Volume 2, Number 4 - Summer 1965
The Mincy Meteorite
When you make a trip to Europe and visit Vienna Austria, you will find Taney County mentioned there. You may examine the Mincy Meteorite reportedly found about 1857 on the old Payne farm near Mincy. This iron meteorite, originally weighing 200 pounds is on exhibit there. Dr. G. F. Kunz, a European mineralogist, purchased it from or through the knowledge of a Mrs. Hattie Payne, in Limestone Valley, Newton County, Ark., where the meteorite had been taken after its discovery.
This bit of local history came to the attention of Elmo Ingenthron, society historian, though the efforts of Dr. Lyle Owen, a member from Branson. At Dr. Owen’s suggestion, Prof. W. F. Read, a geologist of Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., contacted Ingenthron.
Ingenthron explains that usually when meteorites strike earth, small bits of molten materials, known as fragments, spatter about the site. These can be detected now by the use of an electronic locating device.
As the result of inquires made in newspapers and radio stations a half dozen persons have sent in information concerning meteorites. One lady called to report that a meteorite had fallen through the house of her grandfather in the upper White River region (Table Rock) back about the 1890’s. Ingenthron reported this to Read who will likely contact her for further information.
At a near future time Ingenthron and Read will do some follow-up work on the tips and leads given to them. They need more information as they attempt to locate the old Payne farm. It is believed to have been near Mincy. Ingenthron suggests that if persons owning real estate in the Mincy region will examine the abstracts to their land they might discover that they own the old Payne farm. If you obtain any information, contact Elmo Ingenthron, Kirbyville, Mo.
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