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THE CHARITON COLLECTOR

NORTHEAST MISSOURI HISTORY AND FOLKLORE
December 1982
$2.95


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THE CHARITON COLLECTOR Kirksville Senior High School, Kirksville, Mo. 
Vol. 3 No. 1 December 1982 Issue 5

Editor's Comment

We the editors of Vol. 3 No. 1 of the 1982-83 Chariton Collector would like to dedicate this issue 
to both the supporters of this magazine and our advisors, past and present.

During the production of this and past issues of The Chariton Collector, the editors and staff have 
consistently strived to deliver a magazine that will both increase your knowledge of local history 
and spark an interest in your personal history.

It is our sincere hope that you will enjoy this issue of The Chariton Collector and will look forward 
to upcoming publications.

We would also like to pay tribute to the previous advisor of this magazine, Mrs. Carol Trowbridge. 
Carol helped to secure this magazine as a permanent part of our school's available courses. She 
also was an intricate part of the production of the first four volumes of The Chariton Collector 
and its foremost benefactor.

Thank you,
Alva Lewis, Mark McIntyre
Co-editors

Cover Picture
The cover picture was photographed by Dr. John Morgan on his farm, which is located north of 
Kirksville.

[photo captain] This photograph appeared on a Graysville area postcard around 1905. The geese were 
commonly kept for pillow-taking. See story on Graysville which begins on page 2.

Table of Contents

Graysville . . . . . 2
By Dan Mehlenbacher, John Morgan and Rocky Veach

Life as a Milliner . . . . . 6
By Pam Anderson, Jeannie Croarkin and Alicia Troester

Personal Politician . . . . . 8
By Lorinda Scott and Carrie Stone

Water Under the Bridge	 . . . . . 10
By Rich Anderson and Gary England

The Chariton Liberty Tree . . . . . 12
By Mark McIntyre and Alva Lewis

Follow the Green Line . . . . . 13
By Mindy Upton

Scenes from the Past . . . . . 14
By Alva Lewis and Mark McIntyre

The Passing of an Era . . . . . 16
By Bobby Poston

Carousel Horses . . . . . 20
By Ken Thomas and Mark Wray

Who Was J.R.? . . . . . 22
By Matt Dodson

Opening Night . . . . . 24
By David Cenedella and Ron Van Wynsberg

Generations of Leather and Lace . . . . . 27
By Jim Kline, Amy Mock and Wendy Seigal

Photography
David Cenedella
Al Lewis
Mark McIntyre
John Schleich

Distribution Managers 
Amy Mock 
Wendy Seigal

Advisor 
Mary Grossnickle

Copyright 1982

The Chariton Collector is published by the Local History Class of Kirksville Senior High School. 
This special class attempts to preserve the history and local folklore of Northeast Missouri.


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GRAYSVILLE anytown USA?

If traveling north on Rt. 149 in Putnam County, the town of Graysville may seem as though it were 
a roadside park. But don't plan on stopping for a bite to eat unless you have brought your own. 
Over 100 years old, the town is no longer a thriving place of business for its citizens, but a 
fading reminder of a prosperous era.

Originally Millersburg, the town began in 1867 in the southwest corner of land owned by James 
Mullenix. In that year, James T. Miller founded a store which marked the beginning of the town, 
thus giving it the name of Millersburg. No record remains to clarify a transaction by which land 
was acquired, but it is known that Mullenix did live out the remainder of his life in the town itself.

In the first few years that followed, minor establishments were gradually added including a 
blacksmith shop and another small store, but the first major step forward was in the founding of 
the post office in 1875. Due to the fact that another post office in the state was named 
Millersburg, it took on the name of Graysville after its establisher, E. Gray. As time passed, 
the more commonly used name of Graysville was slowly accepted as the name of the town itself.

As with many small towns in our country, Graysville had its roots, a life-line so to speak, upon 
which it survived. From the days when citizens would arise in the morning to wagons rumbling down 
the road, to the times when large trucks replaced them as transports for coal, mining was that base. 
Graysville was indeed a mining town, for today you can talk to its citizens and hear vivid tales 
of when coal controlled the lives of its people. Yet that control did not always lie in the hands 
of the miners. In the struggling first years of its existence, the town was kept alive by a resource 
that is overshadowed in the remembrance of its past. For at least 40 years after the first store was 
founded by J. T. Miller, timber was that abundant resource which drew people to the area and kept 
the town alive. Combined with small-time farming, timber was the supplier of jobs and money for 
Graysville's people. Coal, an industry which had yet to be discovered, would prove to be the turning 
point in its history.

Since its beginning, Graysville had gradually grown, but nothing did, or ever would have such a 
profound effect on it as the mining boom of the late '20's. The mines affected the whole way of 
life as those people knew it. Before, the town was basically close-knit where everyone was acquainted, 
and in many times related, but as the mining grew, the population also grew. This meant people came 
from all over the midwest drawn by the jobs which brought money. These people saw the opportunity in 
many different ways. They saw food for their hungry children, money to spend in a tavern for a good 
time, or a chance at starting a life for themselves that they couldn't find elsewhere. Whatever the 
reason, the people did come, bringing their own ideas and beliefs, causing the town to begin 
changing. What was a small-time, quiet village, suddenly became a bigger, livelier place of considerable 
action. Graysville at no time became big as city-folk know it, but rather big by its own standards. 
The sudden population explosion happened just as it sounds. . . very sudden, making the town a place 
with its own character. New people that came with the mines added spice to the town, giving it 
distinctions of good and bad, friend and foe, which set the personality of the town. Yet everyone 
came to accept this change, working side by side in the coal dust from sunup to sundown.

When the boom hit, life changed in Graysville. Rolling countryside quickly became cluttered living 
space. With the people coming in, it wasn't long before little shacks and huts were everywhere. In 
some instances, people even put up a tent and placed a stove in the middle. These people were 
basically out to survive with the thought of making a little money on the side. Yet the money didn't 
come easy. The miners worked long and hard days, usually going and coming from work by the light of 
their hats. These men, usually 12 to 15 to a mine, were on their own most of the time, working by 
the ton as long as there was someone to buy coal. As the life long residents Ailey Sparks and 
Herbert Casady put it, "Boys became men awfully quick in those mines." These boys were nothing more 
than teenagers, but they found out about life working for 75 cents a ton in dirty shale pits. That 
was generally a starter's pay in those days, from that, you worked your way up to the demand.

Mining was no easy job, especially since it was alive only in the winter months. Being strenuous labor 
already, this only made the job worse and the days longer. "A miner in Graysville was usually a hard 
worker and not always ready to put down his pick when the day ended," explained Ailey Sparks, "because 
you knew that when the days grew longer and warmer your income stopped along with the mines." Luckily, 
most men found some type of work during the summer which would hold them over till the mines opened again.

Mines were indeed everywhere in the area. In fact, where there was a hilltop there was a mine. Each 
mine had its differences. In most, the coal was dug by the miners and loaded for a horse to pull out. 
Yet in a few mines such as the old "steam hoist" in Graysville, steam power provided a means for the 
coal to be brought out. During those early years, "Lickskillet," a flat on the Chariton River, was 
the place where the coal was taken from Graysville in some cases. A small railway connected the two 
mining centers, by which horses would pull loaded cars the six mile distance. From there coal was 
shipped by river to its destination. The usual

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way was the everyday horse and wagon if the coal was headed elsewhere. That rumbling of horse and 
wagon gradually converted to the roar of trucks as the years went on, an easier and more practical 
way of transportation. The era of automation helped mining greatly, producing a "boom" all across 
the country. Graysville was no exception. The miners were up to three dollars a ton and the town 
became well known in northern Missouri for such a small place. Even though those times had been 
hard ones, the lively way of life had appealed to the people. A reminder of those days sparks a 
gleem in the eye and a smile on the face of most any citizen today. A longing for the Graysville 
of yesterday comes out in each who can remember those times.

Just as automation had boosted Graysville, it also condemned it. The big machines of modern strip 
mining and the money hungry businessmen which controlled them, led to the town's down-fall. The 
shovels and picks were replaced by dynamite while machinery became miners. Farmers and landowners 
were pressured to sell out in many cases, and Graysville was put under the arm of big business 
until the coal, which had been the support of the town for so long, finally gave out. When the 
miners left, the town went with them. Stores no longer had business and thus shut down as did 
schools and all else that was associated with the people of that era.

