Volume 2, Number 6 - Winter 1966


Bits and Pieces

DO YOU KNOW
Mrs. J. Dexter Eoff of Texas says: "I joined the Historical Society in hopes that I would get some leads on the John Eoff family, who, with his wife Lucy Eoff and sons, went to Arkansas around 1840 with his brothers William, Samuel, and Alexander. The latter three settled in Carroll County. John was in Wild Haw, Izzard County in 1842. Do you know where Wild Haw is or was? Was it always Izzard County or could it have been in some other county as the counties changed? The 1850 census shows him in Carroll County.

We need any information we can get about these early settlers for proof that John Eoff was a brother to William, Samuel, and Alexander, and therefore, a son of Issac and Margaret (Knox) Eoff. Issac died in Tenn., before they, with their widowed mother, went to Arkansas and settled at or near Bellfonte and Harrison. Margaret was buried in the Eoff cemetery near Harrison.

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DO YOU KNOW A SALLEE?
WANTED: Information on Sallee’s of Missouri and Arkansas. Stephen b. 1790 in Va. d. Taney County 1852, buried Kissee Mills. Stephen’s wife d. in Arkansas 1840’s; where? Stephen’s son, Arana Chastain, lived in Swan Township, Taney County, 1850. Arans m. Martha Greene, dau. of Leven Green 1831, Schuyler Co. Ill. Arana d. 1862. Arana’s son, a Capt. in Civil War, James H. Sallee. Also seek information on Wm. Perry Martin, father-in-law of James H. Sallee. These families lived in Ozark and Taney County of Missouri and Washington and Marion Counties of Ark. Will exchange data.

Mrs. Dean Wallace
3624 Garfield
Topeka, Kansas

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QUERY
Any information of the following Taney County people will be appreciated. Emily Hailey Hilsabeck and her sister, Mary Elizabeth Hailey Breedon, said to be daughters of William Hailey (Halley) of Va., and Eden of Va. Emily Hailey married 1st Morris and had children; Albert F. Morris, born April 27, 1858 in Henry County, Mo., and Molly, who married a Whitton. Emily Hailey married 2nd John Hilsabeck. They lived at Montrose, Mo., before moving to Forsyth. The Breedons moved to Branson.

Mrs. Lloyd H. Ryser
2224 Main
Klamath Falls, Oregon

IN MEMORIAM
The Pale Horse and its Rider took from our midst a good neighbor of long standing, and a writer-friend in the person of Dulcie Gooding Gold, December 9th, in St. John’s Hospital. She had been ill for some time, a victim of leukemia, with in and out hospital visits over the past several months. She was 71.

Mrs. Gold’s column, On the Old Wire Road, appeared in Over the Ozarks column in the Springfield paper. And she wrote one very interesting piece for our White River Valley Quarterly, titled, "The Jenkins Picnic". Everyone enjoyed that! In talking to her about that piece, and the prospects of others, Mrs. Gold told me that her health was failing to such an extent that she doubted if she could do much more writing.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Gold are the parents of ten fine, upstanding citizens; six sons and four daughters. All are married with families of their own. They live on a farm northwest of Hurley where they have made numbers of improvements, most of them with their own hands. They lived at the edge of town during the depression years and their lives, then, inspired all those who attempted to maintain an independent spirit in a time when it would have been easier to take a government handout. Of Dulcie Gooding Gold it may be said, "Let her own works praise her in the gates."

by Mary Scott Hair
Taney County Republican
December 16, 1965

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John Hilsabeck

John Hilsabeck

Mrs. Charles Muller, Branson, says, "I found this picture in an old album. It must have been made around 1900 or 1905. I think it belonged to my Grandfather."

If you want to receive each issue of the White River Valley Historical Society Quarterly, make certain that your dues are paid.

FOR SALE: Extra copies of all White River Valley Historical Society Quarterlies except No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the first volume. Price $1.00 each, plus ten cents postage. - Jewell Ross Mehus

NOTE: Does anyone have copies of the first four numbers of Volume 1, that you will sell? Write Jewell Ross Mehus, Flag Route, Branson, Mo. 65616.

