Page 162

The "poor house," or sometimes called the poor farm, is known no more in Missouri, especially in humane and progressive counties. Macon county was one, if not the first county, to adopt the plan of an infirmary and abolish the poor house, in which disease, pestilence and death to the indigent and infirm poor was the result. Following upon the excellent results and reduction in the expense to the county, the court of Livingston county, in 1901 purchased land adjacent to the city of Chillicothe, and erected a commodious and substantial structure one mile south and west of the city, in which the indigent and semi-insane and idiotic are cared for in a most humane manner under the management of Superintendent Robert H. Chittick, a most worthy officer. At the present only forty-seven inmates are sheltered and cared for in the Infirmary. The incurable insane of the county are sent to the asylum at St. Joseph or Fulton. Robert H. Chittick was appointed superintendent of the Infirmary in 1907.

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