A meeting was called during the summer of 1871 at the only store in the community, that of C. W. Ratekin to talk the matter over and start trying to bring a postoffice closer to their doorways. A petition to the Post Office Department in Washington setting out their wishes eventually brought a postal inspector. Another meeting at Ratekin's store closed the matter and the papers were signed to bring them a post office. The only available place was Ratekin's store, and therefore Mr. Ratekin was appointed the first postmaster, receiving his commission August 3, 1871. The postal inspector stated they would have to have a name for the post office. According to John D. Moore, who was the school teacher, stated that William Wear suggested that they were in a very rich country, while Mr. Moore said, "We are on a hill," and that was it—RICH HILL came a borning.At the same meeting Mr. Ratekin made the prophecy that it would only be a question of time until 100 cars of coal would be moved from that place in a day. The prophecy was considered extravagant at the time but nine years later three hundred cars of coal passed over the switches at the foot of hill from the mines in thirty-six hours.
"Did you know further that the banner mine of the state of Missouri was No. 15 one mile south of Rich Hill ? It is a fact. Hoisting an average of over three ton every minute for seven hours from a depth of 106 feet. It means this a pit car run on the cage 106 ft. down raised to the surface, weighed and emptied into a railway car every twenty seconds.
Mr. Moore concluded this article with a statement that he "may call to mind some other matters that may be of use later on."
I am confident that I will find some additional articles of Mr. Moores' in the future which I will gladly publish for the readers of this blog.
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