The town of Graysville has seen many stores since the first one which marked the towns beginning 
in 1867. Although as many as five stores have existed at one time during Graysvilles' past, one 
store, which still stands, was the town's largest and most important store throughout the coal 
boom and for years afterward. Faye Haynes and her husband owned and managed that store during that 
era and although the store is no longer in business, she is still today, the owner of the store and 
a citizen of Graysville. The store stands on the corner of Graysville's main street where all of 
the town's businesses have been located. The street incidentally, is dirt, and the whole scene 
resembles a crossroads through which
Top photo: Miners during the coal boom. Bottom photo shows the existing remnants they left behind.

By R. Veach
D. Mehlenbacher
J. Morgan

[photo caption] This retouched photograph appeared on an area postcard around 1905.

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[photo captions] Top photo: Saturday afternoons of socializing and relaxing weren't strange to this 
main store which has withstood most of the century. Bottom photo: Ailey and Laholma Sparks, longtime 
residents of a fading town.

cars pass on their way to better things rather than a place where business exchange once took place. 
The building is narrow and it's evident that additions were built on as the demand for more room 
arose. The front is tall and flat with a small overhang giving it the look typical of buildings of 
the "Old West". All of its features combine to give it a unique look all its own.

In contrast to a store of today, Graysville's stores were in fact, general stores. In the times 
when trips to a larger town were impractical due to poor means of transportation, it was necessary 
for the stores to supply its citizens with all the goods which were essential to everyday life. The 
people of Graysville were able to walk into any store at the time and buy anything from groceries, 
to shoes, to automotive parts. If any desired product was not carried in stock, ordering it posed 
no problem. The store owners were willing to acquire any product as long as there was a customer 
willing to buy it.

Most citizens bought goods on credit and would pay off their bills monthly. In many instances where 
farmers were involved, the store owners would extend credit throughout the year until farmers could 
harvest their crops and make a payment. While payment of that type may sound unusual by today's 
standards, those people had a special trust in each other and in their friendships which enabled 
that system to work smoothly.

For those citizens who did own stores or other businesses at the time, life had its luxuries. "There 
was good money in running a store," said Mrs. Haynes. This was true particularly in the winter 
months when the mines were running and the demand for goods was high. In the summer months when the 
miners left, however, the stores depended on produce for support. Many of the local farmers would 
sell their eggs and cream to a store or in many instances, trade their produce for clothes or any 
other needed product the store had. Many of the remaining farmers in Graysville miss the days of 
being able to sell their extra dairy and vegetable products for a

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little extra "chewing tobacco" as Ailey Sparks put it during an interview.

Graysville hasn't had a store in business since the early 1970's. From the end of the coal boom 
in the 1950's up to that point, a few stores were in business at different times. None, however, 
had a large enough flow of customers to keep them open. Since then, Graysville's people have had 
to travel to Unionville or another neighboring town for their groceries. Most of them wish that 
another store would open and carry all the supplies they were so used to having near them. Even 
Mrs. Haynes expressed a wish for someone to open up a place of business in her old store. They 
feel that way because a store would add much more than convenience to their life. For many farmers, 
it would mean a place to sell their eggs and cream for a little extra money again. For some of 
the men, it would be a place to go to on a Saturday afternoon to "see the boys" and waste time. 
It would give Graysville that spark of life which it has been lacking for the past few years. 
Graysville would be a town again, and in the minds of many of its remaining citizens, that's 
all they want.

Listening to old stories, the Graysville tavern seems no different than any other of its time. 
It has been around as long as any present citizen can remember and has been closed for about 
ten years. According to old timers Earl Hogg and Edwin Ray, a man could find just about any 
kind of entertainment in the rowdy little building. Between the dancing, drinking and just 
plain having a good time, the tavern served as a place of non-stop excitement for the miners 
and citizens alike. As with other centers of the little community, much was lost with the fading 
mining boom and this Graysville "hot spot" was put on a "back burner" to cool.

All the tavern is used for today is private storage and the building itself is not in good shape. 
Yet, when you listen to the stories about it and look around inside, you can almost begin to see 
the people dancing and hear the music of those days when the tavern was the only place around 
where one could really have a little fun.

When walking through Graysville and talking to its people, it is obvious that certain buildings 
have played a major role in the lives of its citizens. While the stores, tavern and other businesses 
were centers of trade for many years, such buildings as the church and school house supplied 
Graysville's people with the learning experiences which have set them apart. These two places are 
important in the memories of those few remaining citizens who have lived their lives in the small 
town.

Although Graysville has no functioning school today, it has had a total of three schools at different 
times. The first one was built in the early 1900's and consisted of a small, one room building with 
only a few students. As Ailey Sparks said, "If there was a seventh grader, there was a seventh grade." 
When that building fell into ill repair, it was torn down and replaced by a better building capable of 
holding more students. That school house, however, burnt to the ground only a few years after its 
completion and was thus replaced by the third and last school. The third school was a white stucco 
three room building with a basement. It was closed due to the consolidation of county schools to 
Unionville in 1965. The building itself was eventually torn down in the early 1970's leaving nothing 
but memories of the school and all that it entailed.

Although no material evidence remains of the days when the bell would ring calling the kids to school, 
many stories are still around of what it was like to go to school in those times. "The big events of 
the year were the candy supper and the Christmas program," said Mary Kay Veach. The candy supper was 
an annual event where the girls would bring a box of candy to be auctioned off at school. One of the 
boys would buy the box from his favorite girl and they would sit together and eat the candy. The 
Christmas program was another annual event where the kids would build a stage, put a curtain around 
it and have their own play.

These along with other minor events throughout each school year kept the children content and the 
school running. It gave them a togetherness only experienced in rural life and although the building 
is gone, the school exists in the minds of the people who attended it and knew what it was really like.

The church was also another interesting place in the history of Graysville. A church, in most places, 
serves as a place of worship and learning in a community. Then again Graysville was not just any 
place. The church was established sometime during the 1850's or 60's. It was founded by an area 
pioneer, John Henry Ray with one Civil War pension check of twenty-five dollars according to 
descendants Thelma and Pearl Casady. Originally a United Brethren or non-denominational church, 
it prospered, as far as anyone knows, at least up until the mining boom. Gradually a declining 
congregation became almost non-existent. Rumour even has it that gambling became a favorite pastime 
in the old white building. Yet the church did manage to recover. Still in the original building, 
which stands to this day, it made its comeback during the 1950's as a Baptist church, ready once 
again to serve the people of Graysville.

The church and school shared responsibility in providing for the town in many ways. They contributed 
to the towns personality and character and the way of life of the people who live there today.

With all of this, Graysville could be most any town, with the exception of one thing... its people. 
Although many are gone, a few original citizens still remain, living on the same land that their 
parents lived on. These people are the base of the town, the ones who keep it alive in its original 
tradition.

Graysville has been seemingly left behind in the constant forward progression of the times. A page 
out of history, this town survives in today's world thanks mainly to its people, who preserve a 
life known to their ancestors. Being far from any town of considerable size, many things taken for 
granted by much of the world have overlooked this community. Running water, inside restrooms and 
cable television are such examples, with the first two being added only in recent years. Yet, families 
like the Spark's, Casady's and Mrs. Haynes overlook such conveniences. Those things are irrelevant 
to their way of life. These families share with many longtime residents of the town, in taking life 
as it comes, not worrying about tomorrow.

This is not, by any means, to say that Graysville's people aren't caught up with the rest of the 
world in life, but probably that they have been lucky enough to see it differently.

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Life As A Milliner

"To be a milliner, one must be able to visualize," these are the words of Jeanette Underhill. Jeanette 
(Jack) Underhill was definitely born with this gift. In her opinion, to be able to visualize and 
use your imagination is a must in the milliner trade. Each hat has to be an original creation with 
its own style, personality, and adaptability to the wearer.

Jeanette was born in Edina, Missouri, on March 20, 1890. She is the daughter of John C. and Elizabeth 
Jack. Her father was a rancher on a large stock farm near Edina for 32 years. He later moved to the 
Kirksville area, where he was hired as head of maintenance at what is now the Northeast Missouri 
State University.

In the early 1900's, when Jeanette was about 10 years old, she and her family moved to the Kirksville 
area. She became interested in the millinery as a young girl. During recess, Jeanette relates that 
she would go to the "girls side" of the

[photo captain] The photographs above show Jeanette modeling the hats that her skillful fingers 
created.

playground and make hats from the leaves and twigs growing on nearby shade trees. Her creativity and 
dexterity were evident at an early age.

