Progress Notes

In previous Progress Notes I have presented quite a few citations and narratives about the Civil War in Miller County. One of the most damaging aspects of the Civil War in our county was that especially early on the people who lived here were divided over the issues involved, which eventually lead to the war. Quite a number of skirmishes between Northern and Southern sympathizers are documented in Clyde Lee Jenkins’ History of Miller County. However, many disturbances were caused by “bushwhackers,” who most of the time were outlaws committing crimes under the guise of being sympathetic to one side or another. One fairly major Civil War battle was fought on the border between Camden and Miller counties, the battle at Wet Glaze (as it was spelled then). You can read the account of this battle as written by Clyde Lee Jenkins at this previous Progress Notes.

That edition of Progress Notes also presented the biography of Samuel Umstead, a Miller Countian who probably fought in more battles of the Civil War than any other Miller County soldier.

Another previous Progress Notes in particular pointed out the harsh aftermath after the war for one of our esteemed Miller County citizens, Thomas Babcoke. Thomas was a Methodist Minister who was a heroic and important officer serving the Northern side in the war. I presented a detailed account of his story in a previous Progress Notes.

However, during and after the war he and his family were persecuted and tormented by Southern sympathizers who lived in Miller County. Gerard Schultz has recorded this sentence in one of his narratives:

History of Miller County p. 65:

“The house of Thomas J. Babcoke was burned by ‘reconstructed rebels’ on the night of December 31, 1867.”

Peggy Hake wrote in her narrative about Babcoke that:

“between 1870 and 1880 the Babcoke family left Miller County.”

You can read Peggy’s complete account of Babcoke at the link cited above.

With that introduction, this week I am going to present the story of a strong Southern sympathizer who also was one of Miller County’s early settlers and who was very important in its earliest development, William Powell Dixon (photo 01).

01 William Powell Dixon
Click image for larger view

Frequent readers of Progress Notes will recall seeing Dixon’s photo often associated with stories of events and happenings in MIller County. Peggy Hake has written for our website Dixon’s biography which you can read.

Or, you can read this attachment where I have copied Peggy‘s history of William Powell Dixon (photo 02):

02 William Powell Dixon by Peggy Hake
Click image to read entire document in PDF format

The account of William Powell Dixon I want to present this week was written by another of our esteemed Miller County historians, Clyde Lee Jenkins. This article was first published in the Miller County Autogram Sentinel in 1973. Clyde researched the Dixon family history extensively for the article and that is the reason I wanted to place it on our internet site. The Dixon family was one of Miller County’s earliest, and I am sure it was a laborious effort by Clyde not only to gather so much biographical data but also to locate a few photos of the family:

Dixon Family Settlers of Miller County
Clyde Lee Jenkins

Miller County Autogram 1973

Edmund Dixon, who was married in North Carolina to Catherine Warren, was a son of William and Joice Perryman Dixon, early inhabitants of the Colonies, Catherine’s parents were Godlow and Elizabeth Stewart Warren, the latter a daughter of William Stewart of New Haven, Scotland.

Edmund and Catherine Warren Dixon were the parents of 12 children, 7 sons and 5 daughters. William, the eldest, served as a captain in the Continental Forces during the Revolutionary War. He courted Miss Millie Boxley of Virginia, 25 or more years before they were married. They had no children. John, another son, was never married. Before his maturity he was scalped by Indians while employed as a clerk in a country store.

Other sons included Warren, who was married to Elizabeth Moore; Henry or Hal, who was married to Nancy Bolton; Edmund Jr. who was married to Sallie Cearnald; Jeremiah, who died in Cole County, Missouri, before the Civil War, unmarried; and Levi, a colonel in the Mustered Squads, who was married to Sallie Bolton.

Daughters of Edmund and Catherine Warren Dixon included Ann, who was married to Thomas Hardy; Mary or Polly, who first was married to William Bolton, second to Archibald Cearnald; Frances, who was married to Thomas Trotter; Martha, who was married to Charles Bolton; and Elizabeth, who was married to a gentleman by surname of Stanfield.

Edmund and Catherine Warren Dixon reared their children on a farm in Person County, North Carolina, situated approximately 12 miles north of Roxboro, the county seat, by Hico Creek. Edmund, a slave owner, was a prosperous country gentleman, but after the death of his wife, Catherine, about 1830, he soon moved westward. He settled in central Missouri, near Jefferson City, by his son, Henry, where he patented a tract of land. He died before the Civil War, and his descendants now follow.

The children of Warren and Elizabeth Moore Dixon included John M., Ann J., Mary, Sallie, and Elizabeth. Of these, it is known that John M. was never married; Ann J. was married to E.L. Edwards, a prominent attorney and politician of Jefferson City. He was a Judge of the Circuit Court a number of years, serving Miller County. Judge and Ann Edwards were the parents of three boys, William, Joseph, and John, and one girl, Sallie, who was never married. William was killed during the Civil War; while John was married to a Miss Lockett.

Mary Dixon was married to George W. Lansdown, a prominent pioneer physician in Cole and Miller counties (photo 03).

03 Dr. George Lansdown and Family
Click image for larger view

He practiced his profession at Spring Garden, Mount Pleasant, Tuscumbia, Iberia, and Olean. Doctor and Mary Lansdown were the parents of Sarah E., Louisa, Warren, Ann M. and Mary. Sarah was married to Lambert A. Miller, a prosperous Osage River farmer; Louisa was never married; Warren was married to Mary Wines of Miller County; Ann was married to Nick Ward of Cole County; and Mary was married to Governor Fletcher’s brother.

