Volume 5, Number 12 - Summer 1976
Old Books... New to Some
As I discovered the following named books I immediately turned to my true source of information concerning "Ozark Books", to Vance Randolph’s book, "Ozark Folklore, a Bibliography."
"The Pioneers Hoard, a Thrilling Romance of the Ozarks" by Scott Van Gordon. Vance said, "A novel about violence, murder, outlaws and ‘regulators’ in Stone and Christian Counties in Missouri shortly after the Civil War. Dialect not too bad and several references to Folklore."
There’s an additional fifteen pages telling the story of the "audiphone", an instrument that enables deaf persons to hear ordinary conversation through the medium of the teeth, etc. Another five pages lists other books published by Rhodes and McClure Publishing Company. These include four concerning Dwight L. Moody all with full page engravings from Gustav Dore, four concerning Sam Jones and his gospel sermons. Others concern Bob Ingersoll and DeWitt Talmadge and "Wild Life in the Far West," by H. C. Simpson. Then there’s the gold watch for $2.85. If money is sent with the order the purchaser gets chain and charm free. "Backwoods Teacher," by Joseph Nelson. "Nelson taught in a rural school near the Missouri border. It is a fine job. The author knows his stuff and has set down many amusing and revealing anecdotes. A required reading for every serious student."
"Ozark and Vicinity in the Nineteenth Century" by William Neville Collier. Mimeographed booklet about the town of Ozark, Missouri…good stuff on local history and pioneer customs. (Ed. note, the entire booklet was published in the WRVHS Quarterly and can be purchased from the Secretary-Treasurer.
"Mother Goose in the Ozarks," collected by Ray Wood, illustrated by Ed Hargis. Cartoons and verses.
"The Bald Knobbers," Lucille Morris Upton, now in good paper back, price $3.50, hard back book $6.00.
"Through Missouri on a Mule," by Thomas W. Jackson, paper back, 96 pp, copyright 1904. Vance says, "See pages 76-77 for tale of old hunter whose shotgun burst. One barrel killed 500 ducks up the river, the other barrel killed 5000 geese down the river, the ramrod killed a rattle snake in front, the gun-stock knocked the hunter into the river and he came out with his boots full of fish."
"Back Yonder," an Ozark Chronicle by Wayman Hogue, "This is one of the best books ever written about the Ozark country. The finest piece of non-fiction ever written about the Arkansas Ozarks, but Houge was not much interested in folk songs."
"Pioneers of the Ozarks," by Lennis Broad-foot, with full-page pictures by the artist author. One is of the old hunter who spent the half of his life in caves, never found any treasure but knows ‘tis there.
"A Daughter of the Ozarks," by Alanson Mason Haswell. "A story of the Bald Knobbers who harried the southern Missouri in the 1800’s. Haswell was born in Burma, never visited the Ozarks until he was 21 years old."
"The Voice of Bugle Ann," by McKinlay Kantor. "A fine fox hunting story, note the distinction between dog and hound."
"The Camp Meeting Murders," by Vance Randolph and Nancy Clemens, "A mystery thriller with an Ozark background."
"Hillbilly Doctor," by Elizabeth Seifert. "A novel about a ‘company doctor’ at a lumber camp in Missouri Ozarks. Note the tall tale of the owls. When the first steamship came whistling along, the birds turned their heads until they were twisted plumb off."
For real good reading and much information you might buy a copy of Vance’s "Ozark Folklore, a Bibliography," published by the University of Indiana. A tremendous book of 572 pages.
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