The Maryville Business College was organized in 1906 by E. S. Cook and George H. Meek. It was incorporated as the Western School Company when a sister campus started at the Creston Business College in Creston, Iowa, in 1908. The college owned a building on the east side of the square in Maryville. President, E. Sumner Cook; vice president, George H. Meek; secretary, M.V. Ringgold, according to the Forum-July 9, 1908
The college started after the 1905 founding of the State Teachers College. The college was sold in 1918 to C.L. Padgett and became Business University before ceasing operations at the end of 1918.
Professor Meek Forum August 2, 1906
Professor Meek Moves to Maryville. Prof. Geo. H. Meek and family of Stanberry, Missouri, moved to our city last week and are nicely situated in South Maryville.
Prof. Meek was connected with the Stanberry Normal until recently, when he resigned his position there and became interested in the new Maryville Business College in this city. PROF. GEO H. MEEK. Treas. and Prin. Bookkeeping Department, Maryville Business College.
Prof. Meek is well and favorably known throughout Northwest Missouri as a teacher of more than ordinary ability, and his connection with the Maryville Business College, as treasurer and head of the bookkeeping department, adds much to the strength of the new institution and guarantees sound practical instruction to its patrons.
Thursday, July 26 1906. ELLIS S. COOK, President, Maryville Business College. We reproduce herewith a likeness of the principal of the new business college in order to notify the public that the late county commissioner, Mr. Ellis G. Cook, is in no way connected with the Maryville Business College Many inquiries have been received in this regard, and we wish to state that Ellis S. Cook, President of the Maryville Business College, is a Chicago man, and has no relatives by the name, excepting his mother and grandfather who live near Clearmont, Missouri. In order to avoid errors, we are requested to suggest that all mail intended for the college, be directed to E. S. Cook, President.