Jeanette began her living making hats during the Edwardian period. The hats of this time were 
always elaborately trimmed, especially in the summer, when flowers, lace, tulle, chenille, and 
feathers might all form a decoration for one single hat.

A milliner has to keep up with the styles of the times because in this trade, the styles seem to 
change every year. The hats complimented and completed the high-necked, beautifully detailed long 
gowns of this time. For example, during the 1940's, World War II period, skirts were short and 
hats were small, often decorated with sequins and net. Styles

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change with the times, adapting to the way of life.

She learned her trade from Mrs. Hastings, Mrs. Witherford, and Mrs. Laura Underhill George 
Underhill and his wife, Laura, were the proprietors of Underhill's Ready To Wear and Millinery 
Store. The business was located on the west side of the square in downtown Kirksville. Jeanette 
took classes under Laura Underhill and later went to work for the Underhills. Jeanette also met 
her future husband, Garnett, who was the son of George and Laura Underhill.

In the early 1900's, before going to work for the Underhills, Jeanette was in business with her 
sisters, Letha and Geneva. Together they ran the Jack Sisters Novelty Store, where they sold 
such specialities as fine china.

Jeanette and Garnett were married on August 20, 1916, by Rufus D. S. Putney, rector of the Trinity 
Episcopal Church. They later had one child, Mrs. Ralph (Jolean) Pink. Jeanette and Garnett took 
over the Ready To Wear when Garnett's parents retired. It was located in the building where Four 
Seasons Sports is now operating.

The Underhills owned over 17 houses at one time in the Kirksville area. Many were located in the 
vicinity of the 500 block of South Franklin Street.

Jeanette and Garnett Underhill retired in 1971. Garnett passed away soon after retirement.

Mrs. Underhill now resides in a private room at the Kirksville Manor Care Center. She has been a 
resident there for seven years. Jeanette's skillful fingers have created many, many examples of 
exquisite needlework. She is a lovely lady with a quiet, gracious manner. Many people enjoy 
conversing with her.

The Underhill family played an important part in the development of the city of Kirksville. Jeanette 
is 92 years old, but she is still young at heart.

By Pam Anderson
Jeannie Croarkin
Alicia Troester

[photo caption] Photo above: This is Jeanette today, living a peaceful life at Manor Care. Photo below: 
This is Garnett and Jeanette's first home. It is located in the 500 block of South Franklin Street 
in Kirksville.

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A Personal Politician

Even the best of politicians hesitate sometimes. In silence they sat behind the perfectly built turkey 
blind, as they patiently awaited the sight of a turkey. "Shag" Grossnickle was in charge of the 
calling of turkeys and W. O. Mackie had the honor of holding the shotgun. "Shag" first sighted the 
seven turkeys and then nudged Mackie. W. O. turning with the shotgun sat in awe  -  losing all thought 
of triggering the shotgun. When he recovered from the first impact of the sight of the beautiful 
birds, he fired but did not hit his target. Senator W. O. Mackie did not, however, hesitate when it 
came to the welfare of his people.

William Oren Mackie was born on April 3, 1898, in Mt. Ayer, Iowa. He was born the son of Ella Mae 
Mackie and W. O. Mackie. Until the age of 4, he lived in Mt. Ayer, Iowa. His family then moved to 
the town of Mt. Moriah in Harrison County. He moved to Kirksville in the fall of 1914 after 
completing grade school and one year of high school in Mt. Moriah. W. O. then attended Northeast 
Missouri State University, which was then known as the Normal School, during the terms of 1914 and 
1915. In the following year, W. O. taught at the Stinson School, west of Kirksville. He then 
enrolled in the Kirksville Senior High School, graduating with the class of 1918. On June 20, 1920, 
William Orin Mackie married Mabel Harlan from Chariton County, in Missouri.

In 1920 W. O. opened a clothing store in Keytesville, Missouri, and operated it for five years. 
After returning to Kirksville in 1925, Mackie traveled for three years for a wholesale grocery 
company. In 1928 he joined with the Missouri Stores Company, which was starting a chain of grocery 
stores in northern Missouri.
W. O. bought the assets of the Missouri Stores Company in 1933. At this time, the company had 23 
stores in operation. Some of the stores were known as Mackie's Markets later changed to Mackie and 
William's. For 40 years he operated stores in northern Missouri and southern Iowa.

"I don't know anybody 84 years old who has a more vital interest in government, politics, money or 
people than W. O. Mackie. He started poor - he manages his resources well. His judgment is sound and 
reliable, his sense of humor is un-matched by any person within my acquaintance," stated Russell 
Roberts.

In 1956 William Oren Mackie was elected to the office of

[photo captions] Photo above: Senator Mackie with Mabel, his wife of 62 years. Photo left: 
W. O. Mackie on his 80 birthday, as active as ever.

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state representative of Adair County. After serving one two-year term as a state representative, 
he decided to run for the state senate. In 1958 he was elected to the state senate where he served 
two four-year terms. When asked why he ran for the offices, W. O. off-handedly replied, "Some of 
my Democratic friends talked me into it."

'Shag' Grossnickle comments, "I was always particularily impressed with W. O. Mackie's desire to 
help people while he was in the legislature, both as a Representative and as a senator. He was 
always eager to go out of his way and do what he could for people when they needed assistance. He 
drew no line. He would help people, especially the ones less fortunate, with eagerness."

W. O. built and was half-owner of the Highway Lumber Company, which is now operated as the McFarland 
and Jones Lumber Company. He also built and was half-owner of the Northtown Shopping Center. Mackie 
was president of Chamber of the Commerce, the Rotary Club, Shrine Club, and the Northeast Missouri 
Fair Association.

Mackie has always been active in many civic projects in Kirksville. He was chairman of the drive 
to sell the stock for the Kirksville Industrial Developmental Corporation (KIDC) and helped to 
promote the passage of a $575,000 bond to buy the land and build the dam on Forest Lake at 
Thousand Hills State Park.

W. O. downplayed his part in the project saying, "Without the help of Governor Smith and the 
kindness of the heirs of Dr. George Laughlin's estate, we would not have had a state Park."

[photo caption] Photos above: Mr. Mackie, the fisherman. At one of his favorite fishing spots, Lake 
Ontario, he shows off his prize catches.

However, business and holding office never caused him to give up the opportunity to go hunting. 
He has always fished on the Chariton River, in different lakes around the area, and in Canada. 
He hunts quail, turkeys, and ducks. Senator Mackie worked with with several people in the 1960's 
to restock wild turkeys in Adair County. Alan Brohn, who was the biologist for the state of Missouri 
at the time, did not think that the turkeys would do well in our area. The reason for this being 
that we do not have enough timberline for the the birds to survive. The turkeys did exceptionally 
well due to the fact that there is an abundance of corn and beans in the northeast Missouri area. 
They started with 14 hens and 9 toms and as a result, all of northeast Missouri now has an abundance 
of the birds.

Although W. O. is now retired, he has had many accomplishments. He succeeded in business, he was a 
senator and a representative, and has a family. W. O. has two children, Maxine Farrar of Braymer 
and William E. Mackie of Austin, Texas. He presently has five grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren. W. O. Mackie is a contributor to the northeast Missouri area, and will 
continue to play a key role in community life.

By Lorinda Scott
Carrie Stone

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Water Under The Bridge

Photos courtesy of Kenny Weber

In the shadow of the Chariton River Bridge at Yarrow stood a landmark in Northeast Missouri folklore, 
the Yarrow mill. Some nine or ten miles southwest of Kirksville, the mill served the farmers of 
the district for 90 years grinding grain, ripping logs into lumber, carding wool, and later 
furnishing electricity for the town of Yarrow. In actuality there were two mill houses, the 
original being destroyed by an ice flow in 1874. John Domey was the first owner of the mill and a 
nearby store from 1851 to 1856 when he sold it to Doctor Johns, who was the proprietor until 1861. 
By this time the town of Yarrow was beginning to thrive and a post office was set up in a portion 
of the store, which was owned by George Miller. Doctor Johns operated the mill until he sold it to 
John Williams, who ran it until 1890. It was during Williams' term of ownership that the original 
mill house was broken up and swept downstream by the unwielding Chariton current. Work on the mill 
began the next year, 1875, but was not finished until the summer of 1876.