Whom Sallie Dixon may have married is unknown to this author, but Elizabeth moved to Texas soon after her marriage to Samuel Smith. They lived there and raised a family.

The children of Henry or Hal and Nancy Bolton Dixon included Elizabeth J., William Powell, Thomas B., Charley T., Henry E., and Nancy W.

Elizabeth J. was married to William Scott, a prominent attorney of Jefferson City. He was a judge of the Cole County Court, a judge of the Circuit Court serving Miller County, and a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. Judge and Elizabeth J. Scott were the parents of Alice, Laura, Ophelia, Mary, Charles, and Henry. Alice was married to Emmett Hayden, an attorney at Boonville; Laura was married to Phil Winston, a prominent physician in Cole County; Ophelia was married and lived in western Missouri, no data; Mary was married to Attorney Gudow of Boone County; Charles was married to Mollie Dixon, his cousin, and they lived in Vernon county; while Henry, the youngest child, was never married before his death.

William Powell first was married to Nancy Minerva, only daughter of Judge Edmund and Cynthia Houston Wilkes of Miller County, second to Virginia C. Shepherd Adams, a daughter of Humphrey Shepherd of Virginia. His family will be given later (photo 04).

04 Nancy Minerva Dixon

Thomas B. was never married. He died when about 27 years of age.

Charley T., a prominent physician, was married to Nancy McDowell. They lived in the state of Mississippi, where he died. They were the parents of eight or more children, mostly girls.

Henry E. was married to Lutitia, a daughter of Judge Glover of Cole County, and they were the parents of Virginia, Thomas, Walter, Robert, and Nancy.

Nancy W. was married to Attorney Bassett of St. Joseph, having children, Betty and Harry.

The children of Edmund Jr. and Sallie Cearnald Dixon are unknown, except for a daughter, Alice, and a son, Jeremiah. Sallie was a daughter of Archibald Cearnald by his first wife; his second wife being Mary, sister of Edmund Jr., his son in law.

The children of Colonel Levi and Sallie Bolton Dixon included Catherine, Lydia Ann, Sallie, Frank, William, Levi Marshall, Edmund, Louisa, and Mollie.

Catherine was married to William F. Winston, and they were the parents of Nicholas, Kimbrough, and Louisa. Nicholas was married and lived at Nevada, Missouri. On Kimbrough, no data, while Louisa was married to William J. Stone, a distinguished attorney and congressman.

Lydia Ann was married to Dr. Fulkerson, but she died, leaving a daughter, Mollie, and a son, who died.

Sallie was married to the Reverend Thomas Lockett, and they were the parents of six children, Osborn, William, Thomas, Levi, Louisa, and Mollie.

Frank was married to Maggie, a daughter of Dr. Edwards of Jefferson City.

William was married and lived in Callaway County where he died, leaving no children.

Levi Marshall, a physician, after his marriage to a daughter of George Lockett of Cole County practiced his profession at Walker, Missouri.

Edmund was married to Mary, a daughter of Judge Whitley Fowler of Cole County; Louis died single; while Mollie was married to her first cousin, the Reverend Charles Scott, and they lived, and died, in Nevada, Missouri having several children, one son, Levi Scott, serving as prosecuting attorney of Vernon County.

The children of Ann Dixon Hardy and her husband, Thomas, included Catherine, who was married to her cousin, William Hardy; and Frances, who was married to Dr. Douglass.

The children of Mary or Polly Dixon by her first husband, William Bolton, included Merewether Lewis who was first married to a daughter of General Thomas L. Price, having before her death, one child, Mary Ann, who was married to William Maben of Virginia; second, Merewither Lewis was married to Sadie Hall of Virginia. They were the parents of Rufus, Livingston, Merewether, Randolph, Adaline, Indiana, and Virginia. Rufus, a physician, was married to Miss Bradley of Johnson County, Missouri and they lived near Holden, having four children, three sons and a daughter. Livingston was never married. Merewether was killed during the Civil War unmarried. On Randolph, no data.

Adaline was married to attorney George White of Jefferson City, having several children. No data on Indiana and Virginia.

Dixon, son of Mary or Polly Dixon Bolton and her husband, William, was married to Eliza, a daughter of old Dr. Barnett of Person County, N.C., and a few years after their marriage he was murdered by some Negroes in a slave rebellion.

Charles, next son of Mary and William Bolton, was married to Anna, a daughter of Hal Stanfield of Person County, N.C. while William, the youngest son of Mary and William, who was a physician, and better known as “Old Dr. Bolton,” was married to Sarah Lansdown. They were the parents of Josephine, Opelia, Cecilia, and Theodore. It is known that Josephine was married to a gentleman by a surname of O’Conner, while Cecilia, nick named Sadie Cadle, was married to James Hackney of Jefferson City.

The only child of Mary of Polly Dixon by her second husband, Archibald Cearnald, was a son, A.W. Cearnald, who was married to Phoebe Ann Smith, and they were the parents of Henry, Commilias, Price, Archibald, Mary, and Celestia. It is known Henry was married to a daughter of the widow Hughes by Deacon Johnson of Knob Noster, Missouri having three children, while Celestia was married to the Reverend Mr. Wilkes, having three children.

