Volume 2, Number 8 - Summer 1966
The Editor Speaks
By Jewell Ross Mehus
With this issue we change printers. Mr. Les Brock who headed that department at the School of the Ozarks, plots our course. Mr. Brock had been here so long that he knew when I "intended" to put a period. Mr. Bruffey found me difficult this first time but he too, will learn to watch my o's and a's - for which I am ever grateful.
The following paragraphs come from letters to this editor:
Mrs. Isabel Greenwald, I think really needs a history of Missouri. It seems that she wants post cards of covered bridges and grist mills and water wheels. She says she has many calls for Missouri ones. And then she wants the stories of each. The quarterly would like to have the same. If anyone has such history material of the White River Valley, send it along for publication.
Mrs. Carl Bledsoe, Colorado, seeks information on Bledsoes and Shumates who were living in Stone and Taney Counties before and during the Civil War. She says she will pay a reward for records.
Jack Triplett now lives in Inkon, Idaho, but his birthplace is Missouri, Webster County, Mo. If you desire to include and information from this county, I'll be glad to help. I am sure there are hundreds in Webster County that would be interested in becoming a member of the White River Valley Historical Society.
"My hobby is family genealogy, know that there are thousands that would be so glad to be a member if they only new about your wonderful quarterly.
Mr. and Mrs. John T. Compton send the money for their membership dues quite early, for they say they do riot want to miss an issue of the quarterly. Mr. Compton was 93 years old December 27, and Mrs. Compton was 83 the 12th of September. They were married 68 years ago the 3rd of last July. Albert Compton of Branson is a son. They live at 728 Harris Ave. Sacramento, Calif. 95838.
L. E. Paugh, Modesta, California says: "My wife’s folks, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Northrup settled on Hunter Creek east of Ava, about 1907. My father-in-law was postmaster and had the little country store and post office at Larissa, Mo. The buildings are now all gone. All that remains is the hole in the ground that was a cellar under the store.
"My wife, Alma, can remember, when she was a little girl, the men hauling railroad ties from Vera Cruz area would stop overnight and camp at Larissa, then continue on to Mansfield the next day. We now own the old home place and traces of the old Mansfield road can still be seen, where it would its way through the woods.
Rachel Church, Forsyth: The unidentified printer on page 2 of Vol. II No.5 was William Church, well-known only a generation ago in Branson, Forsyth, and all of Taney County." (Thanks, Rachel, now why not you do a history of the Churches? jrm)
"I was reared north of Ava on Caste Creek and attended the old Casto School."
Charles F. Conner. Waterford, Calif.: "I am preparing a history of the Conner Bend and of the first cotton gin that was built in southwest Missouri." (the quarterly would like to read it. .jrm)
Rose Green Maneses, Iowa: "I am tracing Parrish History".
Charlotte M. Groom, (Mrs. Howard K. Groom, Kansas City, Mo.) "After reading the article on ‘The Press’ from Elmo’ Ingethrons files, we got out an old paper we have and believe it to be the same paper as mentioned in the article called, The Farm and Home’, published according to Elmo, from 1883 to 1885. "Except for one corner, our paper is in very good shape. It is ‘Home and Farm’ (reversed from the name stated above) and is dated Forsyth, Taney County, Missouri, June 24, 1886 (one year after the 1885 date above).
"At the top on one side is, "New series: Vol II-No. 23;’ and at the other side, ‘Old series: Vol V-No. 43.’ On the inside is ‘Home and Farm’ published every Thursday by A. S. Prather."
"The above paper was found lining a trunk in the attic of my parents (Mr. and Mrs. Ralph D. McPhersons) farm home at Brown Branch. Another paper with the heading torn off, was found at the same time, and from all indications it is an edition of the same paper published later that year.
"My husband’s grandfather, Charles H. Groom, was just starting his abstract office and his ad appeared in both papers. Dates of legal notices are August 1886."
Now if you enjoyed the paragraphs, just write others and send them to me.
Jewell Ross Mehus
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