News in 1904 - Old Stagecoach Stop Museum in 1904.pdf · News in 1904 Compiled and edited by Jan and Terry Primas AD-First State Bank Map adapted by Terry Primas from a 1909 Frisco

One of the best ways to get a feel forwhat was happening in a particularlocality in a given year is to read thelocal newspaper. What was on theminds of the citizens will appear there.This is particularly true of the PulaskiCounty Democrat in the fourth year ofthe twentieth century. The Democrat wasnot a misnomer. Many newspapers ofthe 19th and early 20th century madeno effort at unbiased political news cov-erage. The Democrat heralded thevirtues of the Democratic Party andbashed the Republicans. TheodoreRoosevelt and the Republicans were“evil doers” (it’s not a new phrase) inthe pages of the paper. The subscriptionprice was $1.00 per year or a cord ofwood would suffice.

Nathan Wheeler, editor and publisherof the Pulaski County Democrat wantedhis paper to have county-wide appealand readership. He had “correspon-dents”, called stringers today, in thesmall communities throughout thecounty. They reported the news fromtheir enclaves each week. Not everyarea submitted news every week.Correspondents apparently came andwent and some were less reliable thanothers but coverage of the county was

generally good.

Each community correspondent report-ed who was sick, who visited whom,who sold what, and what was being

built. This type of news accounted forabout 95 per cent of the ink. We havegenerally omitted the sick call and thevisitation reports. We have gleanedthose items that give a sense of the

times, the mood of the populace, andthe events that had an impact on histo-ry. The larger railroad towns (Dixon,Crocker, Swedeborg, and Richland)reported faithfully each week. Newsfrom the much smaller communities(e.g. Big Piney, Decker, Bailey, andHooker) was reported sporadically.Some of these communities have losttheir identity today for the general pub-lic (see map). As an example, GoldenCenter was often cited but we havebeen unable to pinpoint this area. Wehope some reader may have a memoryof this community’s location.

The year 1904 had some things in com-mon with 2004. It was a leap year, anational and local election year, and theyear of the Louisiana PurchaseExposition (St. Louis World’s Fair).References to these last two eventsappear often in the pages of the PulaskiCounty Democrat. The completion of thecounty courthouse, which we commem-orated last summer, was also big newsduring the first part of the year. Therewas much mineral and land specula-tion. Citizens of the area had a boomtime feeling and optimism about busi-ness, inventions, and the good life wasapparent in 1904.

News in 1904 Compiled and edited by Jan and Terry Primas

AD-First State Bank

Map adapted by TerryPrimas from a 1909Frisco map.

January

Pulaski County Democrat January 1

Annual sale now on; don’t go elsewhereto be cheated; come in here.

Local NewsThe roof has been put on the court-house this week and the building willsoon be enclosed. When this is donethe work will then proceed regardlessof the weather, which has greatlyimpeded construction all along.

There was remarkable good order inWaynesville during the Christmas holi-days. Very few drunk people in townand they were very orderly and quiet.

We learn from some who were presentthat the Christmas tree and entertain-ment at Crocker last Thursday nightwas a “howling success” with muchmore howling than anything else. It issaid that a drunk man went in and tookthe house, tore up the tree and stoppedthe program and a regular riot ensued.If this be true it speaks poorly for thenerve of the law abiding citizens of thattown, in letting one man break up agathering of that kind, as it does alsofor the morale of the town. Crocker hasno saloon but they get drunk there justthe same.

BIG PINEY—Big Piney Township report-

ed the tie business was brisk. If youwant any ties made call on Wayne Clarkand Chas. Page. Lane & Co. have theirsaw mill near the Ross ford and aredoing considerable business.


Cold winter weather continues with theGasconade River being frozen over.

The County Court met Tuesday to makesome slight changes in the Court Houseand to buy some stoves to put up in theoffices.

Mr. Martin of Rolla, ArchitectHohenschield’s assistant, was hereTuesday to make examination of thecourthouse. He ordered a few slightchanges in the work but as a whole itwas found all right.

The County Court met last Saturdayand insured the court house. Theyinsured in the Hartford and took out apolicy for $7,000 for five years. W. J.Barrows represents the company andMiss Lela Davis writes the policies inhis absence.

The Bank of Waynesville has bought theJoe McGregor property at southwestcorner of square and will begin the erec-tion of a substantial bank buildingthereon as soon as spring opens and theroads get in shape to do the hauling. A

brick or stone will be built.

The license of B. F. Scott having expired,he closed his saloon on the first ofJanuary and Waynesville is now a drytown. How long it will remain suchremains to be seen but we hope it willcontinue indefinitely. While Mr. Scottconducted as orderly a place as waspossible there seemed to be a growingsentiment among all the people of thetown to try it awhile without that luxu-ry, so he decided to close out withoutmaking any effort to renew his license.We are individually opposed to the saleof liquor but have always preferredsaloons to illegal “blind tiger” and ifone is started here it will result in anopen saloon in a short time.


Correspondents around the CountyBAILEY– a neighborhood telephone isbeing talked up with good hopes ofsecuring one.

BIG PINEy - There are now three largedry good stores in Big Piney now andall have a good trade. Bayou andDemocrat Ridge schools will have whatis termed “A ciphering match” in thenear future. Bayou school stands readyand willing to accommodate any schoolin the county in a contest of this kind.

HOOKER - Harve Sheldon, the all round

fisherman, was casting his rod in OldShanghai last week. And we are veryglad to say that Harve always brings inthe game. Berry Hance of upper Pineywas buying corn in this vicinity the firstof the week.

DIXON—The value of the new saferecently put in by the Bank of Dixonwas proven by the fact that the dayafter its installment the deposits of theBank exceeded ten thousand dollars,probably breaking all records for this orany other bank in the county.

Work on the court house is progressingnicely. The carpenter work is aboutcompleted, except the floors, and theplastering is well along. It will be fin-ished by the March term of CircuitCourt.

A Big OrganOne of the most interesting features ofthe World’s fair will be a monstrouspipe organ, with 145 stops and pipesfive feet in diameter.

The Ditch ProblemThe ditch running through town haslong been a source of aggravation and aproblem that has caused our city dadsmuch worry. Frequently people aretumbling into it in the dark [and]gener-ally coming out much worsted by theirexperiences. We believe it would be agood plan to put a railing or balustrade

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along the ditch where there are nobridges. This could be done with littleexpense and would prevent pedestrianstumbling into it unaware on darknights.


Around the CountyDIXON—A Mr. Gordon of Mansfield Mo.was here the first of the week to organ-ize a company to build and operate acheese factory. He reports that a factorywill be built here in the spring. A tele-phone line is being put into connectFranks, Fishdam and Hooker with thisplace. Dixon will be connected withmost every town and “cross roadsstore” in Maries, Miller and Pulaskicounties.

SCHLICHT—The steam heating apparatuslately installed in the Schlicht MillingCompany’s mill is a perfect success andBoss Miller Lee takes pride in showingit in operation. Land buyers too numer-ous to mention from Kansas were in theValley this week seeking homes, readyto leave the windy state. Some tradeswere made.

SWEDEBORG—Swedeborg is at last goingto have a telephone from here toCrocker. S. C. Black of this place TomTurpin and C. W. Farnham of Crockerare the promoters. The work is wellunder way. This is something that thisplace has needed for a long time.

WHEELER—Henry Burnett is dealing infurs. School is progressing fine underthe management of Charlie Wheelerthis week.

HOOKER—The work on the Big PineyLodge club house will soon be in fullblast, as spring is drawing near andfishing will soon be good. FrankGraham of Spring Creek was buyingties in this neighborhood for John

Pillman last week. He is a good buyerand pays the highest prices. There isstrong talk of a telephone at this placeto connect with the Arlington line. Wehope it will be put in as it would bequite a convenience to this neighbor-hood.

Local NewsJ. B. Christeson, J. J. Clark and W. A.Bates all went to the city Sunday, thefirst two named to buy goods and thelatter to visit his old haunts and seewhat was going on at the World’s Fairgrounds.

Architect Hohenschield and the origi-nal contractor Ed Long were up fromRolla Tuesday to inspect the courthouse and see how the work was pro-gressing on same. They found every-thing about all right and suggested butfew slight changes. The beautifulweather of late was a great help to thecourt house crew and work has beenprogressing nicely. W. J. Mitchell, whodid the brick work on the court house,is here this week straightening up hisbusiness and doing a little work thatwas not completed. The County Courtmet Tuesday to examine the courthouse and issue warrants for part pay-ment of same. The house will probablybe completed by the middle ofFebruary.

Notice to Stone Contractors.The town board of the town ofWaynesville will receive sealed bids forcurbing and walling the ditch onCommercial Street at southwest cornerof the square up to Monday February 1,1904. Plans and specifications can beseen by calling Albert Christeson. Boardreserves the right to reject any and allbids. Done by order of the boardJanuary 4, 1904.