The children of Martha Dixon Bolton by her husband, Charles, included Edmund D., Thomas L., William, John Henry, James, Monroe, Nannie, and one daughter whose name is not known here.

Edmund D. was married to Sallie Winston of Cole County; Thomas L., a physician, first was married to Cassandra, a daughter of Judge Glover of Cole County, having one son, DeWitt, a distinguished Baptist minister; second he was married to Maggie Palmer of Virginia, having several children.

William was married to widow Corban, a daughter of widow Donohue, General Lewis Bolton’s second wife; while John Henry studied medicine, but died before having practiced his profession, unmarried.

Charles was married to a daughter of Montgomery Wray of Cole County; while James and Monroe, the author having no data, are believed to have lived in Callaway County. Nannie was married to William Posten, and her sister, name unknown, was married to William Jordan of Callaway County.

William Powell Dixon and his brother, Henry E., were early settlers in what is now Miller County, Missouri. Their mother, Nancy, was a daughter of Thomas and Phoebe Waller Bolton. Nancy’s brothers and sisters included Charles, Thomas, Joel, Waller, Lewis, John, Leut, Leona, Sallie, and Lydia.

Charles was married to Martha, a daughter of Edmund and Catherine Warren Dixon, their children already given.

Thomas was married to Susan Waller, his cousin.

Joel was married to Elizabeth Waddleton of Caswell County, N.C. and they were the parents of five children, John, Washington, Dixon, Elizabeth, and Nannie. It is known that John first was married to Amanda, a daughter of Leona Smith; second he was married to Lou Glover, having one child, Peter, who was married to Sallie, a daughter of Dr. Waller Glover of Jefferson City. Washington was married to Eliza, his cousin, and a daughter of Waller Bolton. Dixon was married to Agnes, a daughter of George Lockett of Cole County, and was married again in Texas. Nannie was married to a gentleman with a surname of Reed, and after his death, she was married to his brother. Elizabeth was married to G.D. Smith, a cousin, they having several children, one daughter, Helen, who was married to Mr. Logan, the surveyor of Vernon County, Missouri for a number of years.

Waller was married to Mary Lansdown of Virginia, and they were the parents of Benton, Joel, Waller, Isabella, Celestia, Sarah, and Callie. It is known that Benton was married to a lady in Texas, where they died; while Joel died in Alabama, unmarried. Celestia was married to a man by name of Julian, a printer by trade, both living but a short time after their marriage.

Lewis, the general, first was married to Elizabeth Lansdown of Virginia, and their children included Caroline, Sarah, Thomas, Nellie, Lydia, Leona, and Louis. It is known that Caroline was married to Lewis Williams of Virginia, moving to Texas, where they raised a family; that Sarah was married to William Kerr, a merchant in Jefferson City, and after his death, was married to a Baptist minister; that Thomas died when nearly grown, unmarried. General Lewis Bolton was married second to widow Donohue of Callaway County, having children, but nothing is known of them.

Leut died before having reached his maturity; while Leona was married to Green D. Smith, having five children, Samuel L., Commillius D., Phoebe Ann, Sallie, and Amanda. Sallie was married to a member of the legislature from Franklin County, Missouri while Amanda was married to John Bolton, as previously given.

John was married to Widow Roper, who was previously his brother Joel’s wife, Elizabeth Waddleton, she having married Roper after Joel’s demise.

Whom Sallie and Lydia, daughters of Thomas and Phoebe Waller Bolton may have married, is unknown to this author.

Many members of the Dixon family, and their spouses, were often in Miller County. This included Judge William Scott, who held his first two terms of the Miller County Circuit Court at the house of William Miller, then situated on the northerly ridge near the mouth of the Saline Creek. At the Court’s second sitting, commencing on October 26, 1837, he issued a proclamation which was cried out by the sheriff at the Court’s door that “The Seat of Justice of Miller County has been established by law….this court will thereafter be held at Tuscumbia.”

At the first term of circuit court, E. L. Edwards produced his license to practice as an attorney. Later, he would also serve a number of years as judge of the Miller County Circuit Court.

The wife of William Scott, Elizabeth J., and the wife of E.L. Edwards, Ann J., were first cousins. Judge William Scott’s wife was a sister to William P. Dixon, a merchant at Spring Garden, and to Henry E. Dixon, a settler nearby, too. Attorney Edward’s wife, Mary, was a sister to the wife of Dr. George W. Lansdown, Miller County’s first known physician.

Few pioneer families ever contributed more to the development of Central Missouri than the descendants of William Dixon who was married to Joice Perryman back in the colonies.

In 1829, William P. Dixon, 17 years of age, having been born in 1812, in North Carolina, opened a storehouse on the prairie in Southwestern Cole County. This was in new country, but the settlers were coming, many having already turned the prairie sod, planting and harvesting corn, wheat, and tobacco while hunting wild game. The St. Louis market was conveniently reached via the Osage River from the Spring Garden landing at the mouth of the Saline Creek.

Dixon’s Trading Post flourished, and his cousins, through marriage, Dr. William Bolton of Jefferson City, and Dr. George W. Lansdown, soon joined him in the enterprise.

This partnership was dissolved in 1838. William P. Dixon, elected clerk of the Circuit and Miller County Courts, of necessity, moved to Tuscumbia. On May 21, 1839, he was married to Nancy Minerva, 16 years of age, only daughter of Judge Edmund and Cynthia (Houston) Wilkes of Miller County (see photo 04).

