Volume 2, Number 7 - Spring 1966
The Editor Speaks
by Jewell Ross Mehus
I write about the contributors. If I use more words about one than another, it is not that I feel one more worthy than another. Sometimes the writer tells her or his story in the article. Sometimes I know only what I read.
Myking and I enjoy spending a day with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shelton in Springfield. That is I spent the day with the book of maps John Bennett made of this White River area and with the diary he wrote of his trip with the army starting from St. Louis on December 21, 1861. Mrs. Shelton ran her usual Saturday morning errands, Myking went to town for some hours and that Paul, he kept right on asking questions or giving information. He is as enthusiastic a non-professional historian as any spelunker is a rabid nonscientific geologist.
It was Paul who copied the Bennett articles. Paul was born in Springfield. His mother was Ora Freeland, his father, Howard P. Shelton. Paul and Mrs. Shelton truly bask in the honors coming to their daughters: Anna Lou is with the Peace Corps in Santa Domingo and Mary Agnes has a scholarship for graduate work at the University of Arkansas next year.
Cletys Ackerman has lately come from California and bought a home near Forsyth. He writes letters and searches cemeteries to get material concerning Ackermans and Dewitts.
Ruth Henson Asher, Galena, Mo., says, "I have loaned, shown and sent Quarterlies around the states. I hope to do a paper on each of the old ones individually. The early census reports help to prove ages. "
Lessie Jewell Carter, Pueblo, Cob., writes, "I have been busy with geneaology work for the past 15 years. I have tried to find dates and names on monuments. Some I cannot get anywhere else as most of the old timers have passed on. In some cemeteries you cannot find the monuments for the weeds. My mother was a Carr Williams. I have received letters from the daughter of John A. Williams saying their father had a family record back to Roger Williams who founded the State of Rhode Island. I have a family record back to the Revolutionary War. My great grandfather fought in that war."
Jessie E. Cox lives with her husband in Mt. Vernon, Mo. She tells her story in the articles she writes.
John Gerten, Spokane, Wash., left Taney County in 1907 to go West. Copies of his wood-cuts may be purchased at the Old Shepherd’s Book Shop.
A. B. Moore, Klamath Falls, Oregon, born in Taney County 85 years ago tells me, "It is a wonderful work you are trying to do."
Ben A. Parnell, Jr., Branson, loaned us "The Stories of Pioneers," published in 1915 by E. J. and L. S. Hoenshel, editors and publishers of the White River Leader.
Elmo Ingenthron picks up the short bits and will always welcome any further information any one may have.
Remember, take your pencil and note book when you go on vacation this summer. Then send us a copy of all notes concerning the White River Valley.
And by the way, I have not received a letter or manuscript from Arkansas, yet the White River flows through Arkansas and I do have requests for material concerning events and persons of the neighboring counties of Arkansas. I am hoping the folks in that good state will not let the Quarterly become a Missouri magazine.
JEWELL ROSS MEHUS
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