Progress Notes

In 2007 when we expanded the museum and doubled our square footage, our interior design consultants were Frank Baugh and David Jarrett (photo 01).

01 Frank Baugh and David Jarrett

Frank is the owner of the interior design company named “Embellishments” located at Osage Beach and David is an interior design consultant who works frequently with Frank on various projects. Both are Miller County residents living in Eldon and have deep Miller County roots. Recently, Judy and I consulted them regarding the remodeling of a condo into which we were moving. I was talking with David one day when he was at the condo and he told me his great great great great grandfather, John Jacob Jarrett, was the original Jarrett to come to Miller County way back even before the Civil War. And additionally, he told me his long ago ancestor was hanged by bushwhackers during the Civil War but survived! I found the story so interesting that even before he left that day I sought reference from Clyde Lee Jenkins’ book, History of Miller County Volume I, and indeed, the story was found on page 391. This section of the book listed a number of stories about bushwhackers or others who were rampaging through the “Big Richwoods” area of south Miller County pillaging and robbing local residents. Here is where the story takes up the raid on John J. Jarretts’ farm:

The following morning more than 100 men rode up to the log cabin home of John J. Jarrett, situated on the south bank of the Big Tavern creek, by a large spring. They dismounted about four hours before day. Weary animals, at the bluff spring, were watered by the men, then led to the wheat stack by the log stable where hungry animals commenced jerking bundles of wheat from the stack for nourishment.

John J. Jarrett, 69 years of age, was a prosperous farmer, owning over 1000 acres of land. His daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Ambrose, were with him at home; his wife having died some years before. Also, his grand daughter, Orvassense Lusinda Cidoney Jarrett, 10 years of age, was at the place, having walked in the afternoon of the previous day from her father’s house. David Jarrett, Orvassenie’s father, lived a mile or so down the Big Tavern creek.

“Men bashed in the front door, and upon entering the room, grabbed grandpa and handled him pretty severely,” Orvaseenie said. “He barely had gotten up his pantaloons before led outside.”

The men demanded of Mr. Jarrett his money. He informed them he had none. “The men ransacked the house,” Orvaseenie continued, “but finding nothing of what they were looking left to find grandpa.” The men told Mr. Jarrett he ought to tell them where his money was hidden or he would regret it a long time. He informed them many times of having no money, and even though assaulted, and beaten, still had no money!

Breaking dawn, one of the men by the log stable at the wheat stack hollered “Everyone come here!” the horses jerking bundles of wheat from the stack while eating, revealed something. It was a sock containing over 200 dollars in silver. This was Mr. Jarrett’s money, placed in a stack of wheat, a place of safety, it was believed.

The men appeared very angry with the old man. They informed him of dealing with liars only in a certain way. A rope was called for, a noose turned, and placed around John J. Jarrett’s neck. Led by the men to the big box elder tree beside the spring, the loose end of the rope was thrown over the first tree limb, about ten feet up. Three of the men, grabbing the rope, hoisted Mr. Jarrett off the ground, fastening the rope taut to a dead snag on the tree trunk.

The men, quickly hitting the saddles, rode away rapidly up the creek road, that is, everyone except a man by the name of Grady. Rushing his horse under the box elder tree, and jerking a Barlow from his boot leg, Grady cut the rope; Jarrett falling to the ground.

John J. Jarrett lived a number of years, but until his death, he could only whisper; the noose around his neck having permanently injured his vocal chords.

These men took from Mr. Jarrett his money, a black horse, a saddle, bridle, halter, and ropes, but most important of all, his voice. Grady spared his life.

Here is a copy from Jenkins’ book of a photo he copied from old originals of the hanging tree (photo 02):

02 Hanging Tree
Click image for larger view

The story Jenkins quoted has different versions I have found after talking with several members of the family. However, all the stories agree that John J. Jenkins was hanged and survived having as a residual loss his voice.

I knew the Jarrett who today lives on the original farm owned by John Jacob Jarrett, Donald Jarrett. So having become very interested in the story of John Jacob Jarrett and his family I called and asked Donald if I could come over to the home farm for a tour. Donald was very hospitable and delighted to have me come visit. I had known Donald because he is a part time barber and he had given me haircuts in the past. Also, he is well known in the county having been County Assessor for twelve years some twenty years ago. I knew the general vicinity of the farm but Don gave me specific directions to get there. You can find the farm on this plat map of 2003 where it is located north of Iberia on the Big Tavern Creek in section 2 of T39 R13 (photo 03).