William P. Dixon served as clerk of the Circuit and County Courts from 1838 through 1844, and from 1848 to 1856. He was a keeper of stables while at the county seat, and dabbled some in the mercantile business, in partnership with Emmanuel Godlove. In 1855 he opened a store in Mount Pleasant, in partnership with John H. Sullens, and continued in the merchandising business into the Civil War.

William P. Dixon, an outstanding citizen, was a family man, but he suffered the loss, when from 5 to 9 years of age, of four of his children. These included James Marion, little Willie, Sarah, and Elizabeth. His eldest daughter, Levonia Josephine, was married to Dr. William Rufus Kennard at Mount Pleasant on August 27, 1861 (photos 05 and 06).

05 Levonia Josephine Dixon

06 Dr. William Rufus Kennard

Mary Louella, another daughter, was married first to David K. Barnett, a Presbyterian minister (photos 07 and 08).

07 Mary Louella Dixon
Click image for larger view

08 Reverend David M.K. Barnett

They had four children, Arthur, Herbert, Minnie, and David K., then was married second to the Reverend George Golden, a minister of considerable talent, having three children, George, William, and Joseph. Nanny Adaline, another daughter, was married to Abisha Spake of Knob Noster, having two children, Charles and Fannie, William P.’s son, Thomas E. was married to Frances Jane Norfleet, having seven children, William A., Stella, James Ken, Lura, Blanche, Maude, and Gertrude.

William P. Dixon, a slave owner, was also brother in law of the Honorable William Scott, a judge of the Missouri Supreme Court, who wrote the opinion in the famous Dred Scott Case denying the right of citizenship to Negroes which when appealed to the federal courts, was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court on March 6, 1857; The decision hastening the Civil War.

Of southern heritage, William P. Dixon supported the Confederacy. When the State Guard Companies were organized in Miller County, Dixon & Sullens at Mount Pleasant furnished saddles, blankets, bridles, and provisions to the troops, but this soon caused them much grief. With the arrival of Colonel Mulligan’s Federal Forces on the Saline Township prairie, William P. Dixon, his father in law, Edmund Wilkes, some McCastland men and others to avoid chastisement by abolitionist sympathizers, concealed themselves in a cave by the Big Saline Creek. Upon receiving information that the Union soldiers were going to scout the Saline Creek valley for persons hiding there, Nancy Dixon devised a plan to warn her husband of approaching danger.

Daughter Mary Louella, 11 years of age, summoned to her side, was instructed to proceed to the cave, 3 ½ miles south of Mount Pleasant, with a message for her father. If approached by Union soldiers the small piece of paper carried by her, conveying Nancy’s warning to William, must be placed into her mouth, immediately chewed up and quickly swallowed.

At sunrise, Mary Louella could be seen by the inhabitants of Mount Pleasant riding her little pony out of the village toward the Saline Creek. Near sundown she appeared, riding leisurely homeward, having delivered the message to her father, unmolested by Union soldiers.

Later, when Mount Pleasant was garrisoned by soldiers of the Enrolled Militia, Dixon & Sullens were daily levied upon for supplies. This system of legalized robbery soon forced them out of business, but when requisitions could no longer be honored, they were arrested and confined to the stockade. Their storehouse and homes in Mount Pleasant were then touched with a torch and burned to the ground.

John H. Sullens hastened to Canada, under a pass given to him by the military to get out of the state, while William P. Dixon was incarcerated for many weary months at Jefferson City, and in St. Louis at Gratiot Street before pardoned by President Abraham Lincoln. Nancy, through longtime friends, the Campbell families in St. Louis, who were strong Union supporters, petitioned the President for her husband’s freedom, which he granted.

Willam P. and Nancy Dixon then lived at California, Missouri until her health was broken by the fatigues from internecine conflict in the summer of 1869. Although barely able to travel, she journeyed with her husband to Kentucky to be given treatments by her uncle, Dr. Christopher C. Houston, but she died on August 28, at the home of her brother, Lanceford Bramlet Wilkes, in Lexington.

Her body, returned to Moniteau County, was then interred by her husband and friends beside the grave of her father, Judge Edmund Wilkes, in a cemetery near California.

William P. Dixon afterward lived for a time in Knob Noster, and later, at Warrensburg, where he was married in 1871 to widow Virginia C. Shepherd Adams, a native of London Company, Virginia, who, upon her death in 1875, left him with an infant son, William Price Dixon.

At 63 years of age, William P. moved, with his little son, to the home of his eldest son, Thomas Edmund Dixon at Richards, in Vernon County, Missouri, and lived there a short time before moving to the home of his eldest daughter, Levonia Josephine, wife of Dr. William Rufus Kennard, at Rockdale, in Milam County, Texas, where he died in the 81st year of his lifetime, on May 19, 1893.

William Powell Dixon, family man, Christian gentleman, outstanding citizen, and public official, because he dared to stand up for what he believed to be right, was driven from Miller county by friends and neighbors in a moment of rage and passion which swept over the country in the decade of the 1860’s.

His leaving was Miller County’s loss, and his services to Central Missouri and devotion to country are now honored, as he rests in peace in the Odd Fellows Cemetery at Rockdale, Texas.