Michael Weber, an immigrant from Alsace-Lorraine, France, as a child came to America with his family. 
He bought the mill and equipment in 1890. Weber is the most remembered owner, partly because he owned 
it so long and partly because he brought national attention to the mill and surrounding community of 
Yarrow.

With his knack for understanding scientific innovations he 

[photo caption] Photo above: This was the earliest photo of the location that could be found. It was 
taken before 1900.

bought and installed an electric generator in Yarrow in 1910. This generator furnished electricity 
to the stores and house-holds of Yarrow from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at a rate of 1 cent per light in 
each house per night. This wasn't an extravagant fee considering that most households had only one 
light.

In order to let the people know that the power was going to be shut off for the night the operator 
would dim the lights to inform the people that they only had ten minutes of power left to finish 
whatever they were doing.

The brake for the stopping of the mill machinery was a large fence post which was pressed against the 
flywheel. The mill ground thousands of bushels of corn, wheat, and barley, but very few of the people 
who had grain ground could pay for it. So the miller took one eighth of the total bushels ground for 
payment but only mills run by water could do this because other mills run by steam and gas extracted 
one sixth because of the higher operating costs.

Weber's mill was unique in the fact that it was the only mill in Northeast Missouri equipped with 
machinery to extract burrs from barley.

Grinding grain and generating electricity weren't the only

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uses of the mill, because it also carded wool into great fluffy piles that gathered in storage 
areas in the mill.

A sawmill was operated in the immediate proximity of the mill. It provided boards for the growing 
community of Yarrow, and railroad ties for the Iowa and St. Louis line. Most importantly, it provided 
props for the mines up river in Novinger, Stahl and also Connelsville.

The mill proved to be the meeting place as well as part of the economic lifeline of the village. 
People dancing there on the starry nights of autumn weren't an uncommon sight. Also, men gathered 
there to swap ideas and talk about the latest news. They talked about subjects ranging from the 
Spanish-American War to the Great Depression.

Michael Weber died in May of 1936, leaving the mill to be operated by his children. A mechanical 
failure caused the mill to be closed permanently in June, 1937, a little more than a year after 
Michael's death. The morning of March 3, 1941, marked the final end of Weber's mill, for at about 
3 a.m., an ice flow on the Chariton weakened the supporting southwest column, allowing the mill 
to drop half of its structure into the icy waters of the river.

So ended 90 years of history. The remaining part of the mill was left to fall into or be washed 
away by the Chariton. The equipment had been removed before the mill fell in, and now some of the 
equipment still remains in private collections. All that remains of the mill today is a cleared 
spot and a few cement pieces of the foundation and the dam. The dam was removed in 1951 when the 
Army Corps of Engineers straightened the river.

For many people the memory of the mill will be remembered in a fond way. Although the mill is gone 
forever the towns of Yarrow, Novinger, Stahl, and Connelsville will never forget the good deeds it 
did for them and other people of the area.

[photo caption] Top photo: Front view of Weber's Mill which sat on the west side of Iowa and St. Louis 
railroad tracks. Center photo: This photo shows the mill, dam and the bridge as it looked in 1920. 
Bottom photo: This photo was taken the day after the mill fell into the liver, March 3, 1941.

By Rich Anderson
Gary England

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The Chariton Liberty Tree

[photo caption] The Liberty Tree located on Clifford Scriven's farm is more than 200 years old. This 
picture, taken more than 50 feet away, shows the immense size of the tree.

By Mark McIntyre and Al Lewis

It is difficult for most people to realize just how important trees have been to the development of 
our country. Wood was our first fuel source. Crude cabins constructed of logs supplied many a 
settler with shelter from the elements. Cut wood has been used for everything from railroad ties to 
framing for modern homes. Wood pulp is an important part of everyday life as it provides such 
necessities as paper and cardboard. One tree in Boston, Massachusetts, is even a national monument.

This is the historic Liberty Tree; a symbol of the brave resistance to the English Tyranny. This 
inspired the planners of our 1976 Bicentennial Celebration to include trees as part of our nation's 
heritage. The planners then drafted a plan that would stress the importance of every tree; but 
would also give special recognition to trees that were 200 years old. They then urged each state 
to look for trees that would meet the age requirements. Such trees would then be designated with 
the official title of "Liberty Tree" of the Bicentennial Celebration.

Each state then asked its counties to search for trees that might meet the age requirement. Any 
such tree would then be tested for its age by a representative of the State Forester's Office. 
This task was simplified by the fact that all tree species don't live past 200 years. Any tree 
that could live beyond 200 years would then have its diameter measured. Each type of tree has an 
average growth rate. The tester then multiplied the diameter by the growth rate. If the result was 
greater than or equal to the average accepted value, the tree was considered to be 200 years old.

Adair County was fortunate enough to find two such trees; one located in Kirksville and the other 
near Novinger. The tree that we are concerned with is located near Novinger on the farm of Clifford 
Scrivens; just up the hill from the east bank of the Chariton River.

Mr. Scrivens' tree is a Chinkapin Oak. It is around 100 feet high and has a circumference of about 
60 inches. Clifford's tree was 200 years of age in 1976 and is 206 years old now. He received a 
certificate that honored his tree's historic age, which is considered to be one of the oldest in 
our state.

The fervor of our Bicentennial Celebration and the history of our great nation has been recorded in 
history books, for all to study and to learn. But history has a way of overlooking the little 
things that make the major events possible. So next time you are driving through the country, stop 
and admire the trees along the way. Remember how important the common tree has been to our daily 
lives and its part in our history.

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Follow The Green Line

By Mindy Upton

FOLLOW THE GREEN LINE ... This may be the slogan for his business, but it's also a principle he 
has followed throughout his life; because for 50 years Ruby has been engaged in the agricultural 
business.

In his early years, Ruby held two jobs. He taught in country schools in both Sullivan and Adair 
counties and also worked for Stamper's Feed Company. Ruby taught school for three years, first 
at the Rye Creek School near Novinger and then at the Chapel North School north of Green City. 
Ruby quit teaching because $80 a month wasn't enough to get married on. "I liked teaching, it 
was a lot of fun," said Ruby.

In 1931, while working at Stamper's, Ruby was led to believe that he would become the manager of 
the unit in this area after the man who had been running it retired. When the time came, Stamper's 
thought Ruby might be a little young for so much responsibility and, instead, hired a man who had 
had more experience in the field. "I resented it, so I quit," Ruby said.

On July 5, 1931, Ruby opened the Ruby Green Produce Store; which was located on North Elson Street 
in the building which is currently Too Tail's Old Place. Even though Ruby opened his produce store 
in the middle of the depression, business was good. "There was a lot of business during the 
depression," Ruby said. "We were in the egg, poultry, and feed business at that time, and most 
every farmer had a flock of chickens and usually the proceeds from the chickens bought his groceries."

During the years of the Great Depression, Ruby's business increased every year. This was because the 
store didn't believe that its customers would have a lot to spend, so the store retained only a modest 
inventory of basic goods. Ruby said, "You understand that when you start from nothing, everything is an 
increase." Therefore, net profits didn't increase during this time, but there was gross volume increase 
in business.

The Produce Store sold a variety of goods ranging from poultry and eggs to furs and hides. The store 
purchased its produce from farmers. When people butchered their own beef, the Produce Store bought 
the beef hides. Ruby also purchased a variety of furs including skunk, opossum, raccoon, muskrat, 
and mink. Most of the furs came from farm youngsters who hunted and trapped. During that time furs 
ranged in price from 50 cents for an opossum hide to $3 for mink. Ruby also purchased wool from 
farmers within Adair County.

The Produce Store remained in operation until Ruby sold out in 1964 and focused strictly on the 
seed business. When asked why he went out of the produce business and opened the Ruby Green Seed 
House, Inc. Ruby replied, "I've wondered about that many times and it may seem funny to you, but 
I think it was the opportunity to sell out and finally have enough money to buy a suit of clothes 
without worrying about having money for my business."

During his 50 years of business, Ruby has had good years but he's also had bad years. The worst 
years for Ruby were 1932 and 1937. The Produce Store failed financially both years for several 
reasons. In 1932 they shipped poultry to New York and lost money in the process. In 1937 they 
bought flour, hoping the price would go up, but it went down instead.

Weather and market conditions determined the best years from the standpoint of profit. The 
length of the seeding season also has a great deal to do with the amount of profit brought in. 
Ruby said that his best year for profits was in 1974.