03 T39-13W - Section 2 - 2003
Click image for larger view

Here is a closeup of section 2 (photo 04).

04 Section 2 - 2003

I looked up the same section 2 on the 1905 plat map and you can see the amount of land owned in the vicinity at that time by the Jarrett family (photo 05).

05 Section 2 - 1905

The day I arrived was slightly overcast but no rain was predicted. Don and his wife Pam met me at the door and soon we were in the kitchen for a cup of coffee (photo 06).

06 Pam and Donald Jarrett - Table made by Ahart relative of Don's Grandmother

Don told me he is the great great grandson of the original John Jacob Jarrett. His lineage is as follows:

John Jacob Jarrett
David Jarrett
Abel Andrew Jarrett
Lewis Jarrett
Don Jarrett

Don had a photo of one of his ancestors whom he identified as David Jarrett with his wife, Jamima (photo 07).

07 David and Jemima Jarrett

However, unfortunately, a fire several years ago caused the destruction of many old family photos.

The first thing Don showed me was a couple of really old plat maps drawn up after the Civil War (we don’t have the exact dates) which show (traced in red) just how much land at that time was owned by the Jarrett family (photos 08 and 09).

08 T39-R12
Click image for larger view

09 T39-R13
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Don said at that time the family owned more than a thousand acres in the area. Here is a collage of copies of the original land patents acquired by John Jacob Jarrett (photos 10 - 17):

Click on any of the thumbnails to view a larger image.

Note: Once you click on an image below, a new window will open. It would be best to maximize this new window by clicking on the middle box in the upper right-hand corner of the window. When you move your cursor over the image in this new window, it will change to a magnifying glass. Once this occurs, click on the image and it will show in a larger format for easier viewing.

Without very much ado Don took me out to the farm in his pickup truck. The first place we went to was the location of the old tree where his famous ancestor, John Jacob Jarrett was hanged. In this photo Don said the tree was located near where the two tree lined fences come to a corner (photo 18).

18 Site of Hanging

Don’s version of the story told by Clyde Lee about the hanging of John Jacob Jarrett is somewhat different. He says that Clyde Lee’s version placed the hanging at a location a mile away. However, as Don says, that was not the original home place for John Jacob. Also, Don says that the money the robbers sought was hidden in the hat band of John Jacob, and that the hat stayed on his head during the hanging and the money was never found. In addition, Don said that John Jacob’s wife was the one who cut the rope with which her husband was hung.

Don knew exactly where the site of John Jacob’s log cabin was located; the only thing left now are some foundation stones (photo 19).

19 Home Site of John J. Jarrett

Close to the home site is a spring which is still running today (photo 20).

20 Home Site Spring

Looking down the hill one sees the Big Tavern Creek and the big hills above it. The next series of photos (collaged) goes from down to up stream and Don tells me that that the river and valley length encompassed in the consecutive photos represents the original length of river bottom land owned by John Jacob Jarrett many years ago (photos 21 - 25).

Click on any of the thumbnails to view a larger image.

Abel Andrew Jarrett was Don’s grandfather. Able Andrew built a log cabin slightly up the hill from where John Jacob had his cabin. Later, he added a framed addition. The old home is still standing although the log portion has fallen partially (photo 26).

26 Don and House of Andrew Abel Jarrett - Log Cabin before 1890 - Framed Afterward

The original stone chimney of the log cabin is still standing (photo 27).

27 Limestone Chimney of Abel's Home

One of the later improvements was a ceiling of tongue in groove pine (photo 28).

28 Tongue in Groove Ceiling Pine

The old log barn has collapsed (photo 29) as has the old black smith cabin (photo 30).

29 Old Log Barn

30 Farm Blacksmith Building

Don’s grandson, Ethan Bax, has made for Don and Pam a center kitchen cabinet out of the tongue and groove pine used in the ceiling of the old farm house (photo 31).

