Platter Brothers
Bill and Frank
Bill and Frank
The Platter Brothers were nominated to the Chillicothe Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Platter family came to Chillicothe in 1863. The patriarch, Andrew Platter, bought a building in town in 1864 and started his horse and mule livery business. Two of Andrew’s sons, William “Bill” and Frank, worked in or were connected with the hardware business at Dunn & Daly and with H.H. Edsall in Chillicothe, in addition to being involved with the family livery business. When Andrew died in 1875, these two sons took over the business of buying and selling horses and mules. In 1886, Bill and Frank turned their full attention to their livery business. In 1894 the Platter brothers claimed to have “bought and shipped 3,504” horses and mules. It is said that Bill’s “word controlled the prices of horses in St. Louis for many years.” Frank and Bill “established probably the largest original supply depot for horses and mules in the world.” Bill died at his South Locust home, right next to the stables in 1901; Frank then received sole ownership of the livery business.
Bill Platter never married. Frank Platter married Ella Van Every in 1879. He later married Bessie Guitar in 1898. His home was at 118 south Locust where the current fire station is now, at the corner of Locust and Second on the west side of Locust.
The second floor of the Platter Barn was used as a community meeting room, dance hall, opera house since at least 1868.
In 1868, Nelson Kneass, who wrote the song “Ben Bolt” after whom the movie theatre was named, came to town. He was the manager of a theatrical troupe. Most locals know the story: he came, performed, got ill, and died at the Browning Hotel at the corner of Jackson and Locust. What few seem to know is where his pivotal last performance was held. Kneass’ last performance was held at the Platter Barn “opera house” above the stables. The article states that many famous actresses came to this venue and Kneass’ last performance was to a packed house.
Grace Episcopal Church met in this upstairs area in 1869 until their building was ready. They claimed it “lacked a congenial atmosphere.” Not sure if that meant it was too plain or too fancy!
In 1904 a book titled The State of Missouri was published. It gave two pages to Livingston County and only two photographs. One picture was of a herd of cattle, showing how important agriculture was to the economy. What was the other picture? The Platter Livery. Clearly this shows the great importance to the Platters in this community with his livery business.
In 1909 Frank Platter closed down the livery business and moved to Dennison, Texas. His wife and son David wintered in Texas, but otherwise could often be found either in Columbia, Missouri visiting her family or here in Chillicothe. In fact, Frank seems to have visited Chillicothe often, “spending his vacation with his family” and even staying for extended periods. In 1914 he leased his building to Christison & Hershey who continued a livery business there. In 1915, Adams Automobile & Supply Company owned the building and tore down the old livery to build their sales and service garage in its place. (In 1928 it became Montgomery Wards; From the mid-1970s it became the home of the Senior Citizens Center, Joy Toys, and Threads thrift store.)
Bill Platter never married. Frank Platter married Ella Van Every in 1879. He later married Bessie Guitar in 1898. His home was at 118 south Locust where the current fire station is now, at the corner of Locust and Second on the west side of Locust.
The second floor of the Platter Barn was used as a community meeting room, dance hall, opera house since at least 1868.
In 1868, Nelson Kneass, who wrote the song “Ben Bolt” after whom the movie theatre was named, came to town. He was the manager of a theatrical troupe. Most locals know the story: he came, performed, got ill, and died at the Browning Hotel at the corner of Jackson and Locust. What few seem to know is where his pivotal last performance was held. Kneass’ last performance was held at the Platter Barn “opera house” above the stables. The article states that many famous actresses came to this venue and Kneass’ last performance was to a packed house.
Grace Episcopal Church met in this upstairs area in 1869 until their building was ready. They claimed it “lacked a congenial atmosphere.” Not sure if that meant it was too plain or too fancy!
In 1904 a book titled The State of Missouri was published. It gave two pages to Livingston County and only two photographs. One picture was of a herd of cattle, showing how important agriculture was to the economy. What was the other picture? The Platter Livery. Clearly this shows the great importance to the Platters in this community with his livery business.
In 1909 Frank Platter closed down the livery business and moved to Dennison, Texas. His wife and son David wintered in Texas, but otherwise could often be found either in Columbia, Missouri visiting her family or here in Chillicothe. In fact, Frank seems to have visited Chillicothe often, “spending his vacation with his family” and even staying for extended periods. In 1914 he leased his building to Christison & Hershey who continued a livery business there. In 1915, Adams Automobile & Supply Company owned the building and tore down the old livery to build their sales and service garage in its place. (In 1928 it became Montgomery Wards; From the mid-1970s it became the home of the Senior Citizens Center, Joy Toys, and Threads thrift store.)