So, just as the Northern sympathizer, Thomas Babcoke was driven out of the county by Southern radicals, so was William Powell Dixon forced to move from here by Northern favoring citizens of the county. For ten years after the Civil War according to Clyde Lee Jenkins in Volume II of his History of Miller County, “Miller County was a place of divided families, many political factions, and community rivalries.” Since the “Loyal” forces were in control, southern sympathizers were “chased from the county.” However, advocates of either side of the war were at times the victims of violence or mischief.

Once in a while I go to the Vernon Publishing Company’s office in Eldon to review the archives of the Autogram which contain microfilm copies of editions of the paper extending as far back as the 1890’s. And because one regular feature of the Autogram was to reprint items from editions published fifty years previously, one can discover some things of interest, even if not of historical importance. Some time back I photographed a page from an edition of the Autogram which featured news from the editions of January 8, 1890 and January 6, 1916 (photo 09).

09 1880 Files and 1916 Files
Click image for larger view

I thought it would be interesting to add some photos to these news items so I have typed out the article and inserted 17 photos in the order of the subjects as they are mentioned (photos 10 - 27).

From Our Early Files

50 Years Ago

From the Autogram Files of January 8 1890

Cunnings and Bennett, our new millers, are arranging affairs so as to get all out of the business there is in it. Among other important changes made they propose to pay half the ferryage on from 6 to 12 bushels of grain, and all the ferryage on 12 bushels and over. The boys are business all over, and this arrangement should be satisfactory to the farmers of the South Side, and we hope to see all of them patronizing the Anchor Mills in the future (photos 10 and 11).

10 Ferry Landing - Tuscumbia

11 Anchor Roller Mills

Died, at the residence of her son, George W. Martin, near Ulmon’s Ridge, December 21, 1890, Cisly Ann Martin. She was born August 27, 1819, in Pulaski county, Kentucky and moved to Missouri in 1857 with her husband, John Martin.

The Steamer Hugo came up Tuesday morning with a lot of goods for our merchants. The smiling face of clerk Henry Castrop…who by the way is a capital fellow and marriageable besides…looks as natural as ever. The Hugo has been kept below for some time on account of low water (photos 12 and 14).

12 John R. Hugo Steamboat

14 Caroline and Henry Castrop - 1899

Circuit Clerk W.P. Freeman left for Jefferson City Tuesday to witness the opening of the legislature (photo 15).

15 W.P. Freeman and Wife
Click image for larger view

R.S. Harvey has purchased a block of Elmer Hart at Eldon, upon which he will erect an elegant residence in the spring (photo 16).

16 R.S. Harvey Portrait

Uncle Jimmy Simpson, an old and highly respected citizen of near Spring Garden, died at his home there the 20th.

Postmaster A.P. Nixdorf of Pleasant Farm was in town last Saturday. The old Doctor has been a prominent figure in the history of Miller county (photo 17).

17 Anton Paul Nixdorf, M.D.

Married on Tuesday December 23, Mr. Robert Reed to Miss Vernie C. Wilson, at the residence of the bride’s parents, near Ulmon’s Ridge, Elder E.L. Hawkins officiating (photo 18).

18 Sons of James: Upper Row: Phil, Clinton, Clate and Perry
Lower Row: Ed, Ted and Carrol Hawkins

During the year 1890, there were filed in the Recorder’s office of Miller county 1000 conveyances of real estate including mortgages, deeds of trust, and leases; also 161 chattel mortgages and 118 marriage licenses issued.

Thomas Cotton, the Rocky Mount stock dealer, was in town last press day. Tom had nearly 200 head of cattle on hand when the bottom fell out of the cattle market recently, but by good engineering he got out about whole. What Tom doesn’t know about cattle wouldn’t make a very large pamphlet.

25 Years Ago

From the Autogram Files of January 6, 1916

Mrs. Olive May Moles of Tuscumbia, Mrs. Mary S. Harvey of Eldon, Mrs. G. Byron Smith of Iberia, Mrs. Sophia E. Reed of Ulman, Mrs. W.S. Allee of Olean and Mrs. Cynthia F. Spearman of Ulman came by the county jail as “visitors” for the “inspection of all corrective institutions” in Miller county (photos 19, 19a and 20).

19 Mary Olive Robinson - 1866-1900 - Wife of Professor Moles

19a Mrs. Smith

20 Cynthia Hawkins Spearman

Henry Bear died December 23, 1915, at his home near Ulman at the age of 78 years (photo 21).

21 Henry and Virginia Castleman Bear

He was survived by his third wife and seven children. The children were: Lucinda Bear by his first wife, the former Lucinda Spearman; Mrs. Eva Umstead of Tuscumbia, Mrs. Anna Ihmels of Bobels, North Dakota, Mrs. Dora Mitchell of Canada, by his second wife, the former Geraldine Robinson; Willard Bear of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Miss Lucy Bear of ulman, by the third wife, the former Virginia Castleman.

Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Vaughan and Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Allen of the Mt. Carmel community became the parents of fine baby boys.

L.A. Wright departed for San Antonio, Texas, where he was to remain for some time soliciting orders for the Kenyon Company of Des Moines, Iowa (photo 22).

22 Lawrence Alfred and Carmen Ercel Bassman Wright

Miss Anna Blackburn, our efficient primary teacher, went to Latham Sunday.

Professor James Messersmith of the Ulman school was here Saturday looking after business (photo 23).