Ruby has had two grain elevators in Kirksville since the begining of the Seed House. The first 
one is the elevator still in use today, located on the north side of Elson Street near First 
Street. The second is where the M.F.A. is now.

Soybeans are Ruby's biggest single sale. The first car of soybeans was shipped out in 1939 and 
by 1945 he had shipped out 175 cars. Most of Ruby's business is conducted within a 100-mile 
radius of Kirksville. "That is the economical area for us to work," Ruby said. "The bulk of our 
business is within this area."

"We change as conditions change and requirements change," said Ruby. The biggest change in the 
past 50 years was the development of hybrid seed corn. It took the experimenting out of the 
farmers' hands and put it into the hands of big companies that were able to do the research and 
blend the breeds of corn in a way that produces good seed corn.

Ruby is now making a substantial addition to the cleaning capacity of the seed house. These 
improvements will double the capacity for cleaning seed. "The seed business will change, but it 
will still be a solid business," Ruby said. "We'll progress with the changes."

Photo below: Ruby Green, who has been in the agricultural business for over 50 years.

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Scenes from the Past

By Al Lewis and Mark McIntyre

Pictured in the top left photo is the present day bridge over the Chariton River at Yarrow, 
Missouri. This photo was taken in 1960 just after completion. The bridge was built on the same 
location as the old bridge. The old bridge fell in when a heavily loaded truck attempted to cross 
it. The old log cabin in the top right photo was located on a hill east of Yarrow, Missouri. It was 
assumed the cabin was built prior to 1850. Below left: A view of Yarrow, Missouri looking south. 
This photo was taken in the 1890's before the railroad was built. Below right: The Weber Mill, at 
Yarrow, Missouri, about 1895. Eventually the Iowa & St. Louis Railway would build their main line 
near the front of the mill.

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Photos courtesy of Kenny Weber

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The Passing of an Era

Who says cowboys are only found in Texas and roaming the prairie? Cowboys are found right here 
in our own area. Estille Edward Thomas, better known to his friends as Cowboy Thomas, or Tommy, 
has drawn world attention as a cowboy. He was the youngest of three children born to Joseph Benjamin 
and Lusetta Barnett Thomas on April 6, 1886 near Lancaster, on the Missouri-Iowa state line. His 
mother died when he was less than four years old. Later, his father married Georgia Folly Coe, who 
was from the Novelty area.

Because Tommy lived near Lancaster, he, along with the whole town, was aware of William P. Hall's 
wintering headquarters in Lancaster. Hall provided him with his first job; it was Tommy's duty to 
carry feed and water to the wintering animals. At this early age, Tommy developed his life long 
love for horses, and it was even said Tommy thought like a horse.

In the year 1900, Lou Hall took Tommy and Tommy's 16 year old brother, Orville, to New York with a 
herd of horses. Part of these horses were on order for London, while the rest were to go to Capetown, 
South Africa, to be used in the Boer War. After the delivery to Capetown, Hall returned with wild 
African animals which were sold to several famous circuses. Orville was on his way to go with the 
horses to London, and it was Lou's wish that Tommy accompany Lou to Africa. But Tommy turned him 
down saying, "That was too much water to travel over. I don't like water. Never learned to swim 
and I didn't like the thought of being in the middle of the ocean with a lot of lions and tigers. 
It just didn't appeal to me."

It was at this age Tommy showed signs that he was destined to be a man of the outdoors. In the 
early 1900's Orville went to work on the railroad, and soon learned to be a telegraph operator. 
He was stationed in Maxwell, Nebraska. Tommy thought he, too, would like to learn the trade. The 
pay was good, fifty dollars a month, but Tommy didn't like being shut up in a little room all day.

Soon after this, Tommy took a job at a nearby cattle ranch. Being the youngest and least experienced 
hand, he acquired the name of "kid operator." But no sooner had he received this unfitting name than 
he proved to the crew that he meant business. On the second morning of his new job, the 
cocky-looking boy was led into the corral. The boss challenged Tommy to prove any ability he might 
have at breaking horses. "I knew right then, the boss was trying to dump me. All were standing around 
to see me get bucked off. While a couple of the crew held the reins and the horse steady, I proceeded 
to saddle up. When I finished I took the cheek strap in my left hand, and pulled his head to me 
as I mounted, and got my feet planted in the stirrups. He made a couple of straight leaps, and since 
he wasn't very big, I thought I'd make it look good, so I took off my hand and started fanning him 
all over. I kept spurring and fanning him till he raised his head and stood still. I then rode over 
to where the boys were standing and dismounted. I kicked the horse in the belly and said, 'damned 
knot head couldn't buck off a wet saddle blanket.' From then on, they never tried to trick me, and 
stopped calling me 'kid'."

Tommy returned to Missouri a few years later, married Altha Wardlow and was blessed with two boys 
and four girls. He set up residence with his family near Lancaster and farmed; but wasn't content 
at this, so in 1927, Tommy moved his family to Ardmore, South Dakota. He sent his two sons, Charles 
and Dick, by immigrant car, and the rest of the family came in a Model-T Ford. Their new farm was 
located near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Tommy spent one year farming and the rest of his 
time rounding up wild horses and selling them to Eastern dealers.

Tommy said that one day when he was in town, the talk was of an upcoming horse race. It was a short 
race from the west side of the reservation to the city limits of Olrich, about 15 miles. "I think 
the purse was something like $500. I had a horse that I was sure could win hands down. The horse's 
name was Rex McDonald, which was half thoroughbred and half Percheron. Immediately the racers started 
training. But hell, old Rex had plenty of training; sometimes forty miles a day." Tommy used Rex to 
round up the wild mustangs. Since Tommy was so sure of Rex he decided to place bets like everyone 
else. He had only one problem; he had no money to bet. He decided to go to the bank for a loan. When 
the banker heard his purpose for borrowing the money he said it was against the bank's policy to loan 
money for gambling. "Now I knew that was a lot of nonsense because they loaned money to farmers all 
the time and farming in South Dakota was the biggest damn gamble anyone could take." Finally the 
banker agreed to loan Tommy $300 from his own personal account, with 10 percent interest, of course. 
The next day Rex had the day off to rest for the following day's race. The day of the race Charles 
was selected to ride Rex, since he was lightweight, and could still manuever a horse well. Tommy 
gave Charles some last minute pointers, and then the race was on. Now, all

[photo captain] Photo below shows Tommy with a stallion. This prize horse, owned by Leonard Louis 
Lancaster, was riden by Tommy during parades.

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[photo captain] Photo above: Tommy displays his horsemanship.

Tommy could do was wait and see if Rex would come through. "We waited for what seemed like forever," 
Tommy said. "Dick stood with me, and my wife sat on the running board on the Model-T. Finally, a man 
pulled up in a car and said the horses were about six miles away. The tension began to rise, and the 
crowd started to shift toward the finish line. A minute or so later a cloud of dust was spotted coming 
over the hill, and it was Rex. It was five minutes before another horse was even seen, so Charles 
slowed Rex down to a slow walk when he crossed the finish line. The first thing Charles said was, "I 
lost my hat back there somewhere." But Tommy said he would buy him another hat. Ironically, on the way 
home that eight they found Charles' hat. Now he had two hats: an old one and a new one. The prize money 
couldn't have come at a better time. Tommy bought a ranch in Ardmore, Oklahoma for $3,000 and still had 
a tidy sum left.

Now Tommy and his family set up residence, farming and selling wild horses. Tommy commented, "This 
land was never really made for farming, just grazing horses." But one day George V. Adams, or Vic as 
he was called, met Tommy and was in need of wild horses for a rodeo he was putting together back East. 
Tommy told Vic they could purchase horses from the Montana Indians cheap and finally an agreement was 
reached. For three to four dollars a head, Vic purchased 165 horses. Now they had the horses, so the only 
thing left to do was drive them to Iowa. Early one morning George, his wife Vivian, Tommy, and his two boys 
started out on the "would* be" adventurous trail drive. Vivian drove the buggy, the boys rode with the herd, 
and the men rode up ahead to scout the land. Tommy said, "It seemed the farther we went the more 
it rained. And after the rain, the mosquitoes got fierce, there were swarms of the damn things."

