Volume 3, Number 8 - Summer 1969
The Editor Speaks
Harold R. Hastings, who lives in Idaho says he belongs to the local chapter of Idaho Historical Society, but that four generations of his family have lived in Stone, Barry, and Taney County. He wants to know about our Quarterly and Society. I could send to him copy of the Quarterly, but I could not give much of good concerning a society that had not met nor elected officers for more than three years. So far as I know the Quarterly is the only functioning bit of the White River Valley Historical Society.
With no meetings, with finances precarious so publication irregular and mailings the same, many dropped their membership, putting the editor out on a limb for fair, but through the help of good citizens and institutions, the treasurer has managed to pay the bills of the editor now old or former members are returning to the fold and we yet publish history.
Perhaps Mr. Hasting will join and then give as well as take by sharing with us history and stories concerning his White River Valley families.
*****
Dr. Hardy A. Kemp is my youngest "budding" author. In years you know he is not so young, for after his name I write Colonel, AUS, Rtd. He is so full of ideas that he will never grow old and like the good old soldier will likely "just fade away".
Now, retired he has time to pick up family history, 'cept that Dr. Kemp does it the hard way. He studies and researches and fills in the missing links.
In the next issue of the Quarterly we start his "The War-time Experiences of W. B. Cox, farrier, Company B., Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, United States Army" as excerpted from his diary and annotated by Dr. Kemp.
But before we start the Civil War Diary lets take a look at this man Kemp. He was born in Monett, Mo. He attended the public schools there and Southwest Missouri State College. Along the way he decided on Medicine as a major so received his M. D. from St. Louis University in 1926. With much post-graduate work later.
His professional background includes:
Professor of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine, Baylor University; Dean of School of Medicine and Professor of Preventive Medicine, University of Vermont and Trustee of Mary Fletcher Hospital; Dean of the College of Medicine, Director of University, Starling-Loving Hospital, and Professor of Preventive Medicine, Ohio State University; Dir. of Graduate Studies leading to M. Sc. and Ph. D. degrees, College of Medicine and Graduate School affiliated Hospitals, Baylor University; Dir. St. Louis VA Hospital; Asst. Director, Education, Medical Research, and Education VA Central Office, Washington D.C.
His military record shows he was commissioned a Lt. MRC 1926 and Colonel MCR 1945, with many decorations such as, America Theater Defense Ribbon, North African-European Theatre Campaign Ribbon, Southwest Pacific Campaign Ribbon with one battle Star; Special Commendation, Med. Ed. Surgeon General, 1958.
Among his publications are approximately 100 scientific papers first dealing with the bacteriology and parisitology of diseases of warmer climates; later with medical hospital administration, graduate study, preventive medicine and problems of medical care, particularly hospital and casualty insurance.
So you see Dr. Kemp is a "young" author only in this field of family history and research.
*****
Mrs. Dorothy Marsh, Baxter Spring, Kansas, sent part of a paper she has on Taney County marriages which she took from her great-great Uncle Turnbo's paper. She says, "I still have not gotten all of his stories copied, but I am working at it... I need information on the Riddle, Jones, Turnbo, Onstott, James, and Hodge families who lived around Protem."
[inside back cover]
She asks if we have a copy of the Census for 1860. We do have rolls of it. I just found same, but will have to study it before I can attempt to get it printed.
*****
John Gerten writes, "in 1897 there were a number of ferries on White River. The one at the mouth of Cedar Creek was Blackwells. These ferries had cables stretched across the river and the current carried them across. The ferryman lived close and there was a bell to ring when someone wished to cross. These ferries could take a team and wagon across and were used when the river was too high to ford.
"I believe the only traffic on the White River at that time were rafts of cedar wood. They were floated down river as far as Batesville, Ark., and sold. How it was shipped from there I could not say or how the men got back... I know that in those days lead pencils were made of red cedar or juniper and also cigar boxes."
*****
We begin in this issue a series of articles on Ozark County. Mrs. Ruby M. Robins, editor and publisher of the Ozark County Times, Gainesville, prepared the material. Mrs. Robins serves as a working member of the Board of Directors of the White River Historical Society. Some years ago she either prepared or helped to prepare the information found on the historical signs along Missouri Highways and in state parks.
When Mrs. Robins and her husband the late Mr. Fred Robins came to publish the newspaper at Gainesville, Mrs. Robins began at once to study and collect history concerning the county. She says it has proved a fascinating study, for Ozark County is so rich with history.
Jewell Ross Mehus
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