SCHLICHT—A telephone line from

Schlicht to Crocker will be built. Adebating society is in full blast at theMiller school house. The PetersonBrothers have over 500 logs on theground ready for the sawyer, FrankWalters, to cut into lumber. Bob Black,our bachelor friend, had to put his ferryboat in operation, so he could get hismail, he having wanted to hear from hisbest girl pretty badly.

WHEELER—Quite a snow storm Monday.The river has been past fording the lastfew days and quite a few visitors wereat Wheeler Sunday.

The state of Georgia will reproduce asits state building at the St. LouisWorld’s fair the residence of the lateGen. John B. Gordon, at Sutherland, asuburb of Atlanta, Ga. [Ed.Note: Gen.Gordon died this month, being the oldestliving Confederate Major General.]

They Will All Be ThereFrance, Germany, Mexico, England,China, Japan and Brazil will each spendover $5,000,000 on elaborate exhibits atthe World’s Fair.

Local NewsThe coldest weather of the season visit-ed this section Tuesday morning, thethermometer registering six degreesbelow zero. Roubidoux and theGasconade both got on quite a boom asa result of the rains the latter part of lastweek, and the road under the bluff,though not in good shape, was found tobe a great improvement over the roadaround the ridge.

Last Friday was a red letter day in thepost office at Waynesville. PostmasterPeterson and his assistant W. J. Manesreceived on the evening mail four largesacks of matter containing over 4,700pieces of mail, which were properly dis-tributed in sixteen minutes.

Notice to Bidders.The County Court of Pulaski County,

Missouri will receive sealed proposalsfor furnishing and fitting up of thevaults of the new Pulaski County CourtHouse at Waynesville, MO., until 9o’clock a.m. February 13, 1904.Specifications are on file at the office ofthe County Clerk at Waynesville, Mo.,and also at the office of the Architect atRolla, Mo.

H. H. HOHENSCHIELD, ArchitectE. G. WILLIAMS, County ClerkPulaski County, Mo.

The people of Waynesville, through theBoard of Directors, have remodeled theschool building and now we have aseating capacity in room 1 of 100, withwell equipped recitation rooms.

February

Pulaski County Democrat February 5

DIXON—Staben Bros. put up a largesupply of ice this week. Terry Bros.saloon and a barber shop at Viennawere burned Saturday night. It isreported that the whiskey was so wellwatered that it put out the fire andsaved further loss. Moral: the morewater the better in the whiskey.

WHEELER—S. S. Hamilton said that therabbits were so quick that you had tododge to keep them from running overyou. If they were bigger they wouldbreak your leg.

Local NewsThe County Court will sell the old safe,formerly in the County Clerk’s office, atpublic sale on Tuesday, February 2nd,1904, while court is in session. This safeis in fair condition and some one willget a bargain.

The County Court will draw Grand andPetit Jurors while in session this week.This will be the first Grand Jury in thiscounty in several years and a generalshaking up is looked for.


DIXON—A freight wreck on the DixonHill Monday morning in which aboutthree freight cars got “cross ways” onthe track in one of the big cuts, delayedthe east-bound morning passengertrains at this place till about 11 a.m. Wehad all kinds, classes and colors of peo-ple in town that morning and therestaurants, hotel and saloon did a pay-ing business.

Local NewsThe old safe that was in the CountyClerk’s office was sold last week by theCounty Court to C. H. Davis for $13.50.

Born Friday, February 5, 1904, to Mr.and Mrs. Ed Kerr, a fine girl baby. Mrs.Kerr and the baby are getting alongnicely but Ed is not yet out of danger.

A good view of the ditch that ran through Waynesville. Courtesy of Pulaski County Historical Society.

The court house work is progressingnicely and the interior is receiving thefinishing touches. The house will beready for circuit court and will be thebest house in the State for the money itcost. Everyone that has examined thehouse is well pleased with it.


School Notes—The entire school wastogether in room 2 Friday evening andan extemporaneous program renderedwhich was both instructive and enter-taining to all pupils. The library bookswere all collected this week and shelvedin the case by an appointed committeeand only one book is out. This is beingsearched for. [Ed. Note: It can be inferredby this that the entire Waynesville Schoollibrary fit in one book case.]

Local NewsWork on the court house is progressingnicely and it is expected to finish it intime for Circuit Court. County Courtmet in special session last Saturday toreceive bids for furnishing the vaultsand other furniture for the court house.The new addition of Iberia Academy isfinished and they have just added twomore teachers to their teaching force,giving them a faculty of seven teachers.The spring term will be mighty easilyattractive to teachers.

George M. Reed, the newly appointed

postmaster of the Waynesville officereceived his commission Saturday andtook formal charge Monday morningand installed his son Guy as assistant.

To the Taxpayers and Others.The County Court of Pulaski Countyinvites all the citizens of said county tomeet them in Waynesville on Monday,March 7, 1904 and examine our courthouse and finished, the cost of houseand furniture will be made public, so allcan hear what it cost. We expect promi-nent speakers to be on hand andaddress the people on the politicalissues. Come.

The County Court

[Ed. Note: There were 29 pieces of propertylisted for auction due to delinquent taxes inthis week’s Democrat. Hard cash for the taxcollector must have been hard to come by.]


BLOODLAND—Weather bad-lots of iceand sleet. The Bloodland school was outlast Friday. James Lane was the teacherand taught us a good school, and gavegeneral satisfaction.CROCKER—Guy Tallman is back in hisold place of business. If you want agood shave or up-to-date hair cut he isthe mustard. He also carries a line ofgroceries and serves lunch.

SCHLICHT—Capt. Chas. Peterson has atlast got him a wagon made from iron.

The Captain makes sure of strengthwhen he is hauling his bride around.

DIXON—George Franklin has bought ahorse and delivery wagon and has putthem into service. This makes four gro-cery stores here that use delivery wag-ons for the benefit of their customers.

BAILEY—The residence of Mr. Kirtsingerwas burned to the ground lastThursday night, the family narrowlyescaping. All efforts to save furniturewere fruitless as the flames were understrong headway before the family werearoused from their slumbers. [Ed. Note:It seems every other week brings an itemabout a house fire during the winter sea-son.]

Local NewsFrank Bennett, the plasterer on the

court house was here the first of theweek to complete that part of the work.A. D. Sutton and W. G. White, twoRoubidoux citizens, were shakinghands with the boys in town Thursday.The few warm days the first of theweek started the candidates to buddingand the crop promises to be quite prolif-ic. The majority seem to want to beAssessor.

A Telephone to DixonDr. Harrison and others are building atelephone line from Dixon to Hooker.The line was completed last week to

Judge L. L. Cobb’s place and is beingcontinued this week. They say that ifthe people on Piney, the wire road andWaynesville will help, that the line willbe brought to this place, thus connect-ing Waynesville with Dixon, Hookerand all the country between thesepoints, which would be a great conven-ience. Farmers and others along the linemay have instruments put in at theirhomes or places of business at a reason-able cost. We hope to see the peoplebecome interested in this enterprise andencourage it.

[Ed Note: The space in the paper for newscontinues to shrink as there were 48 noticesof public sales by the sheriff as a result ofdelinquent taxes.]

Pulaski County Democrat March 4

Our New Court House.Some Facts About the New Court

House Building to be Turned Over tothe County Court and the People Next

Monday.The new court house is completed

and will on Monday, March 7, 1904 beformally turned over to the CountyCourt and the taxpayers of the county.The house is one of the neatest in thecountry and probably the best house,cost considered, that has ever been builtin the state. It is a house that everyoneshould be proud of and one that everytaxpayer in the county—if he will lay

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his prejudices aside—will acknowledgeto be a beauty both in architecture andworkmanship. It is built on a founda-tion 60 feet long by 40 feet wide at thenorth. On the ground floor are fivelarge office rooms containing probablytwice as much floor space as did theoffices in the old building. It has a southand east entrance with halls and corri-dor. The court room on the second flooroccupies the same space formerly occu-pied by the court room and two juryrooms. In addition to the court roomthis floor has three jury rooms, one forGrand Jury and two for Petit Juries, aconsultation room and a witness wait-ing room.

On the lower floor and convenientlyarranged are two large fireproof vaultswith ample capacity to hold all recordsthat may accumulate in years to come.The interior of the entire building is fin-ished in a very attractive style, the plas-tering being of Acme cement with alight gray finishing coat. The woodwork is of hard pine finely polished andvarnished giving it a finish equal toanything in the country for beauty.

The entire cost of the building includ-ing the seats and desks in the courtroom is $10, 240, every cent of whichhas been paid out of money on handand insurance received on old buildingwithout increasing taxes a penny andno one will ever feel the effects of ourrecent misfortune in a financial way.