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About mid-summer they came to the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota and spent the afternoon 
looking for a suitable place to cross. They found a ferry dock and a man that owned a flat bed ferry. 
His rates were a dollar a head for any kind of livestock. They tried to get him to give them a 
discount, since there were so many horses, but he wouldn't knock off one cent. That was nearly half 
what some of the horses were worth, and they couldn't afford it anyway. So now the only thing left 
to do was swim the horses across. About a mile and a half down the river was a break in the cliffs, 
so this was the assigned place to cross. Charles had to paddle a boat since he couldn't swim, Walt 
and Tommy guided the herd from horseback. The horses were hesitant at first but when they heard the 
shouting and hollering, they ventured into and finally across the river. Vic had made plans to pay a 
dollar and have the buggy, the cooking utensils, and guns sent over on the ferry. The conductor and 
Vic sat alone on the flat boat as they made the trip across the river. Vic sat forlornly, and all 
this time the man kept trying to strike up a conversation. Finally he said, with a smirk on his 
face, "Too bad you had to leave the horses behind since you couldn't raise the money." But Vic 
obliterated the man's smirking face with this comment, "You mean all my horses? Hell, they're already 
over there. The rest of the outfit and the entire 165 head are waiting for me about a mile 
downstream. I just didn't want to risk getting the guns wet so I spent a dollar." Then Vic took off 
his hat and showed him all his teeth. Vic later told Tommy, "I could have knocked his eye balls out 
with a stick." After passing and surviving this barrier, the trip into Iowa was fairly easy going. 
When they arrived in Iowa, these horses became the backbone of the first traveling rodeo in the 
United States, known as the George V. Adams Traveling Rodeo. Tommy worked in this rodeo and it was 
in this rodeo he acquired his famous trait of riding Roman style. This feat required standing up, 
balancing yourself on two horses, and riding them around the arena.

In 1948 Tommy moved back to the area and took up residence on a ranch which was known as Cowboy 
Corner. It was located between Memphis and Baring at the junction of Highway 15 and Route W, 
which leads to Rutledge. His purpose may have been to "retire," but retire isn't really the word 
for it. Once back in the area, Tommy acquired the name of Cowboy Thomas. His neighbors called him 
this as a result of his using horses to help them move and corral cattle. In his earlier years in 
the rodeo Cowboy was known as "Wild Horse Thomas." While in his retirement years Tommy worked 
constantly with horses and raising cattle.

Vic later told Tommy, "I could have knocked his eye balls out with a stick."

A parade or rodeo didn't seem as entertaining without Tommy leading the way. He now began traveling 
to the surrounding towns for this purpose. It has been said that the old seasoned cowboy could 
make the young greenhorn cowboys blush in their tracks. But Tommy wasn't out for praise or position. 
Rather, he liked to take pride in his story-telling of the old days when he was young.

On April 6, 1981, for Tommy's 95th birthday, he was once again seated on one of his horses. The 
amazing sentiment was that he was seated in one of his earlier bucking saddles, which had been 
restored in every detail. But the cowboy's days were numbered. This old cowboy had led the kind of 
colorful life millions only dream of, or see in western movies. But on October 25, 1981, Estille 
Edward (Cowboy) Thomas was peacefully taken from this life and on to his reward. The funeral

[photo caption} During his horse drive, Tommy helps to move 165 head of horses across the Missouri 
River at Chamberlain, South Dakota. These horses were later the backbone of the first traveling 
rodeo in the United States.

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Story by Bobby Poston

arrangement and procession were quite fitting for Tommy. Cowboy's body was delivered to and from 
the funeral home by a wagon drawn by two sorrel mules. This procession was escorted by many mounted 
riders, and a multitude of friends and associates of Tommy. Inside the funeral home, a pair of 
Tommy's old boots made up one of the many potted flower arrangements. His newly restored saddle sat 
idle at the foot of the casket. Several other western artifacts were present; and all contributed to 
a western setting.

Cowboy's daughter, Leona Drake, of rural Baring, commented that the death of her father ... "marked 
the passing of an era." Truer words were never spoken. For several years until his death, Cowboy 
lived with Leona. During his life he was living history, but even now, after his death, this same 
history lives on. Hardly a story that is told among his friends fails to include, " ... and remember 
the time Tommy and all of us ...". With memories that burn this strong, whose memory could die? The 
seasoned figure of a cowboy, the West carved Tommy into this living legacy.

MEMORIAL 
ESTILLE E. "COWBOY" THOMAS 
April 6, 1886 - October 22, 1981

PLACE AND TIME OF SERVICES 
Norman Funeral Chapel 
Lancaster, Missouri 
Sunday, October 25, 1981 -2:00 p.m.

CLERGYMAN
Rev. Roy Starbuck

MUSIC 
Don Robb 
Bob Welsh 
Margie Tippett 
Mrs. Julia Mollick, Organist

PALLBEARERS
Paul Welsh 
Sam Hurliman 
Lowell Saner
Charles Ballew 
Jim Shaw 
Warren Gardine

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Arnold Barber 
Vic Adams
Vic Perry 
Monroe Veatch
Burrell Snyder 
Everett Smyser

INTERMENT
I.O.O.F. Cemetery
Lancaster, Missouri

[photo caption] Residents of Lancaster mourn Cowboy Thomas as his funeral procession passes by. 
Inside the funeral home were articles from his western past, such as a saddle, cowboy boots, and 
a horse drawn wagon was used to carry his body.

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CAROUSEL HORSES

What is the first amusement park ride you rode on? For many of us it was a horse on a carousel. As 
children, most of us fell in love with these lifeless animals, but as we grew older we lost interest 
in the merry-go-round and its horses. However, there are still a few people like Harold Baker who 
care about the carousel horses.

Harold first started collecting carousel horses and many other American antiques about 25 years ago. 
When he started, there were only 12 collectors in the United States, today there are more than 
3,500. Since his collection started it has grown to approximately 35 horses. His oldest horse dates 
back to 1876 and has never been restored. "I just never had the heart to restore him," Harold said. 
Most of his horses were carved from 1900 to 1930 when the carousel horse was in its prime. Most 
horses are of bass and linden wood and were carved by European immigrants.

Have you ever wondered why a carousel horse's head faces to the right? The reason is the American 
carousel spins counter-clockwise, therefore, the right side is seen more than the left side. The 
right side also is referred to as the romance side; it has fake jewels on it to make it look more 
attractive to someone who might want to ride it. You can tell an American horse from an English 
horse by the way the head is turned (the English carousel spins clockwise).

Because he likes to carve, Harold doesn't collect the newer horses, made of fiberglass. In the 
early days of carousels all horses were made of wood. From 1927 to 1930 the wooden horses were phased 
out because they were hard to maintain due to the Great Depression. So the manufacturers of the 
lifeless animals made iron horses, which weren't successful because they felt cold to riders. A few 
people were even killed when the horses they were sitting on were struck by lightning. After this, 
the manufacturers tried putting rubber saddles on these horses. This didn't work either, because 
of the wear and tear on the rubber material. Today all carousel horses are made of fiberglass 
because fiberglass is easy to maintain. But Mr. Baker doesn't collect the fiberglass or iron horses.

Harold takes great pride in his restorations. The legs and ears are the parts of the horse that most 
often need replacing. The legs will break or rot and the ears are easily broken off. Most of the 
horses he gets are in disrepair; sometimes a leg will have been nailed together because this was 
cheaper than making a new leg. Almost always the ears are broken off; Harold remedies this by carving 
a new ear or ears out of bass or linden wood. The ears are especially hard to carve because of their 
small size. The first thing Harold does to restore these creatures is remove all paint with a propane 
torch, a putty knife, and a wire brush. Some of the horses have up to 40 coats of paint on them. After 
the paint is removed, Harold takes the horses apart down to the frame. He replaces broken parts and 
injects the rotted places with "Penta," a preservative and diesel fuel; this prevents further corrosion. 
When he has the frame the way he wants it, he puts the body and legs back on. After the glue dries, 
Harold paints the entire horse. It takes Harold about two weeks to do a restoration, if he works 
steadily.

Mr. Baker considers each horse to have its own personality and considers the carousel horse to be 
one of the earliest forms of American folk art. He mentioned he would have liked to have seen what 
each horse has gone through and where it has been.

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By Ken Thomas
Mark Wray

Harold considers his carousel horse collection and restoration a hobby. He says he can't do the 
same thing to long; he'll work on a horse for a while and then he'll do something else. Harold 
says, "Restoring the horse is just something I like to do, but I do get tired of it sometimes."

