13 July 2000 MO-Abstracts Read-Only list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Source: "Random Recollections of Forty Years in Sedalia" by J. West GOODWIN, as read before the Nehemgar Club on 20 March 1902 Early in the year 1861, the MO Pacific railroad was completed to this point and the story is told, the truth of which I cannot vouch for, that the late General George R. SMITH, to celebrate the event "hooked up" a couple of oxen to a double carriage and drove them to the railroad track, the driver seated on the front wielding quite liberally a long gad, but when the cattle espied the puffing engine, they ran away with the carriage, driver and all, upsetting the carriage on Quality Ridge. ... It was on 17 January 1861, the first passenger train arrived at Sedalia. ... B.H. OFFUTT opened the first hotel in Sedalia, a block or so north of the present passenger depot of the MO Pacific railroad in a house owned by General SMITH. ... ...that Ira HINSDALE was the boniface of the Marvin House in 1869. He made a model landlord at that time. The first school I have been able to locate in Sedalia was opened by E.W. WASHBURN and dau, Mrs. CLAYCOMB, 5 Sept 1864, and the next one that I have any record of was commenced by W.H. ALLISON and Miss C. PEABODY, on 6 Mch 1865.