The County Court and other officials

deserve much credit for the judgmentexercised and economy used in thismatter and they earnestly request every

taxpayer in the county to be presentnext Monday at the dedication of thebuilding and make a careful examina-

tion of the same. It is expected that thefurniture for the offices will be here bythat time but if it is not the house alone

Sellers SextonAuto Financial

This is a photograph of the early courthouse, complete with hogs roaming the street. Courtesy Pulaski County HistoricalSociety.

is worth looking at, so come and see it.Appropriate dedicatory ceremonies

will be had and good speakers will bepresent to participate in the exercises.

DIXON—A lodge of the Brotherhood ofAmerican Yoemen was organized hereMonday night. An addition, to beknown as Danner’s Addition to Dixon,is being laid out on the north side oftown and the lots are advertised for saleat public auction next Saturday.

HANNA—We understand Rob Davis hasordered a wife. Quite a crowd spent lastSunday evening at the Maxey Cave.

Local NewsA Grand Jury has been drawn for thecoming session of Circuit Court, whichwill be the first for two years. The coun-ty officials will all move into their newquarters in the court house next weekor the week following. The CountyCourt and the business men and citi-zens of Waynesville are anxious thatyou attend the dedication of the courthouse next Monday. The Dorcas societyof the M. E. Church, South will servedinner and supper to the people attend-ing Circuit Court on Monday March7th, the proceeds to go to improving thechurch building. A splendid dinner willbe served and all you can eat for 25cents.


The [wood]cut represents the newcourt house that was dedicated andturned over to the County Court andtax payers Monday. Early in the daycrowds of people began to arrive andlong before noon the town was filledwith people from all parts of the county,some on business with the Court butmany to see the new court house andmeet people. In the afternoon the cere-monies of dedication were had in whichmany Pulaskians indulged. Appropriatespeeches were made by Joe McGregor,W. D. Rowden, G. M. Reed, J. L.Johnson, C. H. Shubert, W. D. Johnsonand Judge L. B. Woodside. Many com-plimentary remarks were made con-cerning our efficient County Court, aswell as past courts, and all praised thenew house, beauty in architecture, fin-ish and convenient arrangement, andexpressed surprise at the remarkablelow figures at which it had been builtand finished.

We gave a brief description of thehouse last week so will not repeat it thisweek, but of the hundreds of peoplewho were here this week not a criticismhas been heard nor an objection madeand we believe the house meets theapprobation of at least 99 out of every100 tax payers in the county regardlessof their political belief.

GASCONADE—Prof. Chas. Case recentlyclosed a successful term of school inthis district. Mr. Case is one of thoserare teachers who, though stern in com-

mand, still retains the good will of thepupils. We hope to be able to secure hisservices another year.

DIXON—J. M. Mitchell has his tentspitched near the depot and has adver-tised his place of business as the facefactory. Making false faces, we presume.W. W. Danner sold 12 of his lots at auc-tion last Saturday. They ranged in pricefrom $8 to $20.

HOOKER—Several people from this partare in Waynesville this week. Courting Iguess. Most of the Republicans fromhere attended the convention atWaynesville last Saturday and we areproud to say that Hooker is almost aRepublican town, there being but oneDemocrat.

SCHLICHT—A grand chivari, the bestthat could be gotten up, was given tothe new married couple, Mr. and Mrs.Fred Lundstrom. The gentlemanresponded with wine and cigars.[Ed. Note: See the sidebar for an explana-tion of this Upland South tradition.]


Dixon—George Lane was here thisweek in the interest of his candidacy.George has many friends on this side ofthe county. Orders served on many ofour citizens this week by the marshalare causing considerable work to bedone on our sidewalks. It was prettybadly needed[Ed. Note: Under “Announcements” appearshort biographies of candidates in the partyprimaries for county offices. They appearedlast week and continue for a few more. Weinclude one from this week as an example.]

A. D. SuttonIn the proper column this week appearsthe name of A. D. Sutton of Roubidouxtownship as a candidate for Sheriff sub-ject to the Democratic primary. DotsonSutton is one of Roubidoux’s most pop-ular young farmers. Two years ago hewas elected constable of that townshipand has made a good official. He pos-sesses the necessary enterprise and iswell qualified to make a competentsheriff. He will be found an earnestworker and a strong opponent.


SWEDEBORG—The Frisco tie loadinggang was here the first of the week andcleaned up the tie yard. The M. W. of A.[Modern Woodmen of America] Campof this place is at last going to havethem a hall. S. C. Black is going to buildone over his store for them.

RICHLAND—Richland is flooded with

land buyers—14 here at one time lastweek. We have four drug stores in fullblast, yet they call Richland a healthytown.

Local NewsThe Hub Realty Company is the posses-sor of a new Oliver typewriter whicharrived Sunday. The progress of our lit-tle Bank has been excellent. The busi-ness has been much greater than any-one anticipated and the Board of

The Shivaree (chivari, chivaree, or charivari)The shivaree, with various spellings, is a custom from England, Scotland,

Germany, and Russia. The ancient French tradition was for family and friends toserenade the newly wedded couple. The Scotch/Irish practiced the prank of a“bride abduction, where rivaling clans would kidnap the bride on the weddingnight. As the immigrants moved westward, they brought this tradition to theOzarks. On a night soon after the wedding, family and neighbors would stealth-ily gather outside the couple’s cabin with cow bells, pots, pans, and guns. Thenoise would spontaneously erupt and continue until the couple emerged. It wasexpected that the couple would then invite the revelers inside and provide treats,usually cigars for the men and cake for women, and nonsmokers with a suitabledrink. If the couple were unprepared and offered no refreshments, the groom wasput on a fence rail, ridden to the nearest creek or pond, and thrown into thewater. Treat or not, the groom was usually jokingly threatened with immersion.In the Ozarks, the phrase “get the bells ready” refers to impending marriage andthe resulting shivaree. It appears often in newspaper gossip in the early 1900sand lasted into the 1950s in some Ozark neighborhoods.

The modern wedding with its fast automobile getaway and distant honeymoonhas left us with a few modern relics of the shivaree. Throwing rice or birdseedwith cheers as the couple emerge from the church is the serenading. Decoratingthe car with signs and affixing cans and pots to the bumper is the noise. Thereception provides the treat. -The Editors

An Account of a Shivaree at Big Piney in the 1930sIt was on Thursday night we had the shivaree—or maybe Friday. Anyhow, after

meeting people made as if to go home, but presently we crept back to the school-house where we talked until we were sure the Ashtons [the newlyweds] wouldbe in bed by the time we could make our way by moonlight through the woods.

Just as women afoot carried their Sunday shoes and put them on near thechurch, leaving the old ones hidden in the brush until afterward, so also hadpans and buckets and bells and guns been hidden this evening. The deadenedtimber stood with fiercely raised arms as we walked through the frosty pastureand up the ridge. There was a lamp going down yonder at the house, but it wentout even as we saw it. We crept downward. We were almost there when a dogbayed us. Then we started the noise.

Through the gate we went, and around the house. Our shotguns,streakingorange up into the air, deafened us as we jangled the bells and pans. A steel oildrum, the top cut out, was in the sideyard at the butchering place for scaldinghogs. Empty, it made a fearful and unearthly din as it was beaten with sticks.

After about five minutes, in a lull, we heard the Ashtons urging the young cou-ple to come out. The front door opened. We cheered, and as light was struckinside we were invited in. They were ready for us. Cakes, of varieties that wouldkeep for a while, had been baked ahead, and George had laid in two cans ofpenny stogies. The women gathered in the kitchen and the back bedroom, themen in the two front rooms. In the asphyxiating smoke of the stogies we madetalk. The men who had refused the tobacco were given cake, but the platters werenot passed to the smokers.

Soon some of the young people were making molasses candy in the kitchen.They boiled it up and buttered their hands and had a pulling, and when the ropystuff became brittle it was snapped up and passed.

Finally someone near me drawled, ‘Well, we better mosey. ..If’n hit were myshivaree, I’d sho’ be mad if they kep’ me out of bed any longer’n this. . .”

We filed by the bride and groom (after having made a few more matter-of-factreferences as to the advisability of ducking George in the creek, even though hehad provided treat) and shook their hands and everybody said, “I wish you’unsevery happiness,” or “I wish you’uns a long an’ happy life.” This was verysolemn, and many of the women hugged and kissed Martha.

It was a right good shivaree.

[from Backwoods Teacher, Joseph Nelson, L. B. Lippincott, 1949. This book, nolonger in print is an account of Nelson’s year as a teacher in Big Piney, an area“sometimes referred to as the last seed-bed of Anglo-Saxon culture in America”.

A. D. Sutton, ca. 1892. Courtesy ofBenny Doolin.

Directors and Cashier Rollins deservemuch credit for the creditable way inwhich this institution has been conduct-ed.

DECKER—Decker is on a boom. Twogentlemen from the northern Stateswere here Friday looking out a locationfor a mill. Mrs. J. E. Lane of Piney wasselling eggs and trading with our mer-chant Saturday. Mrs. Lane’s yearlyincome from eggs alone is $50.00. Howis that for the Missouri hen?