WHAT? WHEN? WHERE?
Once several years ago, Pa and I were members of the Hillcrofter Society and remained members until the membership outgrew a place to hold the meetings. This society was one I liked very much, since I have for years tried to help preserve our history, legends and traditions as well as early customs. While hunting something, I found some stationery and I want to give you the theme and object with a brief introduction:

The Ozark Hillcrofters is a unique society branded together for t h e preservation of the heritage of our pioneer forefathers. To keep intact, in so far as the on-rush of civilization will permit, the lore, customs, traditions, beliefs, old ballards, recreation, forestry and wild life of our early ancestors who made the great playground of America what it is. We believe that in their lives was much enduring beauty and courage and human interest. That their preservation is necessary to a democracy. That they are a panacea in a mechanized age of speed. That this heritage is worthy of research and preservation.

The Ozark Hillcrofters first grew in the mind of Otto Rayburn of Gaddo Gap, Arkansas, eminent journalist, poet and lover of the good earth. He called the folk lovers together from over the Ozark Uplift to meet in Eminence, Mo., in November, 1913. The Hillcrofters was organized and combined with the Ozarkians which had also been fathered by Rayburn in Kingston, Ark., in 1928 and has grown to a membership of hundreds, with several members in foreign countries.

from CASSVILLE DEMOCRAT

ECONOMICS 1898
Eggs sold for 12½ cents per dozen.
Butter - 10 cents per pound.
Arbuckle & Lion coffee - 2 lbs. for 25 cents.
Brown Sugar - 18 lbs. for $1.00.
Beans - 3 cents per pound.
Nails - 3 cents per pound.
1st grade flour - $2.30 per hundred pounds.
Green coffee - 10 lbs. one one dollar.

Copies of back issues of the Bulletin are available - except the first four issues of Volume 1. Price, one dollar each, plus ten cents for postage. Write, Jewell Ross Mehus, Flag Route, Branson, Mo. 65616.

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The following information on two obscure gravesites in Ozarks County was sent in by Dean Wallace, Topeka, Kansas.

Hiram Joseph Weston b. 1835 & d. 1914 is at rest beside his infant son Huey, by the request of Hiram, on the old Weston home place about 1 mile south of the old Pleasant Grove School house on Spring Creek, about 7 miles west of Gainesville. Raymond Terry owns the place at the present time. Hiram served with 37th Cavalry in the Civil War.

Daniel and Nancy (Brakcett) Upton came to Ozark County from South Carolina. Nancy is at rest in Reynold’s cemetery 5 miles west of Gainesville. Daniel & Daniel’s father, Grancer Upton, (Grancer was born in England) are at rest at what was once known as Watenberger cemetery located approximately 1 mile southwest of Gainesville at the mouth of what is known as Gentry Hollow. The land is owned by Mrs. P. E. Bushong or her grandson, Joe Lynn Ebrite. The cemetery is located in what is now a pasture with no access-able road and is barely recognizable as a cemetery.

Mr. Wallace is doing work on the Wallace, Friend, Mahan and Sallee families and is interested in contacting anyone who has or is doing work on these lines.

(Editor’s note: And please send a copy of all exchanges to the Quarterly for information of all members.)

In 1904 pine was estimated to represent 8% of the timber of Taney County.
In 1899 the Forsyth school had 104 pupils enrolled.
In 1902 the Taney county court contracted with W. H. Jacobs to keep 6 paupers at $8.50 a month each. If more, he promised to keep them for seven dollars each.

OZARK WIT AND HUMOR
These early mountaineers depended almost entirely upon what they raised on the land to feed their families from one crop season to the next. One cold late spring, several men were discussing the situation and the undesirable weather in the month of March which delayed planting. With the meat and bread stuff almost exhausted they began to wonder if their store of food would last until the new crop was grown. Old Uncle Jake Bilyeu, after listening to the other fellows berating the month of March wished to add his approval to their views and said, "Low and behold, March is the worst month in the year. I’ve always noticed all my life, that if I lived through March I lived the rest of the year."
-Elmo Ingenthron

In 1895 the Taney County Court ordered the collector to pay one dollar per month rent for an office in the northeast room, ground floor of the court house. Rent to go to buy furniture for other offices in the court house.

In 1895 the county court ordered the Taney County Bank as the depository of county funds. Bank to pay ½ of 1 per cent interest for use of county funds.

In 1900 the Taney county court paid W. H. Johnson $40.00 for his services in selling the County Farm and $5.00 to G. L. Holt, fees for perfecting title. (Who can now tell us where the County Farm was.)

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