Rain Nearly Washed Out Kahoka’s Centennial, But Clark County Still Marked America’s 100th Birthday

By Mike Scott

KAHOKA, Mo. — In 1876, as the United States prepared to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Kahoka and Clark County joined the national excitement with plans for a countywide Fourth of July celebration.

The Centennial spirit was everywhere that year. Newspapers carried President Ulysses S. Grant’s proclamation encouraging communities across the country to gather in their counties, towns and cities and have historical sketches prepared about their local beginnings. The purpose was to preserve a record of the nation’s progress during its first century.

That idea fit perfectly with what local citizens in Kahoka hoped to do.

In late May, residents of Kahoka and the surrounding country were asked to meet at Sansom’s Opera Hall on Friday evening, June 2, “for the purpose of taking preliminary steps towards appropriately celebrating the ensuing Fourth of July.” The notice asked for a full attendance and a “full and free expression of opinions.”

At a later meeting, the Committee on Grounds recommended Matt Woodruff’s Orchard as the place for the celebration. The report was adopted, and several committees were appointed.

D. Martin, J.W. Hughes and W.W. Loveless were named to the committee on arrangements. J.G. Figley, T.M. Daggs and E.C. Trowbridge were placed on finances. Ben E. Turner, Dr. J.G. Martin and E.B. Christy were assigned to speakers. M. Sanford, A. Dorsey and G.W. Porter were appointed for music. W.C. Moor, George Sansom and Joseph Clark were named to the committee on exercises.

The organizers planned carefully. By late June, notices promised that a large arbor had been erected on the grounds, where several thousand people could find shade and seating. A strong police force was to be on hand, and “all disturbers of the peace” were to be promptly arrested. W.D. Moore was selected as marshal of the day.

The celebration was expected to include a county historical address by Hon. N.F. Givens, an address by the Rev. T.J. Wheat, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Samuel Sacket, Esq. Organizers also planned a pyrotechnic display, with $100 appropriated for fireworks, and two or three balloons to be sent up on the Fourth.

The grounds, selected on the commons south of the depot, were to include tarpaulins so that those attending would not get wet if rain fell. Several barrels of ice water were to be kept on the grounds, and the Kahoka Band was expected to enliven the occasion with patriotic airs.

“Everybody with his wife and children and the ‘rest of the family’ should come out on the Fourth,” one notice urged, asking residents to help make it “the most glorious occasion ever witnessed in the history of the county.”

But as in many places across Northeast Missouri that summer, the weather did not cooperate.

A report after the Fourth said Kahoka felt “considerable disappointment” at being defeated in its effort to make the Centennial celebration an event worthy of record. Rain had been falling almost every day for several weeks, and although residents had spent considerable time and labor preparing the grounds, the rains of the previous night left them unfit for use.

Still, the celebration was not entirely lost.

A crowd estimated at perhaps 600 people, in addition to Kahoka residents, gathered in and around town. Because the prepared grounds were unusable, the crowd assembled near the stand, where the exercises were carried out.

The program opened with prayer by the Rev. Bush and the reading of the Declaration of Independence by the Rev. Todd. Addresses were then delivered by the Rev. T.J. Wheat and Bennett, Mr. Berkheimer and J.M. Asher. N.F. Givens was unwell and declined to speak, and Mr. Hagerman was not present.

The Kahoka Band played national airs between the addresses.

The nighttime fireworks display, though creditable, was hurt by the damp weather. A hot-air balloon was sent up in the evening and drifted north.

The newspaper could only regret that the celebration had been “so nearly a failure,” adding that it hoped future residents might enjoy better weather and a larger crowd when the second Centennial of American freedom came around 100 years later.

Clark County residents also followed the national Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. A letter dated July 4, 1876, described the writer’s visit to the exhibition grounds after traveling through St. Louis, Cincinnati and parts of eastern Ohio. The writer said it was impossible to fully describe the size of the exhibition, noting there were 180 buildings within the enclosure.

The largest buildings included Machinery Hall, Memorial Hall or Art Gallery, Horticultural Hall and Agricultural Hall. The writer described exhibits from Europe, Egypt, England, Brazil, Japan, China, Sweden, Norway and Germany, calling Machinery Hall the most wonderful sight of all. The great Corliss engine, with 2,500 horsepower, powered machinery in a room nearly as large as the main exhibition building.

The letter also noted that Fairmount Park contained zoological gardens and water works, and that Philadelphia itself was “alive” on the Fourth, with marching, torchlights and patriotic celebration.

The Centennial year also found its way into everyday local life. Advertisers used the word to promote goods and services, including “magnificent clothing” and other Centennial-year bargains. A business notice urged residents to make purchases during the Centennial year so as not to fall behind neighboring communities.

In Kahoka, however, the heart of the Centennial story was the attempted county celebration.

The plans were ambitious. There were committees, speakers, music, shade, ice water, fireworks, balloons, police and a historical address. The hope was to create a public gathering worthy of the nation’s first century and Clark County’s place in it.

The rain spoiled much of that plan, but it did not erase the effort.

On July 4, 1876, Kahoka still gathered. The Declaration was read. Prayers were offered. Speeches were made. The band played. Fireworks were lit. A balloon rose into the damp evening air.

It was not the grand Centennial celebration Clark County had hoped for, but it was enough to show that Kahoka intended to be counted among the commu