BAILEY—A. D. Sutton, our local candi-date for Sheriff, will be a hard man tobeat, while his knowledge of the busi-ness of the office makes him thoroughlycompetent.

April

Pulaski County Democrat April 1

BLOODLAND—Saturday was the banneregg day at Bloodland. Jaspar Bros.bought over six hundred dozen.

Local NewsRivers very high, preventing mail deliv-ery. Many of our people went to theriver to view the high water. CharlesPage, in crossing the RoubidouxSaturday afternoon, while it was overmuch of the bottoms, got his boat over-turned in the slough opposite the bigspring and had to spend several hourson a small island before being rescued.

He was pretty well chilled but was gladit was no worse.

DIXON—Some talk of wanting to raisethe incorporation a notch—to a city ofthe fourth class.

RICHLAND—A minstrel show in townSaturday night. More new land buyersthis week—keeps our real estate menbusy.


Local News. Marshal Mitchell is walling the ditch

at the crossing of Maple street and willsoon have it bridged and ready for trav-el.

800 Strawberry Pickers wanted for theRichland and Stoutland Fruit GrowersAssociation. Will commence picking byMay 10th, 1904.

HOOKER—Everything is on the boom(not bum). Mr. Cobert is taking in thesights at the Worlds Fair City.

RICHLAND—Richland was full of peopleSaturday, all the business houses wererunning over and three persons werecalaboosed before the day was over.


BAILEY—The recent storms have left thetelephone wires on this route in verybad shape. The mail did not reach here

last Friday and Saturday on account ofhigh water. The condition of the roadsrender it impossible for our merchantsto keep up a supply of goods.

GASCONADE—Cattle are now doing wellon the range. Tom Finley recentlybought the John Baker hack and says heknows he can stand in with the girlsthis summer and buggy ride everySunday.


Local NewsThe town put a substantial bridge

across the ditch near L. N. Hufft’s storelast week. The rock is now being quar-ried for the new bank building, which isexpected to be begun in a short time.Only four weeks from today until theprimary election, and a busy four weeksthat will be. The setting of the primaryso soon will prevent candidates goingback more than a half dozen genera-tions to look up the records of theiropponents.

DIXON—The Dixon cheese factory pro-moters held a meeting Saturday andappointed committees to superintendthe building and secure additional sub-scriptions for shares. The building hasbeen started and the Company will beincorporated for $2,000. The WildwoodFruit Farm plantation claims 4,000 bar-rels of apples will be raised by themthis year. The Frisco Railroad Companyhas added a new employee to the pas-

senger train service. He is called the col-lector and his duties are to help the con-ductor “knock down fares” some claim.Under the recent order of no passes andwith the “collector system” you have topay full fare.


HOOKER—Harve Sheldon is the crackerjack fisherman this spring.

GOLDEN CENTER—More measles.

Local NewsOne of the worst rain storms of the sea-son visited this section last Saturdaynight. The town was flooded with waterand the streets were badly washed.Account Louisiana Purchase Expositionthe Frisco Railway will sell tickets fromCrocker to St. Louis and return, thecheapest being $5.30, with childrenbeing one-half of the adult fare.

SCHLICHT—G. W. Lane, candidate forcollector, was electioneering in theValley this week. His weight ought tobe sufficient to hold down the office.

May

Pulaski County Democrat May 6Local News

The County Court visited the Crockerbridge Tuesday to see what repair, ifany, was needed thereon. The financialstatement of Pulaski County will be

ADS

published as soon as possible aftercourt meets. The statement shows, afterpaying all expenses for the year, a bal-ance in the county revenue fund of$8,220.00, and only about one-third ofthe back tax, sinking and county foreigninsurance fund was collected and paidon court house and furniture, and theCourt will have enough money to runthe county until the next collection.

RICHLAND—Measles still running ram-pant, killing a three month infant.

SCHLICHT— Joey May Ledbetter ven-tured the roaring Gasconade last weekto get a letter at the post office from hissweetheart.

Pulaski County Democrat May 13

GOLDEN CENTER—More rain, more rest.Wheat is looking very fine. Prospectsfor all kinds of fruit are good. The farm-ers are all badly behind in their work.All who have been suffering with themeasles are better at this writing.

RICHLAND—Several of our towns peoplewill visit the world’s fair next month.George Lane of Waynesville was a visi-tor here the first of the week. E. G.Williams, our county clerk, was circulat-ing among old friends here Tuesday ofthis week. The 12 year old son of A.Manuel living near here died lastMonday of measles. The little 4 year olddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Godfreydied of measles last Friday night.

DIXON—The Dixon Canning Companysold a car of tomatoes to the Sligo IronCompany at Sligo, Mo. this week. C. H.Streb is clearing ground just west oftown to put up a brick yard. Hismachinery has been shipped here andhe expects to [be] manufacturing bricksin a short time. The question of restrain-ing stock from running on the streetshas been the leading subject for discus-sion here this week. Keiper, whomeverybody in Dixon knows and one ofthe most unique characters in this sec-tion of the country was in Dixon theearly part of the week. Till about threeyears ago when he was accused of mur-dering his wife, he lived near here andwas here most every day. He wouldhaul ties to town on a wheelbarrow andwould keep himself supplied in tobaccoby picking up “snipes” or cigar stubsout of the street gutters. Since the timementioned he has not been seen here tillthis week. His garments appeared tohave been the same ones worn on hisformer visits, and to see him wouldmake one think of Rip Vanwinkle.

All over the country there is a protestagainst the management of the publicschools. Spelling, geography, historyand all elementary studies seem to beneglected and pretense takes the placeof real acquirement. [Ed. Note: Soundsstrangely familiar, doesn’t it?]

In the Republican state convention ofTexas the Rev. Daniel Abner prayed asfollows: “Grant one favor, O Lord, weask of Thee that you don’t let yourparty be defeated this year!” This is thefirst intimation we have had of celestialpolitics.

Local NewsDr. B. N. Pippin came in last Saturdayand is doing dental work at the Blackhotel this week. Marshal Mitchell witha crew of hands has been cleaning upour streets and done some grading atthe mouth of the lane which was verymuch needed, the damage being doneby the recent high water. Mrs. W. J.Barrows, while trying to cross the firstford of the creek on horseback one daylast week, got into a drift of quick sandand was thrown from her horse andquite seriously hurt by being struckwith the hoofs of the horse in his floun-dering.

The Portals Are Opened.Saturday, April 30, will go down intohistory as a red-letter day for St. Louis,witnessing as it did the consummationof four years of unremitting labor in theconception, organization and construc-tion of the Louisiana PurchaseCentennial exposition and the openingof its portals to the world....Estimates ofthe attendance during the day were var-ied, running 200,000 to a quarter of amillion. The actual attendance, accord-ing to official estimate, will come within200,000, which show a new first dayrecord, that at Philadelphia being about186,000 and Chicago, something over137,000. The grounds, however, are sovast, that a million people might bewithin the gates without causingunseemly crowding except, perhaps,around some special attraction. JohnPhillip Sousa’s band played“Louisiana” for the first time in pub-lic...It had been arranged that President[Theodore] Roosevelt should press the[telegraph] key which would officiallyopen the fair...and at approximately12:15, St. Louis time, the official signalflashed back from the White House andthe exposition was officially opened.

HOOKER—Several cases of measles arereported on Gospel Hill. There will bequite a number of St. Louisians out in afew days to spend their vacation andenjoy the summer breezes of the BigPiney river. Big Piney needs no recom-mendations as an ideal summer resort,for it is the only place in the southwestto enjoy life.


1904 Financial StatementThe financial statement of PulaskiCounty for the year ending April 30th,1904 showed total receipts in theGeneral Revenue Fund of $20,470.85and total expenditures of $10,793.67.This left a balance in the Treasury of$8,220.88.

[Ed. Note: For comparison, the December31, 2002 balance in the Pulaski CountyGeneral Revenue Fund was $232, 437.Receipts for fiscal year 2003 were$2,798,323. Expenditures were $2,823, 337leaving a cash balance of $207.423.]

Local NewsJ. B. Christeson is the proud possessor

of a brand new, rubber tire, canopy topsurrey, and he drives with the grace anddignity of an alleged lord.

SWEDEBORG—The Frisco put in aninstrument [telegraph key] hereWednesday and are now ready for theoperator.

GOLDEN CENTER— J. W. Robertson hascontracted to build a fine hotel in Iberia.One new case of measles.

SCHLICHT— Mrs. Banty Williams pre-sented her husband with a fine 12pound boy. Mother and child doingwell but Banty took to the woods andhasn’t been seen since.


