Frederick W. Waller was a splendid man. Or so says his death announcement in the Ralls County Record newspaper on Jan. 7, 1916.
For 27 years — since circa 1888 — F.W. Waller had commuted either by horse and wagon or early vehicle, from his home on West Ely Road, three miles east to Main Street in Hannibal, Mo., where he tended to customers in search of books, stationery and gifts. Then once again, as evening fell, he followed the same path home.
He didn’t own the book shops where he worked; that was the responsibility of, in the early years, George A. Collins, and later John H. Boughton. Instead, F.W. Waller worked as a clerk, day in and day out, for the majority of his prime working years.
As a book and stationery seller, he became familiar with those living within shopping distance of Hannibal.
But there was more to Frederick W. Waller’s work life then the days he spent behind the book counter.
As a young man, as early as 1887, F.W. Waller operated a business for himself on Hannibal’s western edge, known as Frytown Poultry Farm, F.W. Waller & Co., Prop’s.
Those familiar with poultry may recognize the names of the thoroughbred fowls that Waller bred and raised:
Lt. Brahmas, White and Buff Cochins, Black Javas, Houdans, Plymouth Rocks, S.C. White and Brown Leghorns and Pekin Ducks.
Throughout the remainder of the 19th century, Waller was a regular on the Marion County Fair circuit, continuing to show — and win — ribbons and premiums for his prized fowl.
His poultry farm was located in the eastern most portion of Section 25, Township 57N, Range 5 West, Marion County, Mo. That translates in today’s street numbering as 3707 West Ely Road.
It is on this long and narrow strip of land, fronting West Ely Road, that Waller and his wife Sarah Martine Lippincott Waller, settled when they married in 1883.
Lippencott homestead
The house, which now stands at 3707 West Ely Road, was in actuality the homestead of Mrs. Waller’s parents, Capt. Thomas Curtis (1834-1913, a former ferry boat captain and Civil War veteran) and Elizabeth J. Bennen Lippencott. They moved from Third Street, west to the area known as Frytown, in the early to mid 1880s.
The Lippencotts had four children: Mary E. Lippencott, born circa 1859; Sarah Martine Lippencott, born in 1861; Martha C. Lippencott, born in 1864; and William C. Lippencott, born circa 1870.
After Martine Lippencott was married to F.W. Waller in November 1883, the young couple lived with the Lippencotts. As the Wallers built their family, three generations co-existed in that house.
The Lippencotts eventually moved back toward downtown Hannibal, while the Wallers remained on West Ely Road. When Capt. Lippencott died in 1913, he was living at 115 N. Seventh St.
Two years after Capt. Lippencott’s death, Fred W. Waller died. His death on Dec. 29, 1915, at the age of 59, was attributed to chronic nephritis. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
In October 1916, a 70x160-foot parcel of the Lippencott/Waller property, with frontage on West Ely Road, was deeded to Claude L. Waller, son of Fred and Martine Lippencott Waller. Today, the house located on this lot is addressed 3709 West Ely Road.
Poultry exhibit
On Oct. 3, 1889, the Palmyra Spectator reported:
“The large display of fine poultry made by F.W. Waller & Co., proprietors of the Frytown Poultry Yard, is deserving of more than passing mention. These gentlemen have made exhibits at our fair for several years, and always go away with a large number of blue ribbons. Their display this year is better than ever and is attracting considerable attention. Persons desiring to secure purebred fowls would do well to see these gentlemen.”
Waller/Christian link
According to early records, Fredrick W. Waller was born in Hannibal, Mo., in 1856, to John Dudrick Waller and Catharine Sophia Grosch Waller, who were married Dec. 3, 1849, in Marion County, Mo.
A year after their marriage, 42-year-old John Dudrick Waller was working as a cabinet maker in Hannibal. He died in 1859, when his young son was just three years old. The fate of his wife is unclear, but in in the spring of 1859, John D. Waller’s household goods and carpentry tools were sold at auction in order to settle his estate.
By 1860, young Fredrick Waller was in the care of Margaret Christian, 54, widow of John Christian, and they lived on the north side of Market Street, next door to the Marion House.
Note: A family ancestry chart posted on ancestry.com by Kspl. Stittensen - Niedersachsen lists Margaret Christian as Margareta Sophia Christina Waller “Christian,” who was married to Johann Friederich Christian. The maiden name of Mrs. Christian — Waller — suggests kinship to Frederick W. Waller, who as a three-year-old lived in Mrs. Christian’s home in 1860.
Mrs. Christian is linked to two other stories published by this author:
“Buggy ride along plank road would be John Christian’s last”; and
“White Oak: A house of many memories.”
Mrs. Christian was mother to Sophia D. Christian Atkins (1830-1891), wife of Henry Atkins (1821-1888).
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.