Volume 1, Number 5 - Fall 1962
Fifty-Five
Years Ago
Names and Faces From the Past
Autumn 1907
Douglas County Herald, Ava, Mo.
Aug. 29, 1907 - At a meeting of some of the citizens of Ava at the courthouse last Monday night, the Ava Commercial Club was organized. The organization was perfected by electing R. Ridgway, president; H. E. Bash, vice-president; Frank J. Davis, secretary;
C. H. Burdett, treasurer; and H. W. Wilson, G. Everett Kester, J. F. Hoistine and E. S. Latsbaugh, a board of general managers. The object of the organization is to further the Interests of the people of Douglas county, to provide ways and means of exchanging the surplus of our commodities for things we are in need of, or the interchange of the pro ducts of general labor.
Oct. 3, 1907 - Last Saturday J. A. Johnson of Arden drove a yoke of oxen to town, and attracted some attention when he drove them around the square hitched to a cart. He had them trained to the lash of the whip and broke to work. They were driven to the northeast corner of the square where they were auctioned off to the highest bidder. They were sold to George Turner for $41. He drove them to his home west of town. It can well be remembered by those who were here that thirty years ago, ox teams were about the only means of conveyance, and twenty years ago it was a common occurrence to see a yoke of oxen hitched around the square in Ava.
Oct. 17,1907. - (Adv.)
DOUGLAS COUNTY NORMAL, AVA, MO.
Training, business, music.
Special attention to training teachers and students to daily necessities. Experienced teachers. Board and furnished rooms in private families, $1.75 to $2.00 per week. L. S. Stephens, Principal L. L. Sturgeon, First Assistant. Officers of Board: J. A. G. Reynolds, President; A. P. Miller, Secretary; R. A. Kennedy, Treasurer.
Oct. 17, 1907. - Born to Mr. and Mrs. Will Lakey of two miles west of town, a fine baby boy. Mother and child doing well. Let me see! No, I believe the doctor said it was a girl.
Nov. 7, 1907. - Young men, black your own boots and bid every man black his. Keep your hands in your own pockets. Pay cash, take cash. Never marry "an accomplished lady." The latest meaning of that word "accomplished" is ruin. The truest type for you, of blessed womanhood beneath the dome of love, is a good, pure, educated, working farmer's girl. The name of "lady" becomes her; calico brings from her no sneer, no scorn. This girl will wear a hat twice without retrimming. Is she poor? So much the better; then commence together; work, make, save, enjoy together. We charge you nothing for this advice, as valuable as it is.
Taney County Republican, Forsyth, Mo.
Aug. 29, 1907 - F. R. Anguin, editor of the Ozark Republican and one of the speakers at the Bradleyville Reunion, hands out this brace of bouquets to Taney County orators: "On the first day, Col. Prather of Taneyville spoke. Those who know the colonel know he is a fine talker, and those who heard him last Thursday say his speech even surpassed former efforts. Friday afternoon Prof. A. J. Hicks of Forsyth spoke on woodcraft. The professor's talk was scholarly, logical and was filled with epigrams. He is a fluent talker and made many friends in the short time he was on the grounds."
Aug. 29, 1907. - Financial Statement of the Taney County Bank, Forsyth, Missouri.
Resources:
Loans and discounts on personal or collateral $41,258.80
Loans on real estate. 18,325.00
Real estate (banking house) 1,000.00
Due from other banks
and bankers, subject to check 55,728.45
Cash Items . 1,025.41
Currency 565.00
Specie 2,160.85
Total $120,063.51
Professor A. J. Hicks, prominent educator in this area, was one of the speakers at the Bradleyville Reunion, August 1907. (Photo courtesy Durward Palmer.)
Mr. J. C. Parrish, one of the Directors of the Taney County Bank. (Photo courtesy Sibyl Parrish.)
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Liabilities:
Capital
stack paid in 20,000.00
Surplus fund 10,000.00
Undivided profits (net) 11,395.00
Individual deposits, subject to check 78,668.51
Total $120,063.51
J. A. Weatherman,
President;
S. W. Boswell, Cashier.
Directors: J. H. Parrish, J. C. Parrish, A. H. Parrish.
Aug. 29, 1907. - Financial Statement of the Bank of Branson, Branson, Missouri.