23 James Messersmith

Otis Brockman departed the first of the week for Ottawa, Kansas, to resume hi studies, after spending the holidays here with his parents (photo 24).

24 Judge John N. Brockman Family - Otis Rear Left

Miss Olive Moles left Monday morning for Hardin College, Mexico, Mo. where she will remain during the last half of the scholastic year taking some special work.

Professor Edward Waddell, who is teaching the Hoecker school, returned to his work Saturday after spending the holidays with homefolks (photo 25).

25 W.E. Waddell
Click image for larger view

Mrs. Ruby Moles Brown left for Sturgeon Monday to resume her work as teacher in the high school at Sturgeon, while her husband, Roscoe Brown, returned to Oakwood farm near Bagnell to resume his duties there.

Oliver Graham, the efficient teacher in the Lawson district above town, gave the Autogram office a friendly call Thursday. Mr. Graham is one of the county’s most successful teachers and his services are always in demand.

Joseph Buechter and John Struemph, two of our good friends and patrons of the St. Elizabeth community, were county seat visitors Monday and while on the hill gave this office a friendly call.

J.D. Brumley and J.W. Doubikin, two of Osage township’s most prosperous farmers, were here on Thursday making settlement with the collector.

Wade Pemberton and Frank Steen, two of our good Richwoods township patrons, were numbered among the business guests of our city Thursday. It would be hard to locate two better young men than these industrious young farmers (photos 26 and 27).

26 Wade Pemberton

27 Frank and Ella Wall Steen

Recently, I have been placing here selected items from the old book, History of Missouri edited by Howard Louis Conard (photo 28).

28 Howard Louis Conard

One of his contributors was a professor named S. Waterhouse (he never spelled his first name out in the book). Professor Waterhouse wrote a short essay in the book about the early language of the central part of our country first under French control and later the Spanish:

Language of the Pioneers
By Professor S. Waterhouse

As published in:
History of Missouri (1899)
Edited by Howard Louis Conard

As long as Upper Louisiana was a dependency of France, French was the only language spoken in St. Louis. After the cession of the country to Spain a few Spanish officials and soldiers came to the village to administer the government and maintain civil order. But not all the Spanish governors were Spaniards. St. Ange, Trudeau and Delassus were French.

The laws and legal processes, public records and documents were drawn in Spanish, but the presence of a few Spaniards exerted a scarcely appreciable influence on the popular speech. The language, manners and customs continued to be distinctively French. In 1804, when St. Louis passed under American jurisdiction, French was the exclusive language of its inhabitants. In 1818 French was still the common speech of a community two thirds of which even then were Frenchmen. But after the admission of Missouri into the Union, English gained a rapid ascendancy, and the beautiful tongue which had so long been the medium of happy intercourse ceased forever to be the prevailing language of the inhabitants of St. Louis.

A month ago in January Judy and I joined Judy’s brother in law Allan Cates and his wife Eleanor who live in San Marcos, Texas to take a cruise to warmer weather in the Caribbean (Allan was married to Judy’s sister Sue who passed away several years ago). Here is a photo of us at dinner one night after joining the cruise which had departed from its port at Galveston, Texas (photo 29):

29 Judy, Joe, Iris, Bob, Eleanor and Allan

Judy and I are sitting on the left; Allan and Eleanor are on the right, and in the middle are mutual friends Bob and Iris Spears. These cruise ships are really big (photo 30)!

30 Really Big

Allan is a musician who likes Western Swing style music although he can play all styles. Entertaining on board the ship was Texan Bobby Flores, a well known Western Swing musician and vocalist.

After the cruise was completed we spent a couple of weeks in Texas. One of the highlights of the trip occurred when we traveled to Donna, Texas where I had arranged before hand to meet Joe Jeffries and his wife, Ruby of Eldon, who were spending the winter there. Joe and his musical group very kindly have provided musical entertainment for our museum events for many years. We especially enjoyed joining with Joe and some of his musician friends for some “picking and singing” (photo 31).

31 Joe Jeffries, Joe Pryor and Allan Cates

On returning to San Marcos to the ranch where live Allan and Eleanor, Judy and I were taken on a tour of the surrounding “Hill Country.” This area of Texas is forested and isn’t flat unexpectedly reminding one of the Ozark hills of Miller County. Eleanor’s son, Brent Tuttle, is manager of the Ingram Ranch near San Marcos and is married to Liz Ingram, daughter of the ranch’s owner, Bruce Ingram. Here is a photo of Allan, Brent and Liz on the edge of a bluff overlooking Bear Creek which runs through this 5,000 acre ranch eventually emptying into the San Marcos River (photo 31a).

31a Allan Cates, Liz and Brent Tuttle overlooking Bear Creek on Ingram Ranch

And here is a photo of Judy and me taken from the same bluff (photo 31b):

31b Joe and Judy Pryor overlooking Bear Creek on Ingram Ranch

Bruce is owner of the largest Ready Mix company in Texas. Here is a photo of Bruce, his wife Gloria, and Brent taken from a deck at Bruce’s home, again overlooking Bear Creek (photo 31c):

31c Bruce and Gloria Ingram, Brent Tuttle at Ingram Ranch

The San Marcos River runs through the middle of San Marcos near the campus of Texas State University. It is a clear spring fed river very similar in appearance to the springs and rivers of the Ozarks (photo 31d).

31d San Marcos River

Earlier, at the beginning of our trip south, we traveled through Pryor, Oklahoma (photo 32).