DIXON— Monday was an exceptionallydull day in Dixon and would have goneinto history without an incident worthyof record but for two of our best citizenswho it is claimed will have a record oftheir proceedings made on our policebooks. The trouble started over achanged public road leading into ourtown. Walter Scott was interesting him-self and trying to interest others for theestablishment of the road. It is reportedthat he was in a “weaving way” andafter having spent his opinion ratherfreely with whoever would listen tohim, he turned his attention to Dr.Harrison. In trying to convert him onthe good roads question he pulled himfrom his horse and was proceeding topound his argument into him with hisfists. Bystanders interfered and separat-ed the pugilists and except talk nothingfurther has been done.

GOSPEL RIDGE—The measles are ragingin this community at present.

RICHLAND—J. W. Armstrong went to St.Louis Monday to take in the World’sFair. Mrs. F. M. Hance and Miss MattiePatrick left for St. Louis Monday to takein the World’s Fair. One hundred pick-ers went to work in the Evans strawber-ry field, which joins town, there arethirteen acres in berries.

SWEDEBORG—S. C. Black started Mondayto build the new Woodman hall.

Local NewsWaynesville has no saloon but whiskeywas strongly in evidence here Fridayand considerable electioneering doneby means of that commodity. Thedefeated candidates have all, so far aswe hear, taken their defeat manfully

and are now ready to do their part toelect the entire ticket. The ticket nomi-nated last Friday is a strong one andwill be elected by the old time Pulaskicounty majority.

June

Pulaski County Democrat June 3CROCKER—Mrs. E. A. Rowden and MissBlanche Tallman left on Wednesdaynight for a two weeks visit to the St.Louis World’s Fair.

The Waynesville Normal boys challengeany marble players who think they canplay to meet them on their schoolgrounds. Marbles and ground furnishedand all incidental expenses paid.

BAILEY—Our bee men are all boasting oflarge early swarms. Give them plenty ofroom according to their strength andthey will gather in large stores of theprecious nectar.

Local News The Normal will take its annual outingand picnic on next Thursday, June 9th.They will go to the mouth ofRoubidoux at the Club House to spendthe day.

Pulaski County Democrat June 10

GOLDEN CENTER—Three families withmeasles, eight year old girl dies fromthe measles.

Local NewsG. W. Lane, Scott Hicks and JamesRobinson all came in Sunday from atrip to the World’s Fair and pronounceit a grand success. They feel sure theygot their money’s worth.

Pulaski County Democrat June 17

Local NewsA new sidewalk was built this week infront of the Democrat office and thebuilding occupied by the bank. Themarshal has had a crew of men workingon the streets this week and they aremaking quite a difference in theappearance of the town. JohnWilkerson, a farmer living a few milesnorth of town, had him some patentbee hives made lately and when hepainted them made an elegant bunch ofroses on each hive. Now the bees hoveraround the painted blooms and refuseto go into the woods for honey andJohn is in trouble, as his crop of honeyis likely to be spoiled by his skillful jobof painting.

Pulaski County Democrat June 24.HANCOCK—We understand thatHancock is to have a new school housesoon.

Confederate Vet’s ReunionNashville, Tenn., June 14—Under

every condition tending to a successful

reunion, Nashville today officially wel-comed the United Confederate Veteransand their friends, constituting a hostconservatively estimated at 30,000 peo-ple... E. G. Williams, Pulaski CountyClerk was in attendance and is quite anactive member in the organization. Thecredentials committee reported 2,316delegates present, representing 726camps. Missouri has 78 camps with 36delegates present. The reunion will runthree days and Louisville was selectedas the convention city for next year.

Local NewsDr. Tice went to St. Louis last Friday

for a few days stay in the World’s FairCity. Judge Joe McGregor and M. G.Wyrich also attended. Mr. and Mrs. BertBurchard and Sam Ballard and sisterMiss Winnie compose a crowd thatwent to St. Louis Tuesday to take in thesights of the World’s Fair. G. W. Ganand W. A. Lumpkin are two moreWaynesvilleites swelling the thorough-fares of the World’s Fair grounds andSt. Louis, they having departedWednesday evening to do the whole cir-cus. So many Waynesvilleites are in theWorld’s Fair city this week without pro-tection other than the Jefferson guard,police and perhaps an old umbrella, wecannot refrain from bubbling over withthat fatherly and time worn admoni-tion, “Take good care of yourself, Bill,and don’t let the street cars get ye.” Theeditor, frow [frau] and two kids are see-ing the elephant at the World’s Fair. Mr.and Mrs. E. G. Williams are home fromtheir trip to the World’s Fair at St. Louisand Confederate Reunion at Nashville,Tennessee. The Colonel belongs to theold time Southern aristocracy andenjoys nothing better than to minglewith the old boys who fought and bledfor the lost cause. He seldom misses areunion possible for him to attend.

GOLDEN CENTER—Mineral wealth hasbeen discovered in the hills in section28, township 37, range 12. We invitecapital to develop the mineral wealth inPulaski county, for we have betterprospects here than they had in Jaspercounty in 1830. [Ed. Note: There wasmuch mineral land speculation in theOzarks during this time period.]

ON THE NILE [Ed. Note:This seems to referto the Big Piney River and environs]—Several thousand ties were rafted downthe Nile last week. A stall fed trampwithout brains, baggage or grub waswandering around on the Nile lastSunday in search of work. The OddFellows lodge at Big Piney was not verywell attended Saturday night onaccount of the severe electrical storm.Corn in the valley is in good condition.Old corn is selling at fifty cents perbushel.

July

Pulaski County Democrat July 1

SWEDEBORG—Dr. J. B. Ross is going totake a rest and has ordered a Victortalking machine. The Woodmen hallwill be ready for the Camp to use it atthe next regular meeting July 16th.

GOLDEN CENTER—Peter Peterson willview the lion at the World’s Fair soon.Some of the Centerites are preparing toset a large acreage to strawberry plants.This place will soon be Sarcoxie numbertwo.

DIXON—A freight wreck on the Dixonhill last Friday caused the World’s Fairspecial to wait at Dixon most of thatday and the passengers spent the timetaking in the sights of our littlevillage.The stock law question wasdebated at town hall before the FarmersAssociation. Some were for restrainingthe live stock on the city streets whilesome were for giving all the poor dumbbrutes their liberty. After a heated andthorough discussion the judges ren-dered a decision in favor of restrainingthe stock.

Local NewsThe editor returned from St. Louis

Sunday safe and sound without havingbeen held up, locked up or becomingthe purchaser of a gold brick. Lucky,wasn’t he?

Another very hard rain fell hereMonday forenoon, over flowing theditch through town and putting thecreek and river up again. Richland sentanother prisoner to jail last Saturday toserve a sentence of thirty days for steal-

ing a pair of socks from H. E. Warren’sstore This makes three prisoners now inour county bastille. [Ed. Note: All forshoplifting at Warren’s store.]

SCHLICHT—Over one thousand bushelsof wheat were bought of Miller countyfarmers by the Schlicht's MillingCompany one day last. week. Theyhave to make room for the large incom-ing crop and are cleaning up.


CROCKER—It is rumored that our townhas a good prospect for a bank in thenear future. There is a splendid open-ing. The Nation’s birthday was rather aquiet day in Crocker. Most of our peo-ple celebrated at Richland, Dixon andWheeler’s Mill.

GOLDEN CENTER—J. A. McGowan isfinding rich mineral deposits on Mullenhill. A large delegation of Centeritesenjoyed the rainy fourth at Waynesvilleand Richland.

Local NewsIt seems that the railroad holds quite anattraction for some of our widower citi-zens and Mr. Bates thinks that ‘SquireMcDonald and Judge Wheeler are tak-ing an advantage of him, not lettinghim into their secrets. Judge Wheelerdeparted Sunday morning for some-where to spend the fourth and did notreturn until late Monday evening.Where he went none but himself knowsbut rumor has it that something beyondCrocker—probably in the Hawkeye orIberia neighborhood—has an attractionfor him that takes him in that directionquite frequently of late.

SWEDEBORG—Crockett Strain and LonRowen are the champion horse shoepitchers of this burg.

LAQUEY—Quite a number from thisneighborhood went to Richland for thefourth. Misses Alice and Rosa Warrickare at the World’s Fair City visitingtheir father and seeing the sights.

TAVERN—Waynesville boys, get yourbells ready. Some one from that place islooking across the Tavern for a bedfel-

low.

DIXON—The Dixon cheese factory start-ed to manufacturing cheese Wednesdayof this week. The company is incorpo-rated for $2,000 and have about $1,500invested in the building and machinery.The hail storm that passed just west ofhere last Friday was so severe thatmany fowls, grown turkeys and chick-ens were killed. The ground was cov-ered to a depth of six inches and thefarmers who came to town the morningfollowing the storm reported hail stillon the ground in such quantities thatwagon loads could be shoveled up. Itcompletely destroyed the gardens andcrops.

