Volume 1, Number 10 - Winter 1963


Seventy-five Years Ago

Names From The Past Winter 1888 - 1889

Kissee Mills, Dec. 13, 1888-On Thursday night last Mr. John T. Dickenson turned over his new store building to a host of merry makers and they danced till day light and ate oysters between times. They had a good time and are loud in their praises of the genial merchant of the ridge who believes in fun as well as business.

We gather from the Ozark News that Taney County is about to receive further notoriety. That paper says:

"The Knobbers still attract the newspaper writers, and Mr. Speer, travelling correspondent of the New York Sun has been in Taney and Christian counties about two weeks collecting facts for an article to appear in the Sunday Sun probably the next issue. Mr. Speer succeeded in getting the facts as fully as possible, and his article will occupy two pages or more of the Sun with illustrations of prominent men in the order."

Forsyth, Dec. 20, 1888-Mr. J. R. Hankins has bought the stock of drugs kept at Forsyth by Joseph Burns and will give this business his attention in the future.

Kissee Mills, Dec. 27, 1888-On Christmas eve a large number of people assembled at the Wilson school house where a fine Christmas tree was filled with presents for the young folks. Messrs. Conner, Richardson and Brown and Mrs. Andrew Jackson, Mrs. Suttee and Mrs. Andrews deserved the thanks of the children for their efforts to do the honors of the season.

Kerbyville-Jim Oliver went to Springfield with his cotton Monday and will return with a full supply of good things for Christmas.

Boat Rice is running the Berry gin at Branson.

The new School House is at a stand still, but as soon as lumber can be obtained will be pushed to completion. It is badly needed.

Oak Grove-The citizens of this vicinity enjoyed a fine Christmas tree on the night of Dec. 24th. The house was crowded at an early hour. We had several visitors from other districts and all seemed to enjoy themselves well and we had good behavior. The tree was loaded with toys and other nice presents for the children and also for the older ones. The school-children were all treated with all the candy they could eat by their worthy teacher, Mr. G. W. Richardson.

Kissee Mills, Jan. 3, 1889-New Year's night was celebrated by a number of the young people in this vicinity who gathered at the old residence of Mr. W. R. Stuart and danced to the music of Will's violin, sometimes called a fiddle. The boys and girls and most of the old folks were happy; and as dances have been rare events in this neighborhood of late the beginning of the winter's gayety was greeted with joy. More dancing parties are in contemplation. Mr. Harwell Brown will do the gracious to morrow night. Everybody and his best girl invited.

Mr. C. C. Casey who has been living down on the Arkansas river in Pope County, Ark., for the last sixteen months returned to Taney county on Sunday last and will now take up his residence at Kissee Mills. His many friends in this locality are glad to have him with them again.

Walnut Shade-There was a big dance at William Keithley's on Christmas-eve night and all the next day. They had a regular old-fashioned hoe-down. There is a big dance going on as I write at James 's and calico and sole leather are getting their share of the thumping. The Literary temporarily failed on account of the dances being so prevalent.

Cedar Spring, Jan. 10, 1889 - "William Fray returned safely from Ozark County a few days ago," says the Ozark Weekly News. Ozark and Taney counties lay side by side on the border and were infested with Bald Knobbers just the same at the same time and since a man can visit the Bald Knobber's Kingdom and return safely it is hoped that the people of other counties and states will learn that a stranger is safe even in Taney or Ozark county. There used to be some trouble down this way but it was sectional, men that took no sides were generally safe and strangers were always safe; either side would protect them. At the greatest heat of the reign of terror (?) there were fewer depredations perpetrated in Taney County than any other county in the State, especially on strangers. Now let other counties refute this argument or let up on our Bald Knob country.

Our healthful climate, fruitful soil and broad domain invite industry and capital from every direction and citizens will welcome such and guarantee them protection. Even if there had been danger to such during the

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Bald Knobbers excitement, nothing of the kind would now exist for Bald Knobberism is buried in oblivion never to be resurrected again.