32 Pryor, Oklahoma

Pryor gets its name from a man named Nathaniel Pryor, who was an important member of the Lewis and Clark expedition which traveled west from St. Louis for the purpose of mapping and exploring the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 (photo 33).

33 Nathaniel Hale Pryor

In later years Nathaniel settled in eastern Oklahoma and it was he for which the name was given the town. Nathaniel had played an important part in the Lewis and Clark expedition and for that reason, many of those named Pryor ever since have wanted to claim some kind of “kin” to him. The trouble is, he was orphaned at an early age and the names of his parents have never been established definitively. I have traced my line of Pryors back to England to a Robert Pryor. On our Pryor website one of the genealogists made the case that our line is related to the Nathaniel Pryor of the Lewis and Clark expedition. I don’t know if any distant relationship exists or not but it’s fun to think so. I am attaching the argument that the Pryor website offers to support our relationship (photo 34).

34 Mystery of Nathaniel Pryor
Click image to read entire document in PDF format

Here is a short biography of Nathaniel taken from Wikipedia:

Nathaniel Hale Pryor (1772–1831) served as Sergeant in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was born in Virginia and was a cousin of fellow expedition member Charles Floyd. His family moved to Kentucky when he was eleven. He was married in 1798, though the marriage may have ended before he joined the expedition on October 20, 1803, in Clarksville, Indiana; he was one of the "nine young men from Kentucky". Pryor was made sergeant in 1804, and led the First Squad of six privates. Lewis and Clark considered Pryor "a man of character and ability." In June, 1804 he presided over a court martial of privates John Collins and Hugh Hall, accused of theft of whiskey and drinking on duty; the men were found guilty and sentenced to a flogging.

After the expedition returned, in 1807 he was put in charge of an expedition to return Mandan chief Sheheke to his tribe, but he was forced to turn back when attacked by Arikaras. He resigned from the army in 1810 and was involved in the fur trade on the Mississippi for a time. He rejoined the army during the War of 1812 and, with help from Clark and Lewis, was commissioned a Captain, serving in the Battle of New Orleans.

He returned to the fur trade after the war, and in 1820 established a trading post on present-day Grand River near Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, where he married an Osage woman and had several children. He served briefly as government agent for the Osages, and represented the tribe in negotiations with the military at nearby Forts Smith and Gibson, from 1830 to his death in 1831. Pryor Creek, Oklahoma and Pryor, Montana, are named for him.

And here are two Pryor websites which refer to my line:

http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lpproots/Pryor/index.html
http://tennesseepryors.wordpress.com/

One very interesting historical item regarding the Lewis and Clark expedition recently was sent me by former Tuscumbia native, John Michael Smith (photo 34a).

34a John Michael Smith

John Michael found a video on the internet which presented a very historical and innovative rifle used by the Lewis and Clark explorers. It was an air rifle which could shoot up to seventy lead bullets before needing to be reloaded with compressed air. According to the video, this rifle was one of the major reasons the small Lewis and Clark expedition force was able to deter Indian attacks. Take a look at this video here:

Our new bridge in Tuscumbia across the Osage River is still making news. Here are a couple of photos from the Vernon Publishing Company regarding the placement of a sign in the parking area north of the bridge which describes the project (photos 35 and 36):

35 The Osage River bridge at Tuscumbia will be commemorated as the first American Reinvestment
and Recovery Act project in the nation with a sign that will be placed at the associated
commuter parking lot on the north side of the bridge next Monday, weather permitting. The sign
was unveiled by the Missouri Department of Transportation and design firm Harrington and
Cortelyou last Friday morning, Jan. 14, for the Miller County Commission.
Pictured are, from left, Nick Wuertz of Harrington and Cortelyou, commissioners Brian Duncan,
Darrell Bunch and Tom Wright, MoDOT District Engineer Roger Schwartz and Joab Ortiz of Burns &
McDonnell, parent company of Harrington and Cortelyou. The new bridge has been in use since
August and the entire project was completed this fall.
Photo by Ginny Duffield VERNON PUBLISHING COMPANY

36 Sign of the bridge – While Joyce Branson holds the sign in place, Roy Kempker pours a rising
foam into the hole Thursday, Jan. 27, to set the sign signifying the new Osage River Bridge
as the first project started with President Obama’s stimulus funds. The Missouri Department
of Transportation employees will pour 3-4 bottles of the foam into the hole. Kempker said
when finished, the foam will hold the sign erect as well as concrete.
Photo by Tom Collins VERNON PUBLISHING COMPANY

In the February 14 edition of Progress Notes I presented the story of WWII hero, Curtis Livingston of Iberia.

I hadn’t thought of it at the time, but after reading the narrative, my mother, Susie Bear Pryor, wrote me to tell me that Curtis was one of her classmates at Tuscumbia. I had forgotten that for a few years in the late 1930’s, Iberia students attended Tuscumbia High School before they had their own school built. Mom said Curtis was one of her classmates who was graduated from Tuscumbia High School in 1939.

