Volume 3, Number 12 - Summer 1970
The Editor Speaks
In this issue we close the dairy of the "War-Time Experiences of W. B. Cox." Dr. Hardy Kemp, Colonel, Army of the United States, retired, who excerpted and annotated the diary for us, too learned much as he read and read and studied. He says,
"In Columbia in a Cemetery Registration printing, I discovered that "W. B.'s kid brother, Jim, frequently mentioned in the diary married a sister of my grandmother, nee Elizabeth Catherine Jenkins, the wife of "Uncle Joe" Melton, my mother's father, a Sgt. in Co. B. 6th Mo. Vol. Co.
"My cousin Edna (Standridge) Mrs. D. M.) Holmes, Batesville, Ark., confirmed this for me-so I am more kin to W. B. than I ever expected. I knew there was something unusual about this when Cousin Jim Seaman (cousin, 3) gave me that old diary. So W. B. must be my great-uncle "Once Removed".
"We-uns over in Stone County, all us, say, you can't throw a rock without hitten' a cousin, some whar."
I believe that statement of Dr. Kemp. Did you ever sit beside Mrs. Ray Martin at a Broiler Festival dinner in Crane? We often do. Everyone who enters proves a cousin, sometimes a bit far removed, but a relative yet and so respected and loved.
Next issue we will start a "Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets, Past and Present of Christian County", compiled by Arthur Paul Moser. He gives not only a directory, but a bit of history of each. Later Mr. Moser will permit us to use the same information concerning Stone County. This comes to us through the interest of Mrs. Lucille Adams Anderson, a member of our Board of Directors from Ozark, Mo.
We are indebted to Herald Jenkins, Route 1, Jenkins, Missouri for a copy of the booklet, "History of the Mars Hill Church and Cemetery". A story of that we will use... But first I must find out where and for what price you may buy a copy or copies of the book, written by Mr. Jenkins. This church and cemetery, while located in or near the county line, appears to me to belong to both counties as to members who use the same.
The Annual Meeting of the White River Valley Historical Society was held at Rock Bridge in Ozark County on June 29. The members present elected the present officers to succeed themselves for another term, since they had not served a full year. Mr. Coy Logan of Carroll County; Arkansas, asked to be relieved of his directorship, but as no one from that county has attended a meeting for a long time those present knew of no one to elect from that County.
Dr. M. Graham Clark, president, will arrange for a Fall Meeting to be held in Christian County with Mrs. Lucille Adams Anderson, chairman of arrangements.
Rock Bridge with its old mill, old bank, print shop, and meetinghouse, modern dining room and motel proved an ideal spot for a meeting. Near a hundred of us from five counties of Missouri ate fried or broiled trout fresh from the mountain stream. Then everyone showed a farm or early good upbringin as he left not a crumb of the fresh peach cobbler or apple pie.
Mrs. Ruby M. Robins, vice-pres., introduced John L. Harlin, banker of Gainesville and grandson of John C. Harlin who served long as president of the bank... but after all there's been a Harlin or so among the bank officers since the organization of the first bank in 1894.
Young John, now the executive Vice-president told that among the extra services of the bank has long been to give happiness and laughter which pre-supposes happiness... Also, the grandfather, John C., known as Johnny Harlin, was often called on to remove warts.
Besides all of his other accomplishments Johnny C. Harlin, says his grandson, could cry sales, preach funeral sermons, and "shoot the head off a wild turkey in flight, catch his limit of fish in two hours, and sing powerful good".
Jewel Ross Mehus
This volume: Next Article | Table of Contents | Other Issues
Other Volumes | Keyword Search | White River Valley Quarterly Home | Local History Home
Copyright © White River Valley Historical Quarterly
