Sweet c.1894 Home For Sale with a History in Missouri Under $40K

“Some of the most interesting houses in St. Joseph are the modest structures that were built in the last years of the 19th century as rental housing for the workers and their families who were providing the labor that was making St. Joseph into one of the most prosperous cities in the nation.

One such house that proves the point is the Patee St. Cottage at 2639 Patee St. The first tenants we can find records of are William S. Missemer and his brother Winfield Scott Missemer, who occupied the home from about 1894 to 1900. The Missemer family was absolutely fascinating!

William was a prominent and controversial figure in politics during the time that he lived on Patee St. In 1894-95 he was a candidate first for Mayor and then for Congress on the Populist, or People’s Party, ticket. On March 31, 1894 the News Press reported on the mayoral race stating that “Mr. Missemer makes one of the best talks of the campaign. The Missemer meeting at South Park last night was by long odds the largest and most enthusiastic political meeting ever held in that part of the city and few better were ever held in St. Joseph.” But by April 1, the Herald was reporting that “The Republican ticket a sure winner.” It went on to state, “The past week has witnessed a pyrotechnic candidacy. The candidacy of W.A. [sic. it seems that they deliberately got his name wrong] Missemer for mayor. With the advent of the week his name was the blazing meteor that shot across the political sky, that now is destined to disappear into the darkness of oblivion and be engulfed in ignominious defeat. The rocket has burned out and the stick is now coming down.” The Herald’s projections were right, and Missemer lost the race. This was not the end of Missemer’s political ambitions though. In July 1894, he was nominated by the Populists for the seat in Congress representing the Fourth District. Unfortunately for his ambitions, he was unsuccessful in his run for that office and shortly thereafter left St. Joseph to run the Odd Fellows’ Home in Liberty.” Per Historic Saint Joseph Emporium

“Sharing the lovely little cottage with William was his brother Winfield Scott Missemer. Winfield was the “foreman of the bridge gangs of the northern lines of the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs railroad.” Winfield was big news in December 1900 when he died at the age of 49 in the baggage room of the Francis Street passenger station. He complained of feeling ill with chest pains and lay down on a bench. Station attendants called for a doctor, but by the time he arrived Mr. Missemer had died. The autopsy indicated that the cause of death was an enlarged heart. “The coroner’s autopsy revealed the fact that the heart of the dead man was about three times its natural size.”

Gallup/Scott

After the Missemers left the house, a short-term tenant took up residence for about a year and then the family of Richard M. Gallup moved in and made the charming cottage their home from 1904 to 1918. Richard was a native of Oneida County, NY but came to St. Joseph to work for the railroads. During the period he lived on Patee St. he was the postal clerk for the Santa Fe railroad on the run between St. Joseph and Topeka, a position he took up in 1882. Richard was married to Sarah S. Frazer Gallup who was a big supporter of her husband’s career, hosting several social events on behalf of the Ladies’Auxiliary of the postal clerks at the home on Patee St. of which she was quite proud. Sharing the house with Richard and Sarah were their grandsons Harry and Merle Scott. Harry was a salesman at one of the many dry goods companies in the city while Merle worked for the Western Tablet Co., first as a bookbinder and eventually rising to the position of foreman.

Short Term Residents

The Gallup/Scott family gave up their tenancy of the house by about 1918, and following them there were again a number of short-term occupants. These included John Mitchell who was a barber, the auto mechanic for the Trachsel Motor Co. William H. Nunn, and Samuel D. Allen who made his living as a contractor. It was not until 1932 that the next long-term tenants took up occupancy of the home.

Williams

This was the family of Olive Williams. Olive was a widow when she rented the home and she had three children, Elizabeth, Jewell, and Earl, living with her. Widowhood could be very difficult at this time and women often had to work in backbreaking jobs to support their families. Olive did what many turned to – she worked as a laundress from her home. But as hard as life may have been, there were certainly times of great laughter and joy. In March 1932 her friends threw her a surprise birthday party at her new house at which “covers were laid for nineteen” and several people came in from out of town to help her celebrate. In July 1939 she hosted the Needlework Guild of Neil T. Sommer Auxiliary No. 17 United Spanish War Veterans to an all-day meeting at her home with a covered dish luncheon.

The income generated as a laundress was not sufficient to support the family, and the 1940 census gives us some insight into how the family made ends meet. The oldest daughter Elizabeth (born in about 1917) had only completed two years of high school and worked as a candy cook in a candy factory. In 1939 she worked 52 weeks and made the princely sum of $420. Her younger sister Jewell (born in 1919) worked as a binder at a writing paper factory after only completing two years of high school. Her work was better paid, in 1939 she brought home $572. In 1940, the youngest child in the family, Earl, was only 15 years old and he was a high school student.

Jewell got married in 1943, and her family left the home on Patee St. soon afterward. It was at this time that Sam Richardson and his wife Bertha moved in. Sam was a motorman for the street railway company; during the time he lived on Patee he worked the Messanie Street Line. And in 1947, when he retired the News Press ran a lengthy story about his career.  While Sam was out working, Bertha was an active member of the Wyatt Park Assembly of God. She kept busy as a part of the Ladies’ Missionary Council and frequently hosted them at her home.

The charming little house at 2639 Patee St. has been home to many fascinating characters and its rooms have been the scene of wonderful events for friends and family. This lovely cottage is ready to see what lovely things the next century will bring!”

2 bed · 1 bath · 1,255 sqft

Build date 1894

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Property Listing

Contact: Karen Van Sickle with Re/Max Professionals

Call: (816) 261-8381

Sweet c.1894 Home For Sale with a History in Saint Joe Under $40K

Two, possibly three, bedrooms, and a formal dining room, this charming frame home with lovely historic detailing is just waiting to be your cozy home!

Contact: Karen Van Sickle with Re/Max Professionals

2639 Patee St, Saint Joseph, MO, 64507