He won't sell a horse, but he may trade to get a horse he doesn't have. Always looking for 
another horse, he travels all over the country. He particularly likes the Southwest and he 
especially likes New Orleans, Louisiana. He usually finds about one or two horses a year.

Mr. Baker doesn't limit himself to the collection of just carousel horses; he also collects 
assorted and various antiques. He lives on a Christmas tree farm and that keeps him busy most of 
the day. He's used to being busy; he operated Baker Sign Company for 42 years which explains why 
he can paint so well. He continues to use his painting talents to paint pictures of carousel horses 
on velvet. He also has in his possession a 1914 Wurlitzer Band Organ which he calls his "Pink 
Lemonade Machine." It plays eight songs on a roll which lasts about an hour.

Harold sees something unique in everything. He also has the skill to make something that looks 
like junk to you or me into something of beauty. Harold Baker is truly a remarkable man.

[photo caption] Photo below: A completely restored horse shown from the romance side in Mr. 
Baker's home.

[photo caption] Top photo: Harold and his restored barber pole in front of the workshop. Bottom 
photo shows Mr. Baker's Wurlitzer Band Organ.

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Who Was J. R.?

By Matt Dodson

Who was J.R.? Where did he come from? What did he do? Where is he now? Although many people, I will 
venture to say even a majority, will contend that J.R. is a calloused oil tycoon named Ewing on 
the TV show "Dallas."

This would be true in a ficticious sense; however this story is concerned with the identity of 
John R. Dodson who was the great-great-great-grandfather of this writer.

John R. Dodson was born December 22, 1792 in Wayne Co., Kentucky. His direct lineage was John Dodson 
shown by the annals of Virginia as a settler in the Jamestown colony in 1632; Charles Dodson, Sr., 
born in Richmond Co., Virginia approximately 1649 and died 1705; Thomas Dodson, born 1681 in 
Richmond County and died 1740; and George Dodson, Sr., born 1702, died in Pittsylvania County, 
Virginia; and George Dodson, Jr., born 1737, died 1825, who fought with the Pittsylvania County 
militia during the Revolutionary War and signed the Pittsylvania petition according to Gwathmey's 
Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution. Thomas Dodson, born in 1767 in Patrick County, 
Virginia, and moved in 1791 to Wayne County, Kentucky was J.R.'s father. Thomas Dodson was a Baptist 
preacher, a miller and a blacksmith.

In 1812 when John R. was 20 and his brother George was 23, they enlisted with the famous Kentucky 
Riflemen who during the War of 1812 went to New Orleans where, with General Andrew Jackson, they 
proved to be such a living wall of fire to the British. The war continued into October 1813 when 
John R. fought in the Battle of the Thames with a company of Wayne County men under Capt. Micah Taul.

In Wayne County, Kentucky, August 25, 1916, J.R. married Sarah Burnett who traced her ancestry 
through the Mayo family to Pocahontas of Indian fame. Near Monticello, Kentucky their 11 sons and 
1 daughter were born. They were James, 1817; Isham B., 1818; Simeon W., 1820; Thomas, 1823; George, 
1825; Jemima, 1827; Obadiah, 1828; Marcus M., 1831; John Ezra, 1833; Job, 1836; Francis M., 1838; 
and Socrates R., 1840. Job Dodson was the great-great grandfather of the writer.

Now it is not known for sure why J.R. moved his family to Missouri in 1841. But it was not because of 
Horace Greeley's advice to "Go West, Young Man" as this advice wouldn't be given for many years. 
Several of J.R.'s sons saw service during that war, some in the Union Army and some in the Rebel Army.

We can assume that since it was the custom in those days, J.R. may have received a land grant as a 
stipend for military service rendered. At any rate it is listed as several hundred acres with Adair 
County Abstract Co. and it was located south of Highway 11, west to and including some of Sugar Creek 
State Park and bordering Kirksville on the southwest corner. This included the farm house now occupied 
by Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Denslow's Thousand Hills Farm.

John R.'s father, Thomas, as we mentioned, was a preacher, a miller and a blacksmith; probably J.R. 
inherited some of that knowledge. One could imagine he said some prayers on the trip and especially 
when getting his wife and children across the Mississippi. Some blacksmithing was no doubt required 
to keep them wagons rollin'. It is not known at least by this writer but, to raise that number of 
children to adulthood in those days when the mortality rate was so high among infants, J.R. and 
his wife both must have known "a heap about doctorin', nursin', shootin', and trappin' varmits" 
for food and clothing. They probably even knew something about farming. Several shoe lasts with 
a sign saying "Dodson the Cobbler" were discovered in an attic of the Denslow house.

At this point, it needs to be mentioned that most of J.R.'s sons played some role in the history of 
Adair, Sullivan, and Putnam counties. P.M. Dodson, born September 9, 1852, son of Simeon W. and 
Rosana (Stukey) Dodson, and grandson of J.R., was born on a farm five miles south of Kirksville and 
farmed until 1898 when he sold his farm and moved to Kirksville. There he was in the livery business 
for three years before he went into real estate. In 1911, when the Violette history was published, 
he was still in that business. His office was over the McKeehan Drug Store. He was a democrat and a 
member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

[photo caption] Photograph below: A portrait of Francis Marion Dodson at the age of 26, with his 
sister Mary, age 19. The picture was taken in 1892.

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[illustration]
Matt Dodson
Ed Dodson
George O. Dodson
Francis M. Dodson
Job Dodson
J.R.
DODSON

Eli B. Dodson, son of James and Matilda (Kanatsa) Dodson and grandson of J.R., was born November
 6, 1858, on the old Dodson homestead one mile southwest of Kirksville. The farm owned by Eli 
consisted of 373 acres and joined the southwest corner of the corporation of Kirksville.

On May 11, 1890 he was married to Grace Lowther to whom two children were born: Roy B. born March 
6, 1892, and Kenneth T. born June 30, 1899. This union produced one of the more colorful 
characters in the personage of Roy B. "Cap" Dodson who in 1924 started the first airport in the 
county just north of Kirksville and who continued to teach and fly for nearly 40 years. Roy held a 
membership in the Orville and Wilbur Wright Flying Club and was an instructor for pilots during 
World War II. Dr. Ed Bestman managed the airport from 1930 to 1933. Roy's father Eli was born in the 
home where Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Denslow now reside. That home was purchased by Mrs. Denslow's parents, 
the Laughlins, from the Dodson's.

Isham B. (Isom) Dodson was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, December 7, 1818, and died in Kirksville 
in 1879. He came to Kirksville in 1841 and soon rose to prominence. He was sheriff from 1847-1851 
and was state senator at the time of the passing of the Drake constitution. He was a major in the 
18th Missouri Cavalry and was married to Nancy Murphy. They had two children.

We have given an account of a son of J.R., Isham B. Dodson and a great grandson Roy B. Dodson who 
are involved in J.R.'s life. Many of the sons and grandsons moved on to other counties and states. 
Obadiah B. Dodson immigrated to Texas in 1852. John Ezra Dodson went to Texas also and Marcus 
Dodson moved to Colorado. It is not known whether either Obadiah or John Ezra founded Dodson, 
Texas, but there is that possibility. Another of J.R.'s sons we will mention is Job.

[illustration caption] The Dodson Coat-of-Arms denotes an Agrarian background. It is of English 
descent and the fleur-de-lis indicates a French origin.

Dodson since he is direct lineage of the writer. Job Dodson moved to Sullivan County and had 
two sons and a daughter, John, Francis Marion, and Mary. Job Dodson was a first lieutenant in 
the 11th Missouri Cavalry and farmed in Putnam County until 1895. He is buried in the Green 
Castle cemetery.

J.R's descendents have made up nearly every occupation in a community. We know doctors and 
lawyers but no Indian chiefs. There was a captain in the U.S. Air Force, a scientist at Alamogordo, 
New Mexico, and a neuro-surgeon in Florida. We don't know any butchers, bakers, or candlestick 
makers but surely there were some. There have been barbers, undertakers, lots of teachers, a 
postmaster, an employee with the U.S. Treasury Department, a mock-up engineer at McDonald-Douglas, 
and a printer.

Where is J.R. now? Most of the Dodsons of the past have been buried in the Highland Park and 
Forest-Llewellyn cemeteries. J.R.'s grave we have not seen: it is in a family cemetery, "The 
Dodson-McFerren" in the Northwest Cor., Sect. 28, Benton Township, located near the junction of 
First Street and Highway 11. The grave is at present unmarked.

