Here’s a history of Pickering from the 1976 Forum Bicentinal
Pickering Judge Royal started a saw mill in 1873, with William Ingels building a grist and saw mill along the Narrows. In 1874, egg packing and preserving were put into operation, and on July 1, 1876, D.N. “Dick” Garten had 17,000 eggs in pickle for winter. In 1875, the town had a photography gallery and a cigar factory, opened by Frank and Fred Hilger, with the little building still preserved at the site of the Dennis Hood homesite.
Dr. Coleman’s farmhouse served as the first hotel and was operated by J.W. Harman. About 70 or more barbers practiced at Pickering, many of whom learned the trade there.
A wagon and farm implement factory was founded by Benjamin W. Kinney, and in 1873, the Pickering Manufacturing Co. was turning out new cultivators in large numbers. In that year, the stock company raised $10,000 through the town to establish the manufacturing company, and in 1874, the company erected a building.
The first lister, according to records, was made in the Pickering area in 1858 and was manufactured by the Pickering Plow Co., operated by Aaron Wiles. Ira M. Griffin invented the lister. Jacob Wagner invented and patented a governor for steam engines that is still in use today worldwide and is known as the Wagner and Pickering governor.
As in all towns, blacksmiths were an essential part of the town. Andy Woods built a blacksmith shop in 1871. Pickering was a good shipping point and in 1879, 370 carloads ( of grain were shipped, and in 1800, 440 carloads, most of which were 148 corn.
Dr. Coleman was the first practicing physician. Dr. William M. Wallis Sr. moved to Pickering in June 1872 from the Xenia community to begin his practice. Dr. E.L. Crowson began practice in February 1892 and continued until his death on Jan. 1, 1950.
In about 1898, C.A. Wolfers opened a branch bank in connection with the Wolfers store as a part of the Bank of Hopkins. Citizens would leave their deposits at the store, and Wolfers would send them to Hopkins. On Nov. 1, 1900, the Bank of Pickering was established, and the town maintained a bank until Dec. 7, 1941, when it was sold to the Citizens State Bank of Maryville.
Bridge building was an important occupation in the community, and Charles Hollensbe began his career in 1892 and continued until 1953. A lumberyard was started in 1890 and closed in 1953. Boardwalks, a public well, and hitching racks lining the streets are part of the scene. The old jail, which has long since been gone, was situated just back of where the post office is now located. Five ice houses have also been a part of the town.
The Carmichael apple orchard was west of Pickering, about four miles, and was planted in 1910 by Riley “Rile” Carmichael. But a hard freeze in 1941 put it out of business, as all the trees were killed. James Alexander and James L. Neal also had an 80-acre orchard, and John Carmichael had a 15-acre orchard. This was a good business for apples that had to be sorted, ringed, packed, barreled, and then shipped out by the carloads.
Locals said they gave directions using a cottonwood tree on 148 and Route OO/192nd Street, south of town. The tree was about 27 feet in circumference. The story goes that four cottonwood trees were planted at the four corners around 1876 by Robert Coleman, James Pistole, E.C. “Fat” Moberly, and Peter Behrn. The last tree was cut down in 1975.