CONTRIBUTIONS OF EARLY DOCTORS
AND SKILLED WORKMEN

The health and welfare of the town and surrounding country were not neglected. We do not know much about some of the earliest doctors except their names. At various periods of time these men served the community: J. T. Mackey, B. H. Pasley, J. F. Vigor, Minnie McMahon, H. B. Johnson, J. Starkweather, Hottle, S. E. Capper, and E. Topping.

Dr. J. F. Vigor, for many years a doctor in Pomona, came to Pomona in 1885 from Ohio. The family lived for about six months in the house now occupied by Lovel O'Brien. Then Dr. Vigor bought the house where Frank Hughes now lives. The small building to the south was his office and was built later. After about eleven years, he sold out to Dr. Minnie and went back to Ohio for two years. He then returned to the same place where he lived and practiced until his death at the age of 90. He served as city clerk and treasurer of the Methodist church for many years. He combined carpentry and cabinet making work with the practice of medicine. This work he did in the old barn out back. Here he kept his horse and buggy used for making calls in the early days. Much of the fancy woodworking was done by him on the Methodist church which burned.

Dr. H. B. Johnson, a member of the first graduating class of Pomona High School, also served the community long and faithfully. For many years he ran a drug store and school supplies business in connection with his medicine practice. This was located where James Lindsey now runs his grocery store and locker plant.

J. W. Spangler was a manufacturer of harness and saddlery, boots and shoes. Joe Harford was listed in the 1883 brochure as a plasterer and kalsominer. J. M. Ricksecker was a carpenter and builder. T. L. Newcomb was justice of the peace and notary public. Newcomb and Griffin were real estate dealers. Topping & Son carried a general assortment of drugs, medicnies, paints, oils, glass, and wall paper. E. Topping, M.D. was the practicing physician. Joseph Bingamen was a stone mason and contractor. Mrs. T. J. Mackey ran the store and was postmistress. She had a fine trade in drugs and notions while Dr. Mackey practiced medicine. Incidentally, the Spangler business was located first door south of the J. Parkinson & Co. A Mr. J. A. Downey had a blacksmith shop on Main Street. T. L. Newcomb edited the pamphlet "Pomona For A Home" in 1883. Bagby & Lant were the proprietors of a meat marketselling fresh and salt meats. They especially advertised "Silver Lake Ice".

The Citizens State Bank was chartered on October 22, 1901 by E. A. May, F. E. Bodley, L. C. Bodley, M. A. Limbocker of Quenemo, and J. E. Reed of Pomona with a capital stock of $5,000. This bank was first located on the west side of Main Street just south of the John Parkinson building (present Farmers Union). Later it moved to a location about where Jim Lindsey's lot is. On April 21, 1903, they moved to a new building on the corner of Franklin and East A Streets.

On August 9, 1902, the capital stock of the bank was raised to $7,500; on March 25, 1909, to $10,000; then to $15,000; and at present the capital stock is $50,000 with a surplus of $56,700. In 1909 the controlling interest was purchased by the Hudelson family from May and Limbocker. They operated it for 42 years with John and Jim remaining active until their deaths. Other members of the family have been associated with it in various administrative capacities to the present time. On May 1, 1951, the controlling interest was sold to Mr. C. H. Goppert of Kansas City. Mr. Neal Baxter is executive vice president and cashier.

W. H. Wiggins built the building to the west of the bank building. The I.O.O.F. Lodge built their hall over both buildings the same year. Bill Renner was the bricklayer, and Bill "Red" Wilson was the carpenter. The Lodge had been organized on January 6, 1893. The Wiggins family operated a general store at that location for many years.

The Santa Fe Railroad was surveyed through here in 1872 and built in 1883. The last James Hudelson, then a boy in his teens, was the first passenger. He and a friend, Hal Griffin, were riding to town on horses. The trainmen asked him if he would like to be the first passenger. They put him in the cab, and he rode on it to the depot. The second track was built in 1904.

The Santa Fe tracks have been raised a number of times to put them above flood waters. The depot has also been changed. Several accidents have occurred on these double tracks which never had a gate or signal lights until 1960. The first accident happened long before cars. Mrs. Will Lawrence was driving a beautiful team of horses to a buggy. She and Miss Anna Lawrence were driving south to visit someone over in the country. A train coming from the west hit them, killing Mrs. Lawrence and injuring Miss Anna. They just did not see the train and drove on the tracks on front of it. The Santa Fe has contributed much to the growth and development of Pomona over the years. It still pays quite of sum of tax money which has help school taxes low here.

The Missouri Pacific was surveyed in 1876 and built in 1886. The depot there was destroyed by the tornado which hit through the edge of Pomona on June 1, 1917. Accidents have occured on their track. Jim Lindsey's father W. O. Lindsey, was fatally injured on November 9, 1942. He was taking the mail to the depot. John Ed. Lindsey, then four years old, and Mary Davis were riding with him. The Davis child was killed, too. In 1948, Mr. John Hudelson lost his life at this track. The Missouri Pacific system has also given much toward the betterment of the town.