Resources:
Loans and discounts on personal or collateral
$25,820.65
Loans, real estate 8,970.77
Overdrafts 532.43
Real estate (banking house) 3,462.61
Furniture and fixtures
1,600.00
Due from
other banks and bankers,
subject to check
19,753.38
Cash items 618.24
Currency 675.00
Specie
1,217.84
Total $62,650.92
Liabilities:
Capital
stock paid in 10,000.00
Surplus fund 1,200.00
Undivided profits
(net) 2,166.43
Due to banks and
bankers, subject
to check 4,687.28
Individual deposits, subjectto check 44,597.21
Total $62650.92
J. W. Oliver,
President
Jesse A.Tollerton,
Cashier
Directors:
J. G. Root, A. J. Brazeal,
W. H. Crowder.
Aug. 29, 1907. - W. I. Utterback, principal of The School of the Ozarks, makes an announcement regarding the school which reads in part as follows:
"As I have recently been selected as principal of The School of the Ozarks after having looked over the field in person a short time ago, I beg space in this week's paper to make some brief announcements relative to the school. I want to announce that the birthday, September 24, 1907, should be made a great day. We hope then to have a good enrollment. The primary object of the founders is to offer the best intellectural training under the best moral and Christian auspicies. The prospects are very bright for building up a great school, not only through the advantages of the location but most of all because of the industrious features of the school's liberal offer of self-support will be presented to those of both sexes who are desirous yet financially unable to secure an education beyond the free school.
"It is intended that the school shall be organized into a family by permitting all the students to spend a portion of their time each day in manual labor for the maintenance of the necessary expenses of the school. This will be done in view of the fact that the tuition is placed so low, namely $100 for 40 weeks of instruction including cost for fuel, lights, laundry, room, board, etc. For those who will board themselves, a small tuition will be charged ranging from $15 to $30 per year, corresponding to the age and grade. However. all ennumerated in the immediate school district will be admitted free of charge."
Mr. E. R. Everett of Forsyth, Mo. (Photo courtesy Barton Everett.)
Aug. 29, 1907. - E. R. Everett is digging a cellar under the smoke house he is erecting and is having to use dynamite on an unexpected ledge of rock which they encountered. The blasts are turning up mineral-bearing rock charged with spar, and he is afraid that unless he stops at once he may have a mine instead of a cellar.
Sept. 5, 1907. - (Adv.)
JOHN T. DICKENSON
Agent for Ellwood
Fence
Heavy Steel
Cables
GO TO JOHN T. DICKENSON'S TANEY CITY STORE, the best, cheapest and most reliable store in the county.
Agent for
The Banner Buggy International Stock Food
Harness and Saddles
Heating Stoves,
Cook Stoves and Ranges
and all kinds of
Hardware.
Likewise groceries, dry goods, shoes, and everything usually kept in a general store.
Call and see this great variety or write for prices on any article you wish.
Sept. 26, 1907 - The intense interest in the grand opening of The School of the Ozarks was indicated by the great crowds. The weather was ideal. People began to congregate on Monday after noon and a large crowd was present when the dinner hour arrived on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Fish were in short supply because of the failure to catch enough, but a young beef was roasted. At two o'clock in the afternoon in a grove of oak trees west of the school building, a sixteen-foot flag pre sented by Mrs. John M. Booth of St. Louis was unfolded. A song, "The Schoolhouse on the Hill," by the Taneyville School was sung, led by the teacher. John Bennett. The Rev. H. H. Boude. D.D., of Pleasant Hill offered the invocation. The Hon. A. S. Prather of Taneyville gave the address of welcome in which he reviewed some of the past and present conditions, progress, and aspirations of the county, and expressed an appreciative welcome for the coming of The School of the Ozarks. The address of the day was delivered by the Rev. E. C. Gordon of Lexington, Mo. He outlined the aims and scopes of the institution and pointed out the great benefits to this section from its service. Dr. Gordon was listened to with profound attention as he gave to the assembled multitude new and larger concepts of the meaning and value of education here to be obtained.
