Fredericktown Springs
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Moorehead’s Town Lots
Madison County’s Recorder Thinks It Would Be Hard to Find Them
Fredericktown Springs and Its Many Attractions as Set Forth by Matthew Moorehead and Agent Hyrne – Attorneys Think Them Worth Ten Cents Apiece
Fredericktown Springs town lots were first called to the attention of Kansas Cityans by the circulation of a small pasteboard tickets which purported to be chances in the great drawing of lots in Fredericktown Springs and assured the holder that one in every hundred tickets would draw a lot. A week ago a large number of holders of tickets received the following circular letter:
Office of P. H. Byrne Real Estate and Loan Agent 721 Walnut Street, corner of Eighth
You being one of the parties whom fortune entitles to a lot in Fredericktown Springs, Missouri, as your ticket was one of the hundred in on all the lucky books, we, according to agreement, enclose you a warranty deed to one lot, and would b glad to see you build upon it yourself at an early date, as we feel confident you would be an ardent admirer of our town.
Do not think because you were so fortunate as to come into possession of this lot without any expenditure of money, that the property is any less valuable, for you cannot buy a lot in Fredericktown Springs for less than $100, and this property is rapidly increasing in value, as our new method of advertising is giving our town an unprecedented boon.
The usual price for abstract of title and recording deed in this $4.15, but by calling at my office, 721 Walnut Street, and all of us sending in our deeds together and having an abstract made out at one time we can get abstracts and recording for $3.25, thus saving each of us 90 cents.
Please call with your deed or send it to my office with $3.25 at once, as some will be anxious to have their deeds recorded immediately so they can sell their lots. Please talk Fredericktown up to your friends. Tell them that by calling at our office they can get nice lots for $100 or corner lots for $150.
We have adopted this novel method of giving away a few lots to gain the influence of the people and trust that you will do your utmost to assist us.
Very Truly yours,
P. H. Byrne
Office open evenings
The Warranty Deed
Accompanying the notice is a warranty deed reading as follows:
This indenture witnesseth that Matthew Moorehead in consideration of the sum of ____ dollars by _____________of Kansas City, Missouri, in receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge, have bargained sold, conveved and confgirmed unto said party of the second part, heirs and assigns forever the following described lots situated in Madison County, Missouri, towit.
(Here is placed the number of the lot and the street it is on)
First ward, Fredericktown Springs, as shown on plat officially recorded and further described as situated in and being a part of township thirty-two, range seven east, each lost being twenty-five feet front an 132 feet deep. This deed is void unless recorded within thirty days from date.
Then follows the warranty clause and the signature of Matthew Moorehead and the name of the notary. All these deeds were executed in Jackson County and, although they have a legal appearance, are far from being legal in the way of following the requirements for transfers as fixed by the statutes.
Many persons received these circulars and deeds, and after wondering a little at the matter did as was required and pair the $3.25 and placed it in the same envelope with the deed. They are now waiting for the return of the deeds.
Many not only paid the $3.25, but have praised Fredericktown Springs to their friends so much an extent that the office of P. H. Byrne is rarely without an anxious would be purchaser.
A Prize Winner Investigates
Among those who received a prize in his package was J. H. Coleman. He got what purported to be a deed to lat 127 Grace Street, In Fredericktown Springs. That was all the description there was to it. There might be three Grace Streets n the place and this description would fit them all. Mr. Coleman being a cautious man, went to a lawyer before paying the $3.25 and asked to have the matter looked into.
The attorney wrote letters to several of the leading lights of the bar in Fredericktown and received replies that caused Mr. Coleman to rejoice greatly because he kept out of the scheme.
D. R. Cahoon, a leading lawyer in Fredericktown, wrote:
Dear Sir:
The lot you mentioned does, I think, exist this way: Some time since, a year or two, I sold at $1.25 per acre to one James M. Bain of Zanesville, Ohio, who now, I believe, is operating under the fraudulent alias of Matthew Moreland, quite a lot of land, eight or ten miles from this town, in the woods, well timbered but rocky; and Bain cut that land into town lots (each of which lots are not worth over a dime” and by fraudulent devices is now working them off on “greenies” by the aid of printers’ ink. So do not touch the lots for over five or ten cents each. Our town has 2,000 people and is nice but the lots are in the woods, eight miles from any town.
The Lot Would Be Hard To Find
Hiram Berry, the circuit clerk and recorder of deeds in Madison County, in which the alleged town of Fredericktown Springs is situated, writes:
Dear Sir:
In answer to your of the 29th, will say I don’t think you could find your lot, as there is not plat of said addition to the Springs. There has been arrangement made as to the running out and platting said addition but it has not been done yet.
Moorehead swears in the affidavit to the deed that a plat has been filed, while the county recorder says there is not such plat. If the recorder is correct, Moorehead has not right to sell lots.
R. A. Anthony, a prominent politician and lawyer of Fredericktown, writes:
Dear Sir:
Yours of August 29 received. In answer to your first question will say that the description given is uncertain and indefinite and not sufficient. Second, that said lot does not belong to Matthew Moorehead. Third, that said lot is not free of encumbrance, it being subject to an attachment proceeding now pending in our court. That said lot is worth absolutely nothing and that Fredericktown Springs does not exist in our county. The scheme you refer to in you letter is a fraud and I would advise you to have nothing at all to do with it.