31 Cabinet made of Tongue and Groove Pine

The old table in the kitchen was made by an Ahart relative of Don’s grandmother Haley Missouri Ahart Jarrett, wife of his grandfather Abel Andrew Jarrett (see photo 06 above). Don is pretty handy with woodworking too having made this TV cabinet and these two lamps (photos 32, 33 and 34):

32 Oak TV Cabinet by Don

33 Hickory and Sassafras

34 Cherry and Oak

After the tour of the main home farm Don took me over to the east side of the property where he showed me an old lime pit where most of the stone came from for some of the later homes built on the farm (photo 35).

35 Limestone Pit in center surrounded by Cedar Trees

He also showed me the site of the log home of Arvazena Jarrett Hensley (daughter of John Jacob Jarrett) and her husband Thomas Hensley. The home is not present now but I have a photo of it sent me by Alice Henson (photo 36).

36 Arvazena Jarrett Hensley and Thomas Hensley Log Cabin

Later, Thomas and Arvazena built a frame house at a different site (photo 37).

37 Thomas J. Hensley Farmhouse

Then Don and I went to the Jarrett cemetery close by which now is owned and maintained by the Jarrett family (photos 38 and 39).

38 Jarrett Cemetery
Click image for larger view

39 Jarrett Cemetery
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Here you will find some of the oldest Jarretts’ resting places, most especially important that of John Jacob Jarrett, the original ancestor (photo 40).

40 John J. Jarrett

Peggy Hake has written a history of the Jarrett family which I have copied from our own website:

THE JARRETT FAMILY

John J. Jarrett was born in North Carolina circa 1792. John came to Miller County sometime in the early 1840's with two sons, David and Abel, a daughter Elizabeth, and a grandson Ambrose. In the 1790 census of North Carolina, heads of households in the different Districts of the state included: WILMINGTON DISTRICT: Isaac, John, and John Jarrett, Jr.; SALISBURY DISTRICT: Daniel and Phillip Jarrett; HILLSBOROUGH DISTRICT: John and Willis Jarrett; FAYETTE DISTRICT: Richard Jarrett; MORGAN DISTRICT: Joseph Jarrett. The Jarrett family was prevalent in North Carolina in 1790 and at this time, it has not been determined who was the father of John J. Jarrett.

All the children of John J. Jarrett were born in North Carolina; David born ca 1822; Elizabeth born ca 1824; Abel born ca 1827; and Ambrose born ca 1839. The first wife of John is unknown and probably died in North Carolina before the family came west. On 11 July 1852 John married Frances Sherley in Miller Co., the marriage performed in the Big Richwoods by Jonathan Blevans, a Justice of the Peace. Frances was a native of South Carolina, born ca 1824. Frances had a sister who married Stephen Humphrey in Miller County before the Civil War and they lived in the old Brays area. Stephen Humphrey was a casualty of the Civil War, killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek near Springfield, MO. They were parents of Mary E. Humphrey who married James M. Humphrey, a distant cousin. Mary [Humphrey] Humphrey and her husband, James, were the ancestors of the children and grandchildren of Francis Marion & Mary [Morrow] Humphrey of the Iberia area.

David Jarrett, the oldest son, was the only one to carry the name of Jarrett on into new generations. Elizabeth, Abel, and the grandson, Ambrose, never married. David Jarrett married Jemima A. Sherley [probably another sister to Frances who married John J. Jarrett], in Miller County ca 1851. There is no record of their marriage in county records. Jemima Sherley Jarrett was born in Tennessee on April 9, 1837 and died April 6, 1909. Per her obituary, her family came to Missouri in 1831 and moved to Miller County in 1850. In 1851, at the age of 14, she married David Jarrett. She was the mother of 10 children; three died young.

The seven who survived were:

-  JOHN W. "POLK" JARRETT [1852 - 1919] m. Elizabeth Rothermel in 1876;
-  ARVAZENA LUCINDA JARRETT [1853 - 1930] m. Thomas Hensley in 1873;
-  TABITHA ELLEN JARRETT [1855 - ? ] m. Joseph Hensley in 1872;
-  ABEL ANDREW JARRETT [1858 - 1917] m. Missouri Ahart 1887;
-  BARBARA CATHLEEN JARRETT [1863 - 1943] m. Jerry Crane 1883;
-  MARY E. JARRETT [ 1865 - ? ] m. David Humphrey 1885;
-  MINNIE A. JARRETT [1868 - 1949] m. Frank S. Ramsey 1887;
-  PERRY E. JARRETT [1872 - ? ] m. ? .