Here is what she wrote me:

That was a fascinating read of Curtis Livingston’s war experiences. Mary Jo Tyler, a cousin of Curtis, had told me years ago about his heroism in the War; my eyes were glued to the page throughout the whole story! He was one of those students coming to Tuscumbia to attend high school from Iberia. With Iberia & St. Elizabeth students both coming to Tuscumbia we had more than 55 students starting out in our freshman year. All those Livingston people were really smart! He looked so much older in the picture you had of him but of course it was taken many years after when I remember him. Even if he hadn't been in my class I would have found the story so interesting and inspiring to learn how brave he was. Earl Edwards was also in our class. Dad (Harold Pryor) was talking to him one day about his experience of being a Prisoner of war in Germany. Earl told him he only had one potato a day. I remember that Curtis was a fun guy & sort of an extrovert; it would take that kind of guy to go through all he did. I think his story will be interesting and inspiring to all who read it. If Mary Jo were still here I sure would talk to her about him again to renew my memory. However in a big class like we had you didn't get to know everyone intimately. Since he joined the army in l939 (I believe the article indicated it was in August) he still could have been around to be in our graduating class because we graduated from school in May. Years later I remember Mary Jo & I talking about Curtis not being able to come to our class reunions because he was still serving in the Army, usually a long distance away somewhere.

Thanks mom for sharing your memories of Curtis. I am sure many others of that era could contribute additional interesting comments about this very personable and heroic Miller County native.

In 1989 Curtis’ THS class held its fiftieth year reunion. Curtis, who lived in Hawaii, couldn’t come but he wrote this note to class President, Leonard Doerhoff:

1413 Kilaha Street
Hilo, HI 96720
September 6, 1989

Dear Leonard:

It seems ages since I last saw you, but it has been far longer since I’ve seen most of the class of ’30. Has it really been 50 years?

Mary Jo (Berry) Tyler sent me the flyer concerning the reunion but I had moved (a couple of times!) in the interim and the second mailing arrived today. I would really like to come to this get together, but I’m sorry to say it will not be possible at this time. I was back there for three reunions last October (family in Missouri and New York; former Virginia). That just about depleted my travel funds. Ha! I can’t think of anything I’d rather do that attend this one and tell “whoppers” with everyone.

The flyer asked that those of us who cannot attend the reunion send along a short autobiography. I’m not sure what my classmates would be interested in, but I’ll try to comply with your request. I would love to hear from any of the old gang and I promise to answer any letter I get from any of them. If you have a group picture taken please let me know the cost and I definitely want a copy.

Please remember me to everyone and express my regrets that I am unable to attend.

Have a terrific reunion.

Aloha,

Curtis

P.S.

Here is a recent photo of me playing golf with a friend here in Hawaii (photos 37):

37 Curtis Livingston with White Cap - 1989

The Class members that year in 1989 each submitted an autobiography of themselves. Here is the one Curtis sent:

Class of 1939
Tuscumbia High School

More than you ever wanted to know about: Curtis F. Livingston (aka: “Columbus”)

Following graduation from THS, I enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1939 with duty stations in North Dakota, Washington, and California. In 1942, I attended Officer Candidate School (Infantry) at Fort Benning, Georgia and was assigned to the 36th (Texas) Division. I was married in 1943 to Ann Berube of Taunton, Massachusetts and shortly thereafter, went overseas to North Africa, then made the beach assault at Germans and spent 22 months in Austria, Poland, and Germany as a POW. Ann and I had two sons, Stephen…now 40 and a Major in the Army stationed in New York State…and Darryl…now 37 and a technical representative for Texas Instruments in Dallas.

I remained in the Army following WWII but transferred out of the Infantry into the Counter Intelligence Corps where I remained for 15 years, with various assignments “stateside” and overseas. Eventually, I returned to the Infantry, obtained a Regular Army commission, served again in Europe and in the US as well as in Viet Nam, and finally retired in 1973 as a staff officer at Headquarters, US Army, Pacific in Hawaii. I had completed 34 years of service and retired as a Colonel.

Ann passed away shortly after my retirement from cancer and a heart condition. I remarried and my second wife passed away from a heart attack. I have remarried for a third !!! time. My present wife is a wonderful Hawaiian lady by the name of Lani, a retired registered nurse.

My present activities are confined largely to getting my golf handicap down to the single digit level, doing some writing, and enjoying the “Big Island” of Hawaii.

The highlights of my career include meeting four presidents (Truman, Eisenhower…I was his clerk for 8 months in 1940…Kennedy, and Ford), visiting all 50 states and 27 foreign countries, and making a host of friends. More important, I’ve had the love and companionship of three wonderful women and two terrific sons (but no grandchildren).

I would really enjoy knowing more about all of my old classmates from Tuscumbia High and would welcome the chance to correspond with any and all. I may get back that way one day, but not in the immediate future.

Remember:

“When the one great scorer comes, to write against your name;
He writes not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”

(that was over the library door, wasn’t it?)

Curtis

The last lines that Curtis quoted above were known by all Tuscumbia students who attended THS when Tennyson Clay Wright was superintendent. Tennyson emphasized good sportsmanship and conduct above all else in the Tuscumbia School athletes. He was a highly devout and dedicated teacher, and I’m sure is the one most remembered with the most fondness and respect of any other. He quoted the rhyme to which Curtis referred above at every pre game school rally. You can read the story of Tennyson Clay Wright at this previous Progress Notes.

The Prison Camp where Curtis Livingston was a prisoner for 22 months had the official name of Oflag 64. Because it was one of the largest and perhaps most insufferable of all the German POW camps, much attention has been given to it. You can read a detailed description of it at this website.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

Previous article links are in a dropdown menu at the top of all of the pages.