Volume 9, Number 2 - Winter 1986
YELLVILLE
Poem Written By (Morosoria "Sue" Wilson Layton)
"The following descriptive poem was written by Mrs. A. S. (Wilson) Layton in regard to Yellville, and it will be found of sufficient historical interest to be given a place in our scrapbooks." DO NOT KNOW DATE 011 PUBLICATION OF THIS ARTICLE
Contributed by Missy Hunter.
This village of long continued renown, One time, a hamlet, called Shawnee-town;
Here, the Indian’s rustic bark canoe, Sailed o’er Crooked creek’s water blue.
Here, closely shut from the outer world, Leafy flags o’er bivouac unfurled;
And beaded purse wove in silent shade, In sunlight glistened like brocade.
Somewhere in the country yet lingers, Souvenirs made by their deft fingers;
Lo! at the white man’s stealthy tread, They from the heart of nature, fled.
"Crossing o’er dead tree, mossy logs, Climbing softly o’er quaking bogs;
With painted limbs, in battle dress, They left this Ozark wilderness.
It is not known whether they went Nor how their last days were spent."
Perchance, on some wide prairie mound, They found happy hunting ground.
Here, the Tutt and Everett war was fought, And in many souls anguish was wrought;
Seventeen men in the fray were slain, The victims of lawless, sinful bane.
This cruel warfare of blood and tears, Lasted for two or three long years;
When the peace making Angels arose, Arid brought this fight to a close.
Governor Yell not appeared on the scene With pleasing face and stately mien;
With fluent speech the people did thrill, And Shawneetown was changed to Yellville.
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Men from Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee, Came to this country, remote and free;
With them came the rural school teacher, And Reverent Hively, the M. E. Preacher.
The court house was built on Main Street, And Yeilville became the county seat;
A drug store was built on a corner lot, And occupied by Mr. Henry Onscott,
There, Drs. Carlisle, Cowdrey and Lockett, Filled with drugs their medicine pockets.
Tranquility, from dark, stormy years, Greet those, who had know touch of tears;
With joy they stood, above their vantage ground, To drink in every chord of sylvan sound;
While woman’s voice, in Angel gift of song, Made the comrade-ship of men, more strong.
In bonds of brother hood relation, They discussed the labor situation;
And, in tenderness of thought and speech Held fast to higher visions, each for each.
But Alas! the years of peace were brief, For both white and Indian chief.
In the year eighteen and sixty one The inhuman Civil war begun.
The bugle’s shrill note pierced the air, And on every face was written despair,
Both armies, never, here in battle met With cannon ball, gun and bayone;
But the vagrant, base mischievious clan, Who disdained the laws of God and man.
The best people in the town annoyed And beautiful homes were destroyed.
Men and women in character true blue, Bleak bitter days of separation knew;
While charred fragments in embers lie Of old records of days gone by
There Yet, is one old land mark Across the way, above the Park.
Star signalled on the brow of the hill, A cloistered, secret chamber still;
Aloof, stands the old Masonic Hall, Where some men are given the black ball.
There, men in accord with Deity’s wise will, Who measure true to the square’s fill skill;
The letter "G" badge, wear as an insign, As they step to the lyric of "Auld Lang Syne".
In the year eighteen and sixty five, Business men, in town arrived;
And expert workmen of great skill, Were employed, Yellville to rebuild.
A. S. Layton, from army’s file and rank, Established in town the first Bank;
The brick church was built in 1889 By the people and the Reverent divine,
Who, from the M. E. Conference came, After their temple was ruined by a flame.
A gin was built by Ellenburg and Berry And cotton was hauled to McBees ferry,
And shipped South on outbound keels, Where the product a higher price yields.
McDowell, Cowdrey, Layton and Seawell Into this isolated woodland dell.
Overland hauled, all their merchandise While proved a successful enterprise.
And men were pushed thru on every line Like the phlox is pushed thru sod into sunshine
In the year nineteen hundred and eight, Merchants shipped by rail, their freight;
Flight of time through the cycles wing And good facilities to the town bring.
Layton brothers — Thompson and Hayes Are now having monthiy sales days,
And a system of rules, wish to acquire, Beneficial to both salesman and buyer;
The new Baptist church on Carter street, Is convenient and finished very neat.
And worship, like pure incense, ascends, Which, for past sorrow, makes full amends.
Here today young hearts are yearning For knowledge store, in books of learning,
And, in Crooked creek’s noted valley, There’s need of an educational rally
For deeper culture in this town — Of long — continued renown.
(Poem copied as originally written)
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