ON THE NILE—The Nile is on a high. W.D. Ichord killed a very large rattle-snake in his wheat field one day lastweek. The wire fence arrived and willsoon be erected around the cemetery atBig Piney. Lightning rod peddlers andpatent right sharpers not needing a newsuit of clothing, (tar and feathers), arerequested to give this place a wideberth.


SCHLICHT—Schlicht will have a doctor inthe near future to attend to the sick anddisabled patients. A party fromSpringfield, Missouri, is negotiatingwith the Schlicht Milling Company tobuild a hotel here.

LONE STAR—We have quite a measlesscare in our neighborhood at present.The merchants will need a new supplyof cow bells if all the weddings expect-ed are pulled off in the near future.Cupid’s work is great.

GOLDEN CENTER—Three new cases ofmeasles in the Center again. J. W.Wheeler of Waynesville is continuallypassing through the Center drawn bymagnetism. This is surely the gardenspot of the world, as we have many vis-itors here from the four corners of theearth. They come for recreation and toenjoy our sparkling water, fragrantzephyrs, big red apples, beautifulscenery, shady groves and picturesquespots like the jungles of America. In

good old Pulaski county we have thingsthat attract and interest those who arelooking for something new.

Local NewsThe furniture for the vaults has arrived

and when put in use will be a valuableaddition to that part of the court house.“Make hay while the sun shines” is theold adage and that is what the farmersare doing. It is deserted around town.For lack of more lucrative employmentsome of our merchants have beenengaged in flying kites for the last fewdays.

RICHLAND—Richland had the best cele-bration on the fourth she has had foryears, and we believe it was because thedrug stores were closed all day.

GASCONADE—The Sheriff and hisdeputies passed through with fourmore prisoners from town. Richlandseems to have an over supply of crimi-nals now.


In a reminiscence, an old timer tells oftraveling the country 34 years ago“...and we are at the Blood schoolhouse, as it was then known, whichname it retained until Rev. J. McCraryput the “land to it and it has went byBloodland ever since...Not many farmsof note in the Bloodland country then,just small patches. I believe JohnnyHamilton lived on the tract now occu-pied by the Jaspar mill. French on theBlood land afterward sold to Blood,hence the name Bloodland...”

DIXON—Several citizens are “doing theFair.” Dixon is soon to have a homeband. J. J. Grempczynski is reorganizingthe old band and getting new members.Dixon cheese has been put on the mar-ket in our grocery stores and is said tobe as good as any cheese on the market.The factory is running only about one-fourth the time on account of not get-ting enough milk.

LONE STAR—The woods are full of berrypickers now. There is a good crop ofberries.

[Ed Note: In this issue, Editor Wheelergives much space to the Democratic nation-al platform and the speeches of WilliamJennings Bryan in St. Louis.]

Local NewsMrs. Lane and son Ray departedSunday for a visit in the World’s Faircity. [Ed Note: Numerous other citizens arementioned as taking in the fair during thisweek in July.]

LAQUEY—The blacksmith shop is quitean addition to Laquey, as it was badlyneeded by the farmers.

SCHLICHT—Threshing machines are in

full blast in this neighborhood, butwheat is not very good. Quite a delega-tion of St. Louis ladies are at ForestLodge for an outing this week. Materialis being delivered by the Frisco atSchlicht for a depot, which is badlyneeded.

Pulaski County Democrat July 29, 1904

LAQUEY—Laquey is still on the boom. C.S. Ott will soon be here with his up-to-date mill. The new Blacksmith shop hasbeen kept pretty well in operation sincestarted, a much needed improvement.

DIXON—Justice Groves’ Court was insession Monday. Three boys were triedon the charge of stealing 4 cans of toma-toes from the Dixon Canning factory.The Jury returned a verdict of guiltyand assessed their punishment at 10days in the county jail.

BIG PINEY—The measles are holdingdown their job in and around Newtown[Ed. Note: Newtown is the original and stillsometimes local name for Big Piney].

Local NewsConstable Liesman was over fromDixon Tuesday to bring three boys whowere sent up by Squire Goves to serve aten days sentence for stealing tomatoesfrom the canning factory. This makesseven inmates now in jail, four fromRichland and three from Dixon, six ofwhom are accused of stealing. R. A.Peterson has bought a new set of toolsand opened a blacksmith shop in AlbertChristeson’s place near Hufft’s store.This is a good location for a shop. Workwas begun on the excavation for thebank building. It will be a commodious,two story stone and brick and will bepushed to an early completion.

SWEDEBORG—Frank Manes was madeacquainted with the Woodman goat atthe last meeting of that organization.

Pulaski County Democrat August 5

Local News

Ed Cook and T. M. Gardner wereawarded the contract by the CountyCourt this week for painting the threecounty bridges across the Gasconaderiver. Work will begin on same at once.[Ed. Note: The three county bridges in 1904were Crocker Ford, Richland Ford, and FishDam Ford. They were to receive a scrapingand two coats of Sherwin-Williams paintmixed with graphite and linseed oil.]


BAILEY—The merchants at Bloodlandand Cookville have closed their storesagainst Sabbath day trade. Roubidouxtownships want a Grand Jury. There arestill a few young men who persist in fir-ing off their revolvers around places ofworship and we know of no better wayof dealing with them than by an appeal

to the law. During the last session ofcourt in Laclede county one young manpaid a fine of $65 and costs for having alittle fun at church.

Local NewsFishing parties have been quite numer-ous lately and generally they report fairsuccess. An exchange tells of an elderlyMissouri maiden who on being asked ifshe was going to take advantage of leapyear, replied most emphatically, “No, Idon’t need a husband. I have a dog thatgrowls, a cat that stays out at night, anda parrot that can swear to beat the band.What use have I for a husband?”


LAQUEY—We understand that DeBruinpost office has been discontinued. C. S.Ott has arrived with his mill and willsoon be operating it at full capacity. C.S. Parson’s new residence is rapidlynearing completing, another addition toLaquey.

GASCONADE—The picnic at the bridgelast Saturday was largely attended, withall sorts of amusements for the pacifica-tion of those present. The animal natureseemed to predominate among some ofthe rougher element during the after-noon, and after witnessing the secondfight, ye scribe fled, fully realizing inour own mind that there was safety athome.

HOOKER—Many of the people who havespent the summer at Lost Hill Farm andBig Piney Lodge are returning to thecity. People continue to travel to theWorld’s Fair.

DIXON—The citizens of North Dixon arehaving a public well bored in that partof town.

TAVERN—Crocker is having a big timethis week—two days picnic and amerry-go-round..


COOKVILLE—T. H. Haynes has beenhaving luck. He has his new housealmost completed and had one of hishorses kick and kill another one.

Local NewsThe stone masons are at work on thenew bank building which will now bepushed to an early completion.

While the question of good roads isbeing agitated all over the country whynot our people talk up the question ofbuilding a good road from here toCrocker. No road in the county has halfthe travel over it that this road does andalmost all the people in the county usethis road. A macadamized road fromhere to Crocker would be worth thou-sands dollars to the people of the coun-ty. Let us hear from some of our citizenson the subject.

An Electric Line.We see from the Licking News that anelectric line is being talked of fromCabool to Salem or Rolla, and that capi-talists have been interested and are fig-uring on the same. Why not our citizensbecome a little enterprising and talk upa line from Crocker to Waynesville. Thismatter has often been suggested but hasnever been got at in the right manner.We believe a line from Crocker herewould be a paying investment and ifnot we know it can be made to pay byextending it further south. Talk it upand work for it and it can eventually bebuilt.

DIXON—A Mr. Vineyard of Granite City,Ill. has leased the building near theprinting office and is now at work put-ting in a bakery oven. He expects to beready to furnish the town in homebaked bread. The canning factory willstart Thursday or Friday of this week.The recent rains have improved thetomato crop and the prospects are goodfor a successful year’s business with theDixon Canning Company.

What About a Mill?Although the wheat crop is very lightthis season we are again impressed withthe urgent need of a good flouring millin our town. Wheat is being hauled tothe railroad and while there the farmerssell their eggs, chickens and other pro-duce and spend their money. A goodmill would overcome all this and beworth its cost in a few years to the mer-chants of the town. Can’t we have agood mill here by the time another cropof wheat is harvested? Or will you sitstill and see the trade gradually slip-ping away from you.

WHEELER—Elijah McKinnon is workingin his mine. We hope for his success.

Pulaski County Democrat September 2

SWEDEBORG—Quite a crowd of youngpeople in and around our town pic-niced at the Bat Cave last Saturday. Allreport a good time.

GOLDEN CENTER—Boys, get your cowbells ready. Moses Ray has regularappointments at Peter Roth’s. It isreported there will be a sanitariumbuilt at Schlicht. WHEELER—The people are expecting agrist mill to move here in a few days.

DIXON—A force of men are here to dothe grading for “Y” to be put in just eastof town. This is to be used in turningthe hill engines.