Mrs. D. F. McConkey, with Miss Chloe Tollerton at the organ, sang "Nearer, My God, to Thee." W. H. Price of the Taney County
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Republican in a brief talk referred to the school conditions and methods of fifty years ago contrasted with those of today. Col. Ford made a report of the treasurer of the building commit tee showing the cost to be $21,500. Capt. J. R. Vanzandt, eighty-three years of age and for fifty years a resident of Taney County, spoke on old times and of the great progress in educational matters which are symbolized by the new school.
Principal W. I. Utterback of the school, made a few statements concerning the school to give information as to the organization of the faculty, classes, etc. He announced that twenty-five students had already been enrolled and would be in the building when the audience was dismissed.
Oct. 10, 1907. - Elder U. G. John son is holding a series of successful meetings at Pleasant Hill
Oct. 10, 1907 - (Adv.) Outing flannel, 8 1/2 cents a yard at Clyde Jennings' on the northeast corner of the Square.
Nov. 21, 1907. - Chester, the five- year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ike Arnold, who has been very ill with broncho-pneumonia, was reported Monday to be steadily improving, and Dr. Mitchell, the attending physician, thought he would be out of danger in two or three days.
Nov. 21, 1907
- (Adv.)
Mr. J. W. Blankenship of Pinetop, Mo. (Photo courtesy Jessalee Nash.)
Real Estate
of All Kinds Mineral
Land a Specialty
J. W. BLANKENSHIP
Taney County Field Man
For Wm. H. Johnson-Pinetop,
Mo.
Nov. 21, 1907. - Mrs. D. F. Mc Conkey and Messrs. A. J. Hicks, J. C. L. McKnight and H. R. Awbery are attending the state Sunday school convention at Springfield which closes this afternoon.
North Arkansas Star, Berryville, Arkansas.
Aug. 9, 1907. - County Judge Tom Fancher, County Clerk Joe Fancher, Sheriff Frank Carroll and Circuit Clerk A. J. Russell were the county officials who went to Eureka Springs, Sunday, to attend the opening of Circuit Court Monday.
Aug. 9, 1907. - The price of country produce is unchanged this week. Chickens, 8 cents a pound, hens, 6 cents, and eggs, 8 cents a dozen.
Aug. 23, 1907. - Among the junk purchased by Mose Smith and Co., this week is an entire copper still that weighed about 150 pounds. The still used to be in operation up near Seligman and no telling what its products have done for this section in the past.
Aug. 23, 1907. - Did you know that Berryville is likely to have an electric light plant and an ice factory before the end of next year? Such is the case, however, and if the plant is put up it will be a good one, one that the citizens won't be ashamed of.
Aug. 30, 1907. - There
was a strike of tracklayers on the Missouri and North Arkansas Rail road near
Leslie last week. They were getting $1.75 a day and struck for $2. They are
all now looking for another job and track laying is progressing as usual.
Aug. 30, 1907. -
A jolly hayride was enjoyed Monday night. Besides the hayride, the group of
young people enjoyed a moonlight trip to a watermelon patch. Following are
the members of the party: Dr. and Mrs. Robert Spurlin, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rawlins,
John Hanna and Miss Lenora Clark, Will Perkins and Miss Bettle Warden, Roy Floyd
and Miss Bessie Pennlngton, Gordon Lewis and Miss Cleeta Neff, Edgar Ledbetter
and Miss Laura Fisher, Will Doxey and Miss Steila Epperson, Roy Edens and Miss
Minnie Riley. Earl Hailey personally conducted the trip-to the melon patch.
Nov. 29, 1907. - Herbert Jones and Sam Taylor, two farmers living over near Blue Eye, in the edge of Missouri, fell out a few months ago over a cross fence and a spring. Since then bad feelings have existed between the men and on Sunday, Jones and his wife and mother met Taylor in the road, and armed with knives they assaulted Taylor and so severely beat him that at last reports he was not expected to live.
(Items from the Douglas County Herald courtesy of Mr. J. E. Curry; from the Taney County Republican, Mr. W. E. Freeland; from the North Arkansas Star, Mr. Klute Braswell.)
"Education consists first of all in conquering the legacy of the past This legacy is valid for us only if we recreate it, if we rekindle within ourselves the forces that once made that past audacious and worthy of respect."
-Henri M. Peyre, The PTA Magazine
Remember the Good Old Days when Johnny, not his teacher, had to explain why he couldn't read?
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