John J. Jarrett died 17 July 1867 at the age of 75 years and was probably the first person buried at the Jarrett Family Cemetery, located near the Big Tavern Creek on the original land homesteaded by John in the early 1840's. All his children are buried in this family cemetery. Elizabeth Jarrett 1821-1881; Abel Jarrett 1827 - 1878; Ambrose Jarrett 1838 - 1887; David Jarrett 1822-1874 and his wife, Jemima A. [Sherley] 1837 - 1909. Members of the Jarrett family from the ensuing generations are buried there also.

CHILDREN OF ABEL ANDREW `Andy' JARRETT & HALEY MISSOURI AHART:

-  James Polk Jarrett born 2 Nov 1889 m. Dona Bilyeu 24 Dec 1916;
-  William David Jarrett born 2 Sept 1888;
-  Sherman Grant Jarrett born 1 March 1891 m. Zula Jane Sooter March 16, 1919;
-  Martha Lue Jarrett born 22 July 1892 m. Herman Ponder Skaggs Sept. 22, 1918;
-  Charles Fountain Jarrett born 7 Feb 1894 m. Pearl Hicks 13 Sept. 1922;
-  John Henry Jarrett born 26 May 1895 m. Edith Adams 14 Nov. 1923;
-  Fred Andrew Jarrett born 15 Feb. 1900 m. Clara Bass 14 May 1924;
-  Lewis Arthur Jarrett born 21 Feb 1904 m. Fleeta Lucille Watkins 27 April 1931.

Fleeta was a daughter of Gilbert and Cora [Gott] Watkins. The children of Lewis and Fleeta include: Robert Lewis Jarrett born 16 Nov 1937, died 20 May 1981; and Donald Roger Jarrett born 2 June 1943 m. Pamela Pendleton.

CHILDREN OF JOHN `POLK' JARRETT AND ELIZABETH ROTHERMEL:

-  William Jarrett married Beulah Hicks, daughter of Martin & Mary [Dake] Hicks;
-  Henry M. Jarrett [1901-1970] married Flossie M. Adams;
-  Abel Andrew Jarrett [1892 -1957] married Ida Ahart, daughter of James Ahart;
-  Oscar Jarrett married Gertrude Blankenship;
-  Fred D. Jarrett married Hattie Casey;
-  George F. Jarrett [1884-1961] married Genie Jones, daughter of Arthur Jones;
-  Margaret Jarrett married Theodore Gray;
-  Alice Jarrett married George Barr;
-  Emma Jarrett married Joe Slone;
-  Charles M. Jarrett married Dora Ahart.

CHILDREN OF TABITHA ELLEN JARRETT & JOSEPH T. HENSLEY [m. 1872]:

-  Willis A. Hensley;
-  Lura J. Hensley m. Owen E. Burton 1895;
-  Mary Belle Hensley married Joseph M. Lamb, son of Isaac Lamb, in 1899;
-  Merton Hensley;
-  Olive Hensley;
-  Electa Hensley;
-  Thomas E. Hensley [1874 - 1877]

Children of ARVAZENA LUCINDA JARRETT & THOMAS HENSLEY [m. 1873]

-  William F. Hensley married Nellie Setser, daughter of John & Jemima [Gardner] Setser;
-  Emma Hensley married John Blankenship;
-  James Arthur Hensley married Cecile Reed;
-  J. Milton Hensley [twin to James Arthur] married Nellie Bond;
-  John D. Hensley married Mae Berry;
-  Harvey Hensley married Mabel Clark, and Joseph Hensley [died young]

OBITUARY OF John W. Polk Jarrett:

John W. Polk Jarrett was born 2 May 1852 and died 10 April 1919 at his home north of Iberia. His death was caused from a stroke while shucking corn in a crib near his home. On 23 January 1876, he married Elizabeth Rodommer/ Rothermel [daughter of Frederick Rothermel]. They were parents of 10 children, seven boys and three girls [none named]. At the age of 27 years, circa 1880, Polk Jarrett joined the Christian Church. His funeral services were held at his home, conducted by Rev. Charles Sooter with burial in the Jarrett Cemetery.

