Leeton Museum Link
Leeton Book A Small Town's Sacrifice on Amazon link
Comparatively, Leeton is a 'young town', established in 1896 when the MKT RR made its way west toward Kansas. It grew quickly and became 'the place' to grow businesses, build homes and prosper. Soon the Rock Island RR was built, passing parallel to the MKT tracks making the town a true late bloomer. Optimism prevailed with more and more new shops and crafts appearing in the area of the second block north of the present day grain elevator. The Morrow House Hotel was one of a number of business establishments located in the first block north of the existing elevator...in the area of the present day city park and across the street to the east. I've attached an early picture looking west at the MKT depot from present day Highway 2. In the distance and on the left is the Rock Island depot and water tower for the steam engines. Note not a tree in sight as trees didn't appear until after the prairie was plowed.
A final picture taken in Eldon, Missouri the last day Rock Island offered passenger service. Shown are the four train crewmen and a dignitary, possibly with his grandson. Thanks go to my railroad historian friend Ken Bird for the photo and Floyd Koefer who was a railroader familiar with this engine willing to share information. The little engine had a standard transmission with gears and a clutch. On hot summer days I remember seeing the side doors just behind the cab open to prevent over heating. The picture was taken to document the last day of service as the train headed west toward Kansas City from Eldon. This was in the pre-shatter proof glass era, note the window guards to protect the engineer from prairie chickens and tree limbs, etc. I just noticed the picture is dated April 11, 1959. Larry DesCombes
Leeton Book A Small Town's Sacrifice on Amazon link
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| C. A. Lentz Harness & Saddlery Goods, Leeton, Missouri Then and Now Next to the Opera House from 1901     |
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| Max Swisher, Founder of Swisher Mower, Warrensburg, Missouri |
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| C. A. Lentz Harness Saddlery Goods South Main Street, Leeton, Missouri |
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| C.A Lentz Harness Saddlery Shop Today Leeton, Missouri |
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| Leeton Plat Map |
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| Street Fair View, Leeton, MO |
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| Dunkard Church, Leetong, MO |
Leeton Depot kit features:
The pagoda style or flared roof eaves along with the bay window on the front make this a unique, but very attractive station. This style of roof was an inexpensive way to add interest to an otherwise common structure and was used by the Rock Island and several other railroads. At 24' wide x 40' long this is a small size wood combination passenger and freight station. The prototype originally included a loading ramp that was removed in the depot's later days. Our kit includes the ramp and may be built with or without it. The prototype had exterior walls of lap siding with a wainscot of novelty siding. Although this structure is based on a Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific (Rock Island) Standard Depot design this style of structure was also found on other railroads. The prototype was located in Leeton, Missouri.
Kit features laser-cut floor, sub-roof, interior and exterior walls with tab and slot connections. Also includes laser-cut peel-n-stick doors, windows, window glazing and roofing for easy assembly. Peel-n-stick trim comes in one piece for each side of the structure and the bay windows making for a fast and precise application of all the detailed trim work. Laser-cut wood loading ramp included. Also includes signs and cast metal chimney.
N scale kit dimensions: (structure) 1.80" x 3.00" (ramp) .60" x 1.75".
HO scale kit dimensions: (structure) 3.30" x 5.50", (ramp) 1.00" x 3.25".
 Leeton, Missouri Plat Map 1898  |
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| Morrow House, Leeton, Missouri |
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| Leeton, Missouri Mineral Creek Church 1900 |
    
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John J. Lee, one of Johnson county's most distinguished pioneers, is one of the founders of Leeton, Missouri. He was born December 27, 1842in Ohio, son of John N. and Eliza (Rittenhouse) Lee. The Lee family moved to Ohio from Virginia, thence to Missouri in 1867. General RobertWhen nineteen years of age, J. J. Lee enlisted in the Civil War, serv-E. Lee, the great Southern leader in the Civil War, traced his lineage back to the same ancestors as J. J. Lee, the subject of this review. ing with the Union army with Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry.out. Mr. Lee participated in twenty battles: Perryville, Kentucky;At the time of the organization of the regiment, there was a total of nine hundred sixty-seven men belonging and at the close of the war there were only three hundred twenty-eight men remaining to be mustered Stone's River, Tenn.; Missionary Ridge, Tenn.; Adairsville, Georgia;Georgia; Springhill, Tenn.; Franklin, Tenn.; and Nashville, Tennessee.Dallas, Georgia; Newhope Church, Georgia; Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia; Peachtree Creek, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Rockyface Ridge, Georgia; Dalton, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; Jonesboro, Georgia; Lovejoys Station, Mr. Lee was in active and continuous service three years and was must-ing the sod. He planted forty acres of the place in wheat and raisedered out and honorably discharged at the close of the war in 1865. In 1867, J. J. Lee came to Johnson county, Missouri and purchased eighty acres of land in Post Oak Township and engaged in farming and stock raising. At the time of the purchase, this farm was entirely virgin sod and driving a yoke of oxen, Mr. Lee was employed for months break-were united in marriage June 14, 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. Lee have beentwenty bushels of grain to the acre, which he sold for two dollars a bushel. With the proceeds from his wheat crop, Mr. Lee purchased calves and thus entered the stock business, soon owning a large heard of fine cattle. J. J. Lee and Bella J. Wylie, born March 9, 1842, in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Joseph Wylie, Pennsylvania, born four children: Mrs. Vinnie Meyer, Lexington, Mo.; Charles A.,drawn by Mr. Lee. The rooms are all large and airy and well lightedGreeley, Colorado; W. H., Sedalia, Mo.; and Mrs. Stella L. Race, of Denver, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have twelve grandchildren. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Lee has been a trustee for many years. The Lee home is a handsome, modern residence, an imposing structure of eight rooms, which was built in 1905 in Leeton, according to plans and specifications and there is both a front and back stairway in the house. Everythingwere added. Mr. Lee conducted a general store for many years at Bur-about the home is nicely and conveniently arranged. The Lee residence is one of the beautiful homes in Johnson county. Mr. Lee has just completed a cyclone cellar, which is well constructed of concrete. In 1895, J. J. Lee, J. Ransom Grinstead, and H. E. Fewel laid out the town of Leeton. The original plat of the present flourishing little city included eighty acres of land, but within a short time, sixty acres more nett Station and later, a store located one-half miles west of thezens, above mentioned establishment. He and his sons were associated inbusiness at this store until 1906, when they sold the place of business and Mr. Lee has made his home in Leeton ever since. In addition to his residence in Leeton, Mr. Lee is the owner of 120 acres of land adjacent to the city, and a cotton plantation in Oklahoma, which comprises 160 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are highly esteemed in Johnson county and they are numbered among the county's best and most valuable citi- ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing non-commercial entities, as long as this message free information on the Internet, data may be used by remains on all copied material. These electronic or for presentation by other persons or organizations. pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit Persons or organizations desiring to use this material Archives by: <> for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>
Town Business's for Leeton 1896 Source Leeton Past and Present Transcribed for the WWW by M.Antal(c)1999 Zink Brothers Clothing Store R. J. Hurley Lumber Company Baker and Jones General Merchandise (Michigan salt $1 per barrel) Theiman Hardware Co. J. J. General Merchandise J. C. Beedy Lumber Co. Bank of Leeton Daughtery and Bunger Carpenters W. L. Caywood - painter F. Humbered Lunch Room Wood and Sheburn Livery Stable Blacksmith - W. C. Marr Leeton House W. C. Marr Hotel Leeton William Griffith J. F. Land, Physician R. R. Wall, Physician and Surgeon Millinery, The Misses Vaughns Druggist, H. G. Bergaman Harness Goods, C. A. Lentz Butcher Ship, Smaltz and Draper Real Estate, Insurance, Notary Public M. A. Nelson Businesses 1923 The Leeton Times C. B. Koons and L. R. Kenney, Kenney Brothers Leeton Lumber Co. Leeton Oil Co. Leeton Mercantile Bank of Leeton Wm. Cox, President; P. W. Baker, Cashier Farmers Bank Hall Hardware Stone Tire Chain Fastener Co. Leeton Cash Store Bartholomew Garage Barbee Poultry House Farmers Produce House City Barber Shop - Charles A. Class Farmers Co-op Co. C. B. Koons - Drugs and Drug Sundries Brooks and Meyers - Furniture and Undertaking Leeton Elevator Farmer Produce Exchange Wyatt Poultry House S. S. Smith - Blacksmith C. C. Cordry - Groceries Lynne Venable - Millenery M. K. Bronaugh - Groceries H. H. McMillen - Candies, nuts, cigars, lunches Businesses - About 1930 and Earlier Southside Garage - John Callison Preceded by Roy Bartholomew and George Akers Followed by John Walker and Earl Paxton Cordry and McMillen - Restaurant Shy's Garage Barber Shop - C. S. Black Harness - C. A. Lentz Dr. C. E. Bennett of Warrensburg Rent Barbee Building, August 1, 1929 Peoples Theater J. C. Hastin (buy Cash Store from G. S. Moore) Brooks and Meyers, Undertaker and Furniture to J. L. Wallace (in Leeton for 9 yrs)January, 1929 Leeton Mercantile H. W. Stacy, Jr., Mamie Neil, Lester Wyatt from Henley Stacy., Sr., Edwin Hausam (oldest established firm in Leeton) April, 1929 Dr. L. W. Ludwig Dental Office over Leeton Bank, August 30, 1923 Downing Garage Downing Brothers of Chilhowee to Leeton October 9, 1924 Busineses 1933 Restaurant Leeton Mercantile Co. - H. W. Stacy, Jr. Bank of Leeton D. owning Motor Co. - Walter Downing Old and New Cars and Car Repairs Walter Wyat - Seed and Feeds Sullins Hardware R. A. Brauninger - Undertaking Leeton Lumber C. - Alonzo Reed Southside Garage - Earl Paxton Phillips Service Station Farmer's Produce Exchange C. B. Koons - Drug Store Wyatt and Chism - Grocery White Eagle Oil Corporation - Glen and Alice Barnes Businesses 1953 Paul's Feed and Produce - Paul and Gwen Marolf Walter Wyatt Elevator Leeton Lumber and Hardware - Eugene Dritt Bank of Leeton Seely's Grocery - Glen and Lyda Seely Van Winkle's Service Station - Forrest and Mildred Van Winkle Glenn Miller - Show and Harness Repair Shop The Brauningers - Undertaking Barber Shop - Ira Wycoff Walker and Caldwell - Gas, Oil, Greases, etc. Wilson Garage Downing Motors- New and Used Cars and Repairs Otten's - G. F. Grocery Sexson's Service Station and Cafe - Jim and Elsie Sexson McElhaney Hatchery Harry Stone - Egg Co. (wholesale) Irene Cumpton - Beauty Shop Gayle's Cafe Paxton's General Shop Henry E. Kreisel - Electric Shoe Shop.
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