Kissee Mills, Jan. 17, 1889 - School opened at the Wilson Schoolhouse on Monday with Miss Rebecca McCormick in charge. Thirty-four pupils put in an appearance that day. The house is now warm and comfortable. It is well ceiled, has good benches and a suitable blackboard. Parents should see that their children attend regularly.

WANTED a boy 13 or 14 years old, of good character, for company and to do light jobs around the house. He can go to a good school this winter. Call on or address, T. G. Hawkins, Kerbyville, Taney Co., Mo.

D. R. Riggs, of Douglas County, passed through Forsyth on Monday with a drove of thirty-one mules and two mares on his way to the Arkansas river country south of Russellville. Mr. Riggs was formerly a citizen of Taney County and is an energetic gentleman and a good business man.

Brushy Creek - Many Kentuckians are settling on the waters of Brushy.

Wolves are making havoc with the sheep and pigs in this vicinity. Several head were killed by them during the little snow last week.

Milch cows and calves are selling for $10.00 per head over this way.

Eld. T. G. Hawkins, State missionary, assisted by Elds. A. Cole of Protem, and J. M. Winett of Cedar Creek began a protracted meeting at the Brush School house on the 4th inst. On Sunday the 13th while it was raining, Eld. Hawkins carried down into Brush and baptized Curtis Merriman, Abigal Merriman, Jabez Pierce, Frankie Pearce, Sarah Miller, Elizabeth Wright, Theresa Wright and Wm. Lee. Others yet to be baptized.

Kissee Mills, Jan. 31, 1889-The Jefferson City correspondent of the Kansas City Journal in his "Special" of last Saturday says:

"Mr. Prather of Taney appeared before the committee on appropriations again to-day to answer questions concerning the condition of Taney County and the grounds upon which the people ask an appropriation of $5,000 with which to erect a court house. The court house at Forsyth has been four times destroyed, twice by fire and the same number of times by floods, and the State is asked for an appropriation on the plea of public calamity. The bill will most likely pass."

Song service was held at the Wilson schoolhouse on last Sunday. The tenor was taken by Mr. J. A. Thomas, the treble by Miss Lisa Thomas and the bass by Prof. C. W. Johnson. After the singing, members of the Christian Church took the sacrament. The exercises were conducted by Mr. J. W. Underwood.

Bradleyville, Feb. 7, 1889- This has been a very nice winter so far with the exception of one little snow when the streets of Bradleyville were covered with snow and the children were all snowballing.

Wm. Adams had a supper and a party on the 24th of January. There was a large crowd out and everything was carried on nicely and all were amused.

Kissee Mills, Feb. 14, 1889 - A friend has given the editor of THE TIMES a copy of the Forsyth Pioneer of March 7, 1879. The paper is No. 8 of volume 9 and bears the names of Brown & Davis as editors. Then as now the talk was of railroads, the weather, back tax suits, spelling-schools, Sunday-schools, deaths and marriages. Such as they were, we are. The things that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. Not even in Taney County the wonderful.

Forsyth, Mar. 7, 1889- Program for Literary Society next Saturday night is as follows:

Music by the Band
Select reading by Tisha Parrish
Stump speech by D. F. McConkey
Song by William Mace
Speech by H. R. Melton
Declamation by J. O. Malone
Song by G. L. Bowerman
Oration by Pinkie Branson

Debate question: Resolved, That man will act quicker for the hope of reward than through fear of punishment. Aff. D. F. McConkey, J. M. Haworth and. W. G. Davidson. Neg.: O. L. Tay lor, J. W.. Burns and K. L. Burdett, Jr.

Forsyth, Mar. 14, 1889 - The county court rented the whole of the Riggs building to be used as county offices.

(Our thanks to Mr. W. E. Freeland for permission to use the files of the Taney County Times.)

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