Alice Henson, a Jarrett descendent and Jarrett genealogist has made some modifications to the history of Peggy’s:

Jarrett family history modifications by Alice Henson:

Arvazena Jarrett is my great-grandmother. Her mother was Jemima Shirley, daughter of Mrs. Frances Shirley and John Shirley. Mrs. Frances Shirley married John J. Jarrett and her daughter, Jemima, married David Jarrett. Another daughter of Frances married Steven Humphrey.

John J. Jarrett's parents were John Jarrett and Elizabeth Fisher of Lincoln County, NC. His first wife was Claressa Shuford, whom he married in Lincoln County, NC. She died sometime between 1838 and 1840. John Jarrett came first to Cape Girardeau County, MO and then to Miller County.

Parents of John J. Jarrett were John Jarrett and Elizabeth Fisher of Lincoln County, NC

John J. Jarrett b. 26 May 1792 in Lincoln County, NC
    wife # 1  Claressa Shuford married 15 August 1817 in Lincoln County, NC

Children:

1.  Davidb. 4 June 1822 in Lincoln County, NC
2.  Elizabeth b. 6 June 1824 in Lincoln County, NC never married
3.  Abel b. 7 Feb 1827 never married
4.  Ambrose b. 1838 never married

Both Elizabeth and Ambrose are listed as retarded on the 1880 census, but were self-supporting.

Abel was in the Civil War, Co H, Osage County Home Guard during the Civil War

John J. Jarrett with his first wife Claressa are in the 1840 census of Cape Girardeau County, MO. It is not clear whether Ambrose was born in NC or MO. One census lists Missouri.

Don’s farm, of course, is one of Missouri’s Century farms. Here is a photo of Don receiving the Century Farm recognition some twenty years ago (photo 41).

41 Jarrett Century Farm
Click image for larger view

One interesting thing about the more recent Jarrett family members is the number of those who became barbers. I mentioned above that Don is a barber from whom I have received haircuts. Don’s first cousin, Tennyson Jarrett also is a barber. He barbered in Tuscumbia for a few years in the 1960’s. Don’s father, Lewis was a barber as was Lewis’ brother Jim. Tennyson was very kind to our museum having donated the original Tuscumbia barber chair to us a couple of years ago. You can read about that story at these previous Progress Notes:

March 17, 2008
April 28, 2008
July 21, 2008

Here is what Tennyson wrote me about his family history:

Here is a photo Tennyson sent me of him and Sue (Helton) his wife along with Don and Pam and their cousin, Greta Bolien, who has supplied much of the family history for this narrative (photo 42).

42 Don, Greta Jarrett Bolien, Tennyson, Pam Pendleton and Sue Helton Jarrett

And here is a photo Tennyson sent me of his family (photo 43):

43 Tennyson Jarrett Family

He mentioned their names above but I didn’t get the order in the photo.

This photo is of Tennyson’s brother, Johannis, and Tennyson. Johannis was in WWII and Tennyson served in Korea (photo 44).

44 Johannis and Tennyson Jarrett

Tennyson’s father, John, served in WWI (photo 45).

45 John Jarrett

Tennyson Jarrett just sent me some more Jarrett family photos today which I am adding here (photos 45a - 45e):

45a Andy and Missouri Jarrett Family

45b Charles Jarrett

45c Sherman Jarrett

45d John and Edith (Adams) Jarrett with sons Johannis and Tennyson

45e Herman and Martha (Jarrett) Skaggs

Much more could be written about the Jarrett family in addition to that recorded above but I limited the narrative to those I knew or knew about. One question arose regarding the photo of David Jarrett mentioned above which is in the possession of Don Jarrett (photo 46).

46 David and Jemima Jarrett

It so happened that Tennyson Jarrett has the identical photo which he has identified as being Abel and Missouri Jarrett (photo 47).