SCHLICHT—Kingfisher McGowan washere one day this week entertaining theladies at Forest Lodge with fish stories.Several groups of people are comingand going at Forest Lodge drinkingmagnesia spring water for the benefitsof their health.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFPert Paragraphs Picked Up Here andThere Pertaining to People of Pulaski

and Adjoining Counties—General andOtherwise.

The matrimonial market is on the boomand seven couples have laid down a lifeof single cussedness since our last issueand will hereafter trot in double har-ness. Richland is to have a Creamerysoon, an enterprise that will add muchto the business of that city, as well asbeing a great source of revenue to thefarmers in the county surrounding thetown.


CORRESPONDENCESWEDEBORG—John Heimaster is ourchampion sunflower grower, havingone that measures 15 1/2 inches indiameter and 46 inches in circumfer-ence. Many fair visitors. Swedeborg isalways booming, we have a shoe shopnow and Mr. Johnson knows his biz,too.

LAQUEY—Parson & Sons have begun theerection of their new store building.John Maxey, the blacksmith, is locatedat this place now and is ready for allkinds of work. C. S. Ott’s saw mill isrunning at full speed now and in ashort time will have his corn burrs

ready for use.

DECKER—Ball games are the only thinghere. The practice of this game shouldbe abandoned on Sunday.

BELLS CREEK—Everything is quiet thisweek, as most everyone attended court.They are still drilling for gas on theCreek. Me thinks they have passed it, asit is on top of the ground.

DIXON—An entertainment companygave two exhibitions of moving picturesin our town the first of the week.


CORRESPONDENCESCHLICHT—A cigar factory is the nextthing that Schlicht will have. Let thegood work go on.

SWEDEBORG—Our merchants are keptbusy shipping chickens and eggs, whichshows how industrious our farmers’wives are. Dr. Ross is quite happy overthe possession of a new graphophone.He will soon start out giving free enter-tainments. Our town does not want foramusement since she got a hall, as therehas been entertainments every night thepast week. The Chester ComedyCompany has been entertaining thepeople in and around town every nightthe past week with musical, vaudevilleand comical features, highly enjoyable

and appreciated by everyone. TheScenic Entertainment Company gavethe people of our town quite a treat inthe line of moving pictures, etc.,

Monday night.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFF.Sheriff R. S. Anderson and deputyJames Mathews went to Jefferson CityMonday with Ike Godfrey and OliverNewberry to be confined in thePenitentiary. Godfrey serves ten yearsand Newberry three.


SCHLICHT—The depot at Schlicht stationis completed and painted and is a fineaffair. Quite a delegation of LowerEgypt attended the patent medicineshow at Swedeborg this week, laying inquite a supply of Salvation oil.The attendance at the World’s Fair forthe week ended the 10th was 874,954,making the attendance to date9,994,590.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFAnother delegation from Waynesvillewill leave for St. Louis to take in thesights Sunday.

LONE STAR—Somebody left their jug atthe party Monday night.


LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe Black Hotel is being re-roofed thisweek. DIXON—Several from Dixon went to

Pulaski County Abstract Co.Waynesville , Missouri.

Own the original [J. L.] JohnsonAbstract Books. They being a completeexposition of the title to all land andtown lots in Pulaski County, from itsformation to the date of the fire whichdestroyed the records of the county;also own the original McGregorAbstracts. Complete abstracts carefullyand promptly made, showing all fea-tures of the title fully. Charges thesame as before the fire; a minimum feeof $2.50 for an Abstract and Certificate;this will include any number of con-veyances up to five; fifty cents a trans-fer for each additional conveyance overfive; for one transfer, without certifi-cate, showing any conveyance on anytract of land or lot in the county, $1. Wesolicit your business.

G. M. Reed,Waynesville, Mo.

ADS

[Ed. Note: This was an important businessasset because the court house fire in 1903destroyed the land records. Mr. Reed con-tinued to take affidavits from residents forthe next 15 years to establish chain of titlesand property lines in settling boundary dis-putes.]

Newburg Monday to see the ruins ofthe ill fated town. The fire started in thegarret of the Frisco depot. But for theRolla Fire Department the entire blockand probably the whole town wouldhave burned.

Pulaski County Democrat October 7

SCHLICHT—A party of Crocker sportsvisiting in the Valley one day this week.They were drinking magnesia waterand hunting paw paws.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe bank building is now ready to com-mence the second story, but work isbeing delayed waiting on the masons.

Sam Wilson Free.Sam Wilson, the lone train robber, wellknown in this county and at one timerailroad agent at Hancock was releasedfrom the penitentiary last week, havingserved eleven years and three months.Wilson was agent at Hancock for sever-al years and married a Miss Tibbs ofthat town and seemed to be gettingalong nicely until he took it into hishead to rob a train, which he did insuch a clever style that he becamefamous all over the country as “TheLone Train Robber.” He was sentencedto serve fifteen years. Numerousattempts were made to have him par-doned but all efforts were withouteffect. Governor Stone, State TreasurerLon V. Stevens and other State officialswere on the train at the time of the holdup. It is not positively known whetherhe secured much money or not but hisstatement and that of the ExpressCompany officials that he got about$500, most of which was returned, isgenerally believed. He was raised inLaclede county and had many friendsin that county and Pulaski.


SCHLICHT—Quite a delegation of citypeople is at the Magnesia Spring drink-ing its healthful water and enjoying afew days outing. C. M. Skinner &Company are drawing plans and speci-fications for an air ship. The partnerwill furnish the capital and we presumeC. M. will furnish the wind. Success to

the enterprise.

HANCOCK—The boys are training theirpossum dogs now getting ready forwinter.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe odor given out by the cuspidores inthe courtroom Tuesday night was some-thing terrible and if they are not cleanedsoon we need not be surprised to seethe Court House collapse at any time,as no walls are of sufficient strength toconfine such a stench long at a time.Some were compelled to leave thespeaking on account of them.


DIXON—Dixon cheese and canning fac-tories are shut down for the season. Somany are going to the Fair from herethat we are unable to name all of them.If some of the boys who are engaged insmearing our street corners with tobac-co spit and filling the atmosphere withthe fumes of cigarettes and foul lan-guage could reach 10 or 20 years intothe future and hear the experience ofsuch boys,they would no doubt realizethe importance of being in school or atwork.

GOLDEN CENTER—We visited themachine shops of C. M. Skinner & Co.last Saturday. They will have their airship in working order about next June ifthey can find wind enough to operate it.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFConsiderable excitement was createdlately by the account of several personsbeing killed by eating cabbage whichwas said to contain snakes and manystartling tales were told with the victimsjust a little ahead all the time, but scien-tific investigation has developed thefact the whole matter was a hoax andthere is nothing in it. [Ed. Note: Several ofthe communities previously reported dispos-ing of cabbage by burying or dumping theircabbage in the rivers due to reports ofsnakes in the cabbage.]

Pulaski County Democrat October 28SWEDEBORG—A large delegation of St.Louis people came out last week tospend some time fishing and camping

out on the Gasconade near this place. Ifthe “Snake in the Cabbage” story wasanother “kissing bug scare” there willbe a good many heave sighs of regretover the loss of their good kraut thrownaway.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe new bank building has been roofedand will be enclosed in a short time.The first frost of the season was hereSaturday morning, October 22nd.

Pulaski County Democrat November 4

RIFF-RAFFSemi-Annual Report of the financial

standing of the town of Waynesville,MO., from April 6, 1904 to November 1,1904:Amount on hand April 6, 1904...$96.70By license..................................... $32.40

Total receipts ..............................$129.10

Marshal for work on street ........$34.25Team work .................................. $7.50Special work ............................... $2.25

Total Expenditures ......................$44.00

Balance on hand Nov 1, 1904.....$85.10


The ResultTuesday’s Election a Republican Landslide.

Returns from Tuesday’s election arenot complete from all over the State butRoosevelt is elected President of theUnited States by probably the largestmajority ever given a presidential can-didate, he having carried every doubt-ful state.

Fold is elected Governor of Missouriby about 25,000 majority. The entireDemocratic state ticket is, we think,elected but the returns will show a greatfalling off in the party vote.[Ed. Note: Hard campaigning paid off.Collector G. W. Lane was reelected and A.D. Sutton won his first term as sheriff.]

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe plasterers are finishing the interiorof the bank building this week afterwhich it will soon be ready for occu-

pancy.


The Dixon MurderA Lynching Narrowly Escaped by theTimely Action of Sheriff Anderson and

his Deputies.

