issue in 1953.
Clopton has the only high school vocational agriculture department in Missouri that has a diversified farm on which to supply classroom instruction. The school district rents the 320-acre farm on a 50-50 basis from Washington University, St. Louis with the profits being divided.

SOME HISTORICAL FIRSTS

After Eolia was plotted, the first house was built by Bill White and was used as a boarding house. The first business house was run by George Turner, who dealt in grain and general merchandise.
Tuggie Clark built the first drug store; Alma Gilchrist had the first telegraph office; and Charley Mosby, the first blacksmith shop. Theodore Black, the postmaster, built and moved his office to the new village the next year. Mr. Elson had a lumber yard.
In 1926 the business interests of the town were as follows: Two dry goods stores, Leming & J. Boolookian; three grocery stores, Hunter Lewis, Lucy Reynolds, and Tom Mitchell; one millinery shop, Mrs. D. Reynolds; one butcher shop, Ed Edwards; one carpenter shop, Will Shoemaker; two hardware stores, Gooch and Buchanan and Robertson and Co.; Edwards Hotel; two confectionery shops, Charles Mosby and B. Pollack; Craynick's store; John Boolookian, two blacksmith shops, Anderson Bros. and Pat Graham; barber shop, Madden and Son; two garages, Hewitt and Graham and Ralph Meyer; two physicians, Dr. Guy and Dr. Robertson; and drug store and post office, Ed Beal.

EOLIA BANK, MASCONIC LODGE AND CLUBS
The Bank of Eolia was organized about 1902. Mr. James was first cashier; Mr. Buchanan succeeded him and remained until it closed in 1931. The Farmer's Bank in Eolia had liquidated with this bank about 1920. The Eolia Elevator and the motion picture theatre had burned before 1926. The first Masonic Lodge organized in 1859; now the lodge has a well organized Eastern Star.
The first club was organized in 1908 and was known as the Eolia Literary and Library Society. The club did some wonderful work the first year, starting the library and securing the traveling library from Jefferson City. After Mr. Pollard's death in 1910 the club was organized as the Women's Club, the gentlemen dropping out. This club is still active, and the town also has a Homemaker club and the Aeolian club.