47 Andy and Missouri Jarrett

I asked one of the Jarrett family historians, Alice Henson, about the photos and she wrote me the following:

After this communication, I received a letter and photo from Greta Bolien, another Jarrett descendent who said:

I want to thank Don and Tennyson Jarrett, Alice Henson and Greta Bolien for their contributions to this week’s Progress Notes about the Jarrett family of Miller County.

As a footnote to this story about the Jarrett family, I was interested to discover from my conversation with Don that the family of his mother, Fleeta Watkins Jarrett, was that of Gilbert Watson. According to Wanda Kelsay Mote, who was raised in the Hickory Point area where was located the store, Gilbert Watson was the first Watson to operate the store. Wanda said that after Gilbert, Elmer Waite owned the store followed by Jewell Ponder. She thinks the last one to run the store was Chester Patterson.

We have on our own website a history of the Watkins community which you can read by clicking on the link.

On this website you can read about the Watkins family, especially William Shelton Watkins who was said to have buried gold he found in California. Unfortunately, William was killed in the Civil War and the secret burying place for the gold has never been found.

Below is a short paragraph from the above website which gives some more information about the store and the area:

Prior to the turn of the century, the Hickory Point Church was organized. The old schoolhouse was most likely used first as the meeting place for the weekly religious services. The church's congregation has grown quite large over the last ninety years or so and still has weekly services. A general store was erected and was operated by the Watkins family in about the same time period. The store was in operation until the early 1950's. Today, the store building is no longer there.

Here is a photo of the old store (photo 47a):

47a Watkins General Store and Post Office

And here is a very interesting and complete genealogical history of the Watkins family researched for us by Nancy Thompson, our museum director (photo 47b):

47b William Shelton Watkins Genealogy
Click image to view complete document in PDF format

Notice that this genealogical chart indicates that Fleeta Watkins Jarrett was the great granddaughter of William Shelton Watkins, the original Watkins in the area.

Larry Condra, grandson of Clint Condra, wrote me the following note about the Condra family narrative which was on the Progress Notes of November 15:

Here is what I wrote to Larry in response:

So if any reader can add information about the location of Andrew Condra and his family after 1900 we would be very appreciative.

Recently, we received a wild life art painting of wild turkeys which was the work of artist Nora Ellen Robinett who was born and raised in the Brumley area (photo 48).

48 Wild Turkeys by Nora Ellen Robinett

For quite a few years Nora has lived in Patterson, Washington but obviously she has an excellent memory of the wild turkeys she saw in the Miller County woods years ago. Nora is the brother of Omer Robinett who passed away several years ago (photo 49).

49 Omer Robinette

Donald Robinette, son of Omer, is the nephew of Nora (photo 50).

50 Donald and Jan Robinette

Donald shared with me the Robinett family history which you can read in a previous Progress Notes.

I don’t have a photo of Nora but perhaps she will send one to us someday and I will upload it to our website. However, you can view her painting in the entry foyer of our museum entrance on the west wall.

By the way, the painting on the wall behind Donald in the photo above was by Don’s daughter, Karen (Robinette) Sumpter. So it appears that the artistic ability of Nora, Karen’s aunt, is passing down to the next generation!

I will be attending two book signings by author Daniel Peek of his new book, “Live! At The Ozark Opry” at the Downtown Book and Toy on High Street in Jefferson City Thursday, December 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday, December 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (photos 51 and 52):

51 Daniel Peek

52 Ozark Opry Live Book Cover
Click image for larger view (in PDF format)

In addition, I will be attending a third book signing by Daniel at Stonecrest Mall, Osage Beach Saturday, December 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Daniel (who originally is from Versailles) and two high school friends performed in a show at Osage Beach in the 1960’s sponsored by Lee named “Lee Mace’s Hillbilly Hootenanny.”  Since then Daniel had always been a fan and supporter of Lee’s efforts to bring original local music to the tourists who visited here.  As a result of his own personal experiences with Lee and the Opry show, Daniel desired to author the book about the Ozark Opry named above which recently has been published by Barnes and Noble. Dan has invited several of the original Opry performers to attend these events. He asked me to attend to answer any historical questions that attendees might have about Lee and the Ozark Opry show. You can read a short synopsis about the history of the show which I wrote a couple of years ago at this previous Progress Notes.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

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