Butcher first set up shop in South Hannibal in 1861

In 1995, Steve Chou took photos of the buildings still standing in South Hannibal, prior to demolition following the flood of 1993. The brick building at right was the Boedeker building. In 1875, Moritz Boedeker operated a meat market in this building. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, J.T. Fuqua and his wife, Louisa, lived here. Mr. Fuqua, son-in-law of Moritz Boedeker, conducted a paint and wallpaper business here, and was a city alderman.

Spooner Creek has been a waterway deserving of respect ever since settlers first began to congregate in the area known as South Hannibal. When heavy rains pour, the drainage from the vast hillsides out by Mount Olivet Cemetery to the south is captured by the typically dry creek bed, which meanders happenstance through culverts along Fulton Avenue and lower Union Street. It subsequently crosses beneath Missouri 79 (formerly known as Fifth [Birch] street), and follows a path along Adams Street toward the river.

Even today, when particularly heavy rains pour, Spooner creek is capable of transforming into a raging rivulet.

Such was the case in mid June 1875. The Hannibal Daily Clipper described the scene which resulted in mass property destruction.

“The most severe rain and wind storm that ever visited in this section of the country, occurred last night. The wind, which during the afternoon had been a mere zephyr, gradually increased with a low moaning sound as in the dead of a stormy winter night. A heavy bank of black clouds came up, and about nine o’clock rain began to fall in sluices, accompanied by deafening crashes of thunder and vivid lightning. Everything seemed wrapped in utter desolation, and many persons appeared paralyzed as they gazed upon the fearful scene. Trees were torn up by the roots, fences were blown down, bridges were washed away, cellars were filled, piles of lumber were upset, vehicles and other property were washed away, business houses were flooded.”

Moritz Boedeker, who in 1875 was a butcher in business at the intersection of Fourth and Adams Streets, South Hannibal, came face-to-face with Spooner Creek’s rath during the aforementioned freshnet.

Water backed up into the cellar of his two-story brick business house, where he had stored 1,500 fine cured hams. The hams were greatly damaged by the overflow, according to the June 17, 1875  newspaper account.

Early arrival

Mr. Boedeker arrived in Hannibal circa 1859. German-born and a butcher by trade, he was also a Republican by political persuasion. He settled in his adopted hometown with his wife Catharine, 25, and their two young children Eleanora and George.

In January 1861, just two months after Abraham Lincoln was elected president, Boedeker opened a meat market on the west side Third Street (which would later become known as Main Street) between Madison and Adams, near the base of Lover’s Leap, in South Hannibal.

The (Hannibal) Daily Messenger, preserved digitally via Newspapers.com, offered a brief summary of Boedeker’s business status in its Jan. 9, 1861 edition:

“Fine Beeves. - We noticed two fine dressed beeves, hanging up in front of Mr. Boedecker’s (stet)  meat stall, South Hannibal, yesterday morning, one of which weighed 1080 lbs., and the other 960 lbs. Mr. B. has but recently opened a meat market in South Hannibal, and he deserves encouragement.”

These were tumultous times in the fledgling town, carved out along the western banks of the Mississippi River. The population that coexisted was divided between slave owners who had moved north from Kentucky in order to settle on available agricultural lands, and city dwellers enticed from New England by the opportunity to capitalize on this country’s westward expansion.

At the time Boedeker opened his meat market in 1861, the nation was in turmoil. 

Abraham Lincoln had been elected president the previous November, despite the fact that there had been no Southern electoral votes cast for this Republican candidate.

In December, South Carolina seceded from the union.

At the end of January, 1861, Kansas was admitted as a Free state, directly affecting Missouri’s western border. (Source, Missouri Civil War Timeline.)

Locally, in August 1861, Capt. Bryant’s company of the Illinois 14th was stationed upon Lover’s Leap, which towered over South Hannibal in general, the railroad along the riverfront, and Mr. Boedeker’s meat shop in particular. The leap overlooked all the surrounding countryside, providing an ideal lookout for the military encampment.

Political participation

Feb. 9, 1872, Quincy Whig: “The Republicans of Mason Township Marion County, Mo., in mass meeting at Hannibal, on Saturday last, appointed the following delegates to the Marion County Republican convention: Josiah Hunt; J.T.K. Hayward; J.R. Winchell; S.D. Barns; Moritz Boedecker; Rev. Oliver Webb; Wm. P. Harrison; A.B. Wilson; Adam Theis; J.N. Peyton; Rev. T.W. Henderson; L.A. Hofbauer; Geo. Shields; J.W. Braxton; H.P. Jaques and A. Nietebock.

Boedeker family

• Eleanora Boedeker Hirt, born in 1858, was Moritz and Catharine Boedeker’s first-born daughter. She was married to Leo Hirt, a saloon keeper. Eleanor died in 1887, and was laid to rest in Section 6, Lot 89, Mount Olivet Cemetery.

The Sept. 2, 1876 edition of a Hannibal newspaper made mention that: “Leo Hirt, our home manufacturer of pure wines, has sold up to today one thousand and sixty gallons of wine since June 1, 1876.”

• George Boedeker was their second born. As a teen, George was involved in several scrapes around town, gaining a reputation for himself in the local press. In 1877, he was cited for reckless driving along Market Street.

The Hannibal Daily Clipper, in its July 21, 1877 edition, reported: “Despite the frequent warnings given through these columns, relative to fast and reckless driving, but little or no heed has been given to the matter. One of those accustomed to drive a break-neck speed, regardless of the consequences, is the son of Mr. M. Boedecker (stet), butcher. His fool-hardiness culminated, yesterday, in running over an aged lady on Market street, by the name of Mangles. Both wheels of the vehicle, a spring wagon, passed over her, injuring her to such an extent as to render surgical attention necessary. We trust the offender will not go unpunished, as it is high time something’s done to put a stop to the fast driving grievance.”

• Emma Boedeker Eyssell (1861-1947), was married to George Eyssell, (1855-1908). In 1923, as a widow, Emma Eyssell remarried, to Mr. Nicholas Gentry of Sedalia.

• Mary C. Boedeker Brown, (1863-1947) married to Edwin J. Brown (1859-1932.)

• Louisa Boedeker Fuqua (Mrs. J.T. Fuqua.) For a time, Mr. Fuqua conduced a painting and paper hanging business out of the Boedeker building, 400 Fourth St., South Hannibal. The Fuqua family also made their home in this building around the beginning of the 20th century. In 1901, Mr. Fuqua was an alderman for Hannibal’s Fourth Ward. He sold out his business to the Robinson Bros., in September 1901, and moved his family to Kansas City. They were married in 1894.

This map of South Hannibal is based upon the 1885 Sanborn map. The dark line shows where Spooner Creek flowed during that era. Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection, Digital Library, University of Missouri. Also marked is the location of Moritz Boedeker’s meat market circa 1875. Illustration by Mary Lou Montgomery

Mary Lou Montgomery, Suburban Newspapers of America Editor of the Year, Dailies, 2010, retired as editor of the Hannibal, Mo., Courier-Post in 2014. She researches and writes narrative-style stories about the people who served as building blocks for this region’s foundation. Books available on amazon.com by this author include: “The Notorious Madam Shaw,” “Pioneers in Medicine from Northeast Missouri,” “Hannibal’s ‘West End,’” “Oakwood: West of Hannibal,” “St. Mary’s Avenue District,” and “Live, on stage ion Hannibal 1879: ‘H.M.S. Pinafore.’” Montgomery can be reached at montgomery.editor@yahoo.com Her collective works can be found at www.maryloumontgomery.com