Agent Byrne’s Enthusiasm
A Star reporter called upon Mr. Byrne at 722 Walnut Street. He found Mr. Byrne occupying a stuffy little office in the uppermost story of a brick building, a large desk nearly filling the office. A map of Missouri hangs upon one side of the room with a hole nearly worn over Madison County. Mr. Byrne was busy writing when the reporter entered and kept to this task, but at the mention of Fredericktown Springs he was all attention.
“Fredericktown Springs is one of the most booming towns in the west. It is situated on a high plateau 4,000 feet above the Mississippi River and is actually teeming with minerals and ore. St. Louis parties, who know what they are talking about, have discovered a real Colorado insure and no mistake. Why, they are putting machinery down there costing $275,000 alone. The richest lead mines in the world will be there. Now, there’s the springs, lovely! Lovely!! Lovely !!! There is one spring there that is just the thing for kidney troubles, and Crystal Lake. It is a most beautiful country and the richest spot in Missouri.”
“How far are the springs from the city?” asked the reporter.
“Right in the city,” said Mr. Byrne, “Most beautiful spot on earth and, as I said before, teeming with mineral and ore and rich in resources.”
“Will you let me look at a plat?” asked the reporter.
“Certainly,” said the urban Byrne, and from a pile of rubbish he fished out apiece of pasteboard two feet square with what purported to be a plat of Fredericktown Springs. The plat looked as if it had been cut from a newspaper and had enough blocks, streets and lots laid out to accommodate a city of half a million inhabitants or more. The streets had such good names as Faith, Hope, Charity, Christian, Mercy, Benevolence. In one corner of the map drawn on white ruling paper was a large body of water surrounded by small springs. The body of water was styled Crystal Lake. One of the springs was Kidney Spring. The other springs were excellent for heart and other troubles.
About the lake and springs was laid out a number of large lots which, Mr. Byrne said, were owned by the aristocracy of Fredericktown Springs.
When asked the population of the place Mr. Byrne said that it now contained 8,000 inhabitants and was growing with the rapidity with which Kansas City increased in population.
In regard to the location of Fredericktown Springs, Mr. Byrne said: “it is situated in Madison County, 150 miles south of St. Louis, on the Iron Mountain railroad. We are thinking about getting up a excursion from this city and then the lots will go like hot cakes. The fare now is nearly $25, but we can probably charter a train and get there for about $15.”
“For how much will you sell a lot to me now?”
“I understand that the springs are some distance from any city or town?” said the reporter.
Mr. Byrne looked sharply at the reporter and putting aside the plat said in a cautious manner: “Now, remember what I have been telling you has simply been told me by Mr. Moorehead. I never was there although I passed through the spot several years ago and noticed that it was the most beautiful spot on earth. I believe all that has been said about the place, as a number of reputable persons have corroborated Mr. Moorehead’s statements.”
“Is Mr. Moorehead a responsible person?”
“Yes, I think he is.” said Mr. Byrne. “you see he was spoken well of in the letters of reference he had and I think he is a capable and honest man.”
“I’ll take a couple of these lots now,” said the reporter.
“Oh, I can’t sell the lots.” Said Mr. Byrne, somewhat perturbed. “You see I am merely Mr. Moorehead’s agent. Wait till he comes back. He’ll be here this week or next week. He will sell you the lots on better terms and tell you more about them than I have.”
“Tell all your friends about Fredericktown Springs,” said Mr. Byrne as the reporter turned to depart.
Kansas City Star - September 3, 1889
Deeds Scattered Freely
The Fredericktown Springs Town Lots Given Away With Great Recklessness
The Fredericktown Springs town lot warrantee deeds described in The Star yesterday have been distributed lavishly. No partiality was shown. Lawyers, doctors, bankers, white, colored and persons in every condition and rank in life received them.
Those who have already forwarded their deeds and money remain silent, but those who have the deeds yet display them and congratulate themselves for not complying with the request in the accompanying circular to forward money for recording and abstract.
A large number of colored people in the West Bottoms have been hording their money to send on for recording.
Kansas City Star – September 4, 1889
Want Their Papers Recorded
Holders of Fredericktown Springs Lot deeds Besiege the Recorder
Deputy Recorder John Hinde has for the past two weeks been bothered by persons who hold alleged deeds to town lots in Fredericktown Springs, who wish to have their deeds recorded.
When told they must be recorded in Madison County, the recorder is then besieged with questions as to the validity of the deed and whether there was anything in it, etc.
The Fredericktown Springs Company is now sending circulars to those holding deeds informing them that the thirty days for the recording of the deeds has nearly expired and unless the $3.25 for recording and abstracts was forthcoming the gratuitious deeds to town lots would be void. The circular also sets forth that notwithstanding what has been said about “Fredericktown,” every one will concede that it is one of the booming towns of Southeast Missouri. The word “springs” is omitted in the circular.
Prosecuting Attorney Withers decided not to call the attention of the grand jury to this matter. He thinks if people are green enough to bite at such a bait they ought to feel the hook.
Kansas City Star – September 9, 1889
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