The murder of James M. Smith, whosename was given last week as JamesJones, has created considerable excite-ment over the country about Dixon andhas been the chief topic of conversationfor the last few days. The facts concern-ing the case as we have been able tolearn them, are about as follows: Smithwas a young man who came into theneighborhood of Dixon about a yearago. He bought a farm near Pisgah andwas clearing up the same. Elias Smith,who was in no way related to the mur-dered man, was employed by him andhe and his wife kept house and JamesSmith boarded or lived with them.Smith was not seen after Sunday nightand Elias told that the had gone back toAtchison County, his former home. OnWednesday afternoon his dead bodywas accidentally found in a deep hol-low about two miles east of Dixon andElias Smith and his wife were arrestedon suspicion. At the Coroner’s inquestit developed that he had been murderedby having his head terribly beaten upwith a blunt instrument and the bodypartly burned. Later Elias’ wife con-fessed that her husband had committedthe crime and when confronted withher statement he too confessed thecrime, claiming it was done in selfdefense. Every indication pointed to apremeditated murder and the story thatthe killing took place in the woodswhere the two men were at work andwas done in self defense was notbelieved as Elias had told before handthat he was going to buy deceased outand later that he had bought him outand that he had left the country. Thisstory connected with other suspiciouswords and actions led to a more thor-ough examination and traces of thecrime were discovered about the prem-ises. An iron rod with hair and blood onit was found, his shoes and a portion ofhis clothing had been burned, and theshirt he wore was blood stained while

ADS

his outer garments showed no signs ofblood. The inquest was not closed untilFriday evening and by that time the citi-zens of the community were worked upalmost into a frenzy over the atrocious-ness of the crime and in a few momentsa mob was formed with the avowedintention of hanging the self-confessedmurderer. Sheriff Anderson gave outword that he was going to hold theprisoner over until the next day and assoon as it was dark succeeded in slip-ping him away and drove overland toLebanon that night where he was safelylodged in jail. The mob was intent onwreaking summary vengeance and hadthe prisoner remained in town longer itis very probable that the next morningwould have dawned upon his lifelessbody dangling from a near by tree.

The excitement having somewhatsubsided he was taken back to DixonSunday to see what further confession ifany he would make.

After his return he confessed tokilling Smith for his money and proper-ty and claimed the deed was donewhile in the woods looking at sometimber. A broad axe was the weaponused and he was struck in the back ofthe head as he looked up at a tree hewas conducted to by Elias. The blowproduced instant death. He was cov-ered up in the leaves until dark whenhis body was placed upon a horse andcarried to the place where it was found.He further stated that two young menby the name of Newberry were withhim and helped to commit the crime.They were arrested but as no evidence,except that of Elias Smith, could befound against them they were released.Elias was brought to WaynesvilleMonday evening and lodged in jail toawait his trial at Circuit Court, duringwhich time he will have plenty ofopportunity to brood over his misdeedsand consider the awfulness of his crime.

The remains of the murdered manwere sent back to his home in AtchisonCounty for burial. The father of themurderer lives near Mossy springs inthis county and is a good law-abidingcitizen. He has our sympathy.

SCHLICHT— Joe Engel and FrankHasenauer are taking in the fair thisweek, and, oh, how the Budweiser willsuffer.

GOLDEN CENTER—The Center is on theboom. Walter Roth has caught thirty-nine possums this fall. If anyone hascaught more we want to hear fromthem. Prospecting for mineral, oil, andgas will soon commence in the Centerand as there are good prospects we pre-dict the Center will soon be classedwith Jasper county.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFMarshal Wayne Wyrick has had a crewof hands working on the streets for the

last week.


MOAB—Boys get your bells ready forWill Ichord has bought his householdand kitchen furniture.

SCHLICHT—Some prospectors for miner-al are engaged in surveying in MoccasinBend at present. We hope these hillswill turn out O. K. A jolly party of eightare at Forest Lodge, drinking Magnesiawaters and taking in our mountain air.They are from Lemps Brewery. Dr.Abecken accompanies them for fear ofsnake bites.

DIXON–The American T. & T. Co., withabout 65 employees and the R. R. Extragang with a like number have campedhere for the past two weeks. The formerare putting up poles and wires for theAmerican Telegraph and TelephoneCompany extending their line of 10wires west and the latter are putting inthe Wye just east of town.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFIf you have a cord of wood you want

to pay on your subscription we willgladly accept it, if not a dollar will doequally as well.

GASCONADE—The river is clear now andthe sportsmen are quite busy giggingwith lucrative results.

Pulaski County Democrat December 2

DIXON—the Telephone Company hasmoved their camps to Hancock. Theentire corps of teachers of the Dixonschool spent the last three days of lastweek at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Anautomobile occupied by a man andwoman passed through here lastSunday. It was quite an attraction. Avery unfortunate accident happenedhere last Sunday afternoon, whichresulted in the loss of a human life.About 2 o’clock, as Frisco passengerNo. 2 was pulling into the station, aman coming into town from the samedirection, stepped onto the main trackto avoid a freight train that was on thesiding. The passenger was rounding acurve and the engineer could not see farenough ahead to discover the man intime to stop his train, nor even to give asignal. The man was struck while thetrain was running about 10 miles anhour and his head was crushed and hewas bruised about the body. Heremained conscious long enough togive his name and the names of some ofhis relatives and their residences...Hewas widower fifty-two years old andhad but one child living, a son abouttwenty -five years old. He appeared tobe leading the life of a tramp and nomoney nor valuables was found on hisperson.

BAILEY—There will also be a box supperat the school house the same night ofthe literary and if the weather is favor-able a good turnout is expected. Thequestion for discussion at our next liter-ary will be Resolved: That the right ofsuffrage be extended to the ladies.

Local Riff-RaffNews reached this office this week ofthe death of Sam Wilson, who was gen-erally known as the lone train robber.He was released from the penitentiaryabout a month ago, having completedthree fourths of a fifteen year sentence.He was killed by a train in Arkansasbut we failed to learn the particulars ofthe case. His family lives near Lebanon,Mo. [Ed.Note: The irony is that Wilson wasa convicted train robber.]


CROCKER—The Telephone Company hasbeen doing some work here this week.Our school is moving along nicely withan average attendance of about 86pupils. The boy with gun and dog isnow in his element hunting the cottontail.

DIXON—Some traveling photographerswere here Tuesday and made picturesof most of our business houses. TheFrisco is cutting down its force ofemployees. All the operators at thesmall stations have been taken off andthe operator allowed here has been “cutout.”


SCHLICHT—Hogs are dying by the dozenin this neighborhood. A. Peterson lostover thirty head. Remember that whenthere is a good acorn crop the cholera issure to come. The Schlicht MillingCompany has built a concrete office andsubstituted steam heat for an old woodstove. Surely, our young generation isimproving on new fangled things.

To Our Readers.The year is drawing to a close and withthe first of the New Year we have heavyobligations to meet. Now is a splendidtime to settle your indebtedness andstart in with the year. We will needevery cent we can possibly raise soonand kindly ask all who owe us on sub-scription or any other account to pleasecall and settle same as soon as possible.We have often called on our readers andthey have as often come to our relief ina manner that has been very satisfacto-ry to us. Now will you please do soagain. We have many outstandingaccounts that are small and do notamount to much to any one individual,but to us when put together they arequite a sum. We hope our friends will

respond to our request as soon as possi-ble, as we need the money, else wewould not ask for it.

GOLDEN CENTER—Hogs are dying withthe swine plague.

LOCAL RIFF-RAFFThe bank will move into its new build-ing in a few days and will have one ofthe neatest and most substantial bankbuildings in the country. The secondstory is divided into office buildingsand G. M. Reed already occupies one ofthem with his abstract business. He hasthe neatest office in town.


SCHLICHT—We are informed that theCompany which holds all the railroadland in Pulaski county will have it onthe market soon but will ask easternprices for it. Success to the county.There is nothing like old PulaskiCounty on the map of the United Statesfor health and happiness.

CROCKER—Howard Crawford has justreturned from a visit to St. Louis wherehe procured a stave mill, which will beset up and operated in Crocker soonafter the first of the year.


The Newberrys ReleasedThe preliminary trial of George and

Andy Newberry and Mrs. Sarah Smithfor complicity in the murder of JamesSmith was commenced here lastThursday and continued until in thenight Friday. About forty witnesseswere examined and all reasonablemeans resorted to prove these partiesconnected with the crime but after hear-ing all the evidence the ProsecutingAttorney decided there was not suffi-cient grounds for holding the defen-dants and they were all dismissed atthis request. The costs of the trial willbe considerable and will be a greathardship on those having it to pay. Thepeople of the community in which thecrime was committed are determinedthat the guilty parties shall be punishedand will work to that end, however, wedo not believe that one of them wouldseek to secure the conviction of an inno-cent party if they knew it.

Elias Smith, the self-confessed murder-er, is still in jail and from accountsseems to be very unconcerned about hisfate. [Ed. Note: This will continue to be a bigstory through April of 1905.]

News in 1904 - Old Stagecoach Stop Museum in 1904.pdf · News in 1904 Compiled and edited by Jan and Terry Primas AD-First State Bank Map adapted by Terry Primas from a 1909 Frisco

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