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Opening Night

It was a cool Friday evening in March and the air was filled with a sense of anticipation and 
excitement as the long awaited grand opening of one of the most elegant playhouses in the state 
was about to take place.

That was the atmosphere generated by the audience 56 years ago on March 26, 1926, when the Kennedy 
Theatre in Kirksville, Missouri, opened its first season with the play Let's Get Married, starring 
Richard Dix, and a three-act vaudeville show. The Kennedy Theatre, fashioned after theaters in Kansas 
City and St. Louis, was a half-million dollar venture financed by Mrs. J. M. Kennedy and her son, Sam.

Entering the auditorium in the Kennedy, it is easy to imagine what that Friday night 56 years ago, was 
like. An usher, dressed in a tuxedo, would have shown you to your seat. As you walked down the aisle, 
you would have begun to appreciate the size and elegance of the theatre: the 15-piece orchestra warming 
up in the orchestra pit, the hum made from an audience of nearly 1,200 people and the dome ceiling 
almost 50 feet high. As the usher seated you, you would have noticed that the seats were leather and 
the decor was highlighted by elegant molding. Then, as the curtain was raised and the orchestra began 
its opening number, you would have noticed the stage, a stage equipped with the latest stage 
equipment, lights, draperies, and props, suitable to accommodate the best road attractions.

One major obstacle you might have had to overcome during the performance was hats. Some were tall; some 
were wide. Seeing over and around them was a job in itself. After the play, you might have gone to a 
little place around the corner called the Kennedy Inn for a bite to eat.

The Kennedy was truly a community theater with entertainment produced locally as well as entertainment 
produced nationally. Among the locally produced performances were the Charleston Dance Contest, which 
lasted four days, a dance recital presented by Mametta Ewalis School of Dance, and a junior high school 
production of the play, Seeking a Servant. The Kennedy Theatre also hosted performances by many other 
community groups.

On November 7, 1929, the Kennedy family sold the theater to Fox Interests. In the late months of 1953, 
Fox Interests in-stalled a movable wide-vision screen, which is still present.

[photo caption] Picture below: An artist sketch of the Kennedy theatre as it appeared in 1936.

[photo caption] The modern Kennedy as seen through the eyes of a photographer in 1982.

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Midwest's KENNEDY NORTH MISSOURI'S FINEST THEATRE

1000 COMFORTABLE CHAIRS
THE BEST OF ENTERTAINMENT AT LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES

Recent Installation of $10,000 Biophone for Talking, Singing and Sound
PHOTOPLAYS

$25,000 Robert Morton Organ

Standard Stage Equipment for Presentation of Best Road Attractions

[photo caption] This advertisement was taken from the KCOM yearbook. It shows and describes the 
elegance of the Kennedy Theatre.

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This screen could be moved so that the stage could be utilized for plays.

As times changed, so did the Kennedy. In the late 20's and early 30's, talking pictures were becoming 
more popular. On March 4, 1929, the Kennedy introduced its first "talkie". Among the first talking 
picture shows were The Goose Woman, starring Jack Pickford, Louise Dressier and Constance Bennett; The 
Road to Glory, starring Everett Horton; and Monte Carlo, starring Lew Cody and Gertrude Olmstead.

During the drought years of the 30's, people would go to the Kennedy just for the air conditioning. 
The superb heating and cooling system earned the theater the name, "Kirksville's only cool spot," 
boasting ice-washed air and a temperature never exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Kennedy Theatre, which has a marquee made in France, had its last live performance, a lolly pop 
concert sponsored by the local merchants, in 1976. The Kennedy was also used by KCOM to hold 
graduation before they began using Baldwin Hall.

On a cool Friday night in October, 1982, as you, dressed in your tennis shoes and blue jeans, go to 
the Kennedy to see a movie, you may have noticed, as you walk through the hall into the auditorium, 
that the Kennedy has lost much of its elegance. The musicians no longer play and the ushers have all 
gone home. The paint is peeling, the plaster is cracked and the orchestra pit has been boarded up. 
But, as you sit down and the midnight movie begins, like so many before you, you have become a part 
of the history of the Kennedy Theatre.

[photo caption] Photo at top; Taken in 1976, this is a picture of the last live performance, "A Lolly 
Pop Concert," at the Kennedy. The photo at right shows a spectator's view of the stage; the stage 
appears close, even though you are in the farthest seat.

by David Cenedella & Ron Van Wynsberg

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Generations of Leather & Lace

By Amy Mock, Jim Kline and Wendy Seigal

The first major industry to be established in Adair County was in 1907. During this year, the 
Kirksville Business Men's League received an inquiry from the Friedman-Shelby Shoe Company, and a 
representative committee was sent immediately to the company headquarters in St. Louis. There they 
learned that the company would only build under certain conditions, which required that the city 
furnish a free site, free water for five years, and a $60,000 cash bonus. In return, the company 
proposed to construct a 60 x 300 foot four-story building and employ 300 workers producing 1,800 
shoes a day. Employment would eventually be increased to 600 people producing up to 4,000 pairs of 
shoes daily.

An outcry went up among the citizens of Kirksville. They said that $60,000 could never be raised 
because the conditions were unreasonable. But a small group of men realized, as was stated in a 
1908 Daily Express, that the factory "marked the dawn of a new era of industrial development in 
this good town." These men bought an area of land in the southwest part of Kirksville, and divided 
it into 380 lots for $200 a lot, making an approximate total of $76,000. By doing this, they secured 
the cash bonus and also the land.

The next evening, after the contract had been signed, there was a large celebration which included 
a bonfire on the square, the blowing of all steam whistles throughout the town, the shooting of 
fireworks, and the performance of a band.

The building was then constructed as planned. The construction of the building was very unique and 
interesting in that the exterior was constructed entirely of brick, but all of the building supports 
were constructed of solid wood beams instead of the steel beams of modern buildings. It also 
generated its own power by an enormous steam-operated generator located in a concrete building beside 
the factory. Coal shipped in by train was used to operate this generator. The factory whistle could 
be heard from all over town. The citizens relied on the whistle as a means of waking in the morning, 
and making it home in time for dinner.

On opening day in May of 1908, the shoe factory had a force of only 35 workers. The officers of the 
company were: A. Friedman, president; W. H. Shelby, vice-president; Lester Friedman, secretary; and 
A. I. Stix, treasurer. Within six months, 300 people were employed producing 1,800 to 2,000 pairs of 
shoes daily.

The company produced men's and boy's shoes that were said to be well made and medium priced. Many 
styles of shoes

[illustration caption] Drawing below: The Friedman-Shelby Shoe Factory seen as it was when it opened 
in 1908.

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were made by the factory as years passed. Style trends continued to wield an important influence on 
shoe sales in all categories and price ranges. Flexibility, softness, lightness, and slim lines 
exerted the strongest influence on shoe styles. During World War II, however, all casual shoe production 
ceased and army boots were produced. After this, the slim "Continental" look continued to be most 
popular for men. Lighter construction and special techniques were used to achieve the desired flexibility 
and softness in the various styles, which included plain and moccasin toe oxfords, slip-ons, and the 
classic wing tip.

Although all shipments in and out of Kirksville were by truck, the plant used products from other 
countries. Leather was brought in from as far away as France, Germany, and India. Through the 
company's distribution system, the finished shoes were eventually sold not only in the United States 
and the North American continent, but also overseas, including Japan and Africa.

The Friedman-Shelby Shoe Company had succeeded the Friedman Brothers Shoe Company in St. Louis in 
January of 1907. At this time, it produced the Friedman-Shelby line of shoes. It was next owned by 
the International Shoe Company, who bought the Kirksville factory in 1916. They produced the Peters, 
Robert, and Johnson & Read brands of shoes. It was last owned by the Florsheim Shoe Company, 
producing the Florsheim line of shoes.

The "old shoe factory" was last operational in 1973. In July of that year, production was moved to a 
newly built factory located on the south side of Kirksville. The old building was then purchased by 
Baldwins, Inc. and is now used as a warehouse for Baldwins' distribution of supplies.

[photo caption] Photo at left: Steam was produced to run the generator by this water pump from the 
outside reservoir. Photo at top shows the shoe factory as it looked in the 1940's. The photo below 
it is an interior view of the shoe factor's fourth floor as it appears.

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