Peggy Smith-Hake's
"Window to the Past"
THIS -n- THAT
​The "fill-in" articles below were found in some editions of "Seeking -n- Searching Ancestors", as well as a few "Window to the Past" column fillers. "Seeking 'n Searching Ancestors" was an historical newsletter published bi-monthly by Peggy (Smith) Warman Hake over a period of 18 years... (Kelly Warman-Stallings)
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What's in a Name....​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​​MINERVA (f): Roman name for the Greek goddess ATHENE, popular in late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century New England, as well as in the rest of the country (often seen in the nickname from MINNIE). Nearly 14,000 women in the 1850 census were named Minerva.
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​From: The Pleasant Hill Times newspaper, dated October 12, 1917..........
​​WAR IS ******!
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A soldier in the English army wrote back home:
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"They put me in barracks, they took away my clothes, and put me in khaki; they took away my name and made me #575; they took me to church, where I'd never been before, and they made me listen to a sermon for 40 minutes." Then the person said: "No. 575--'Art Thou Weary, Art thou Languid?!!" and I got seven days because I answered that I certainly was!!!!"
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​​​​THIS IS WHAT CAN CAUSE YOUR HAIR TO TURN GRAY ...........
1. My ancestors must be in the ‘witness protection program’!
2. It’s 2013, do you know where your great, great grandparents are?
3. Ever find an ancestor HANGING from the family tree?
4. I’m always late….just found out my ancestors arrived on the JUNEflower!
5. Another thing that’s really strange---half my ancestors are WOMEN `!!!!!!
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​From: THE MILLER COUNTY AUTOGRAM, dated 15 Sept 1898.......
"The abutments to Shut-In Branch bridge at this place (Tuscumbia) cost the county over $4,000 and we have had no road and canal fund since they were built. But that is not the worst feature of that steal---the abutments fell down a few years after being built...This is a fair sample of Democratic management."
[NOTE: Even though Miller County was predominately Republican after the Civil War, from 1877-1890, the county court had a Democrat majority. The Presiding Judge and Judge of District #1, from north of the Osage River, were Democrats while the Judge of District #2, from south of the Osage, was a Republican. The two Democrat Judges could out-vote the one Republican Judge from the south. Evidently their judgements in spending some or most of the county's road and canal fund on a bridge abutment that "fell down" was not too popular with the newspaper's editor !!!!!!!]
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​​A LITTLE 'OLD-FASHIONED' HUMOR .........
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He who has nothing to boast of but his ancestors is like a potato.... the best part of him is underground!
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​​On the Miller County Historical Society's website , dated 1 August 2011, under "The President's Page" is a very interesting feature story about Tuscumbia's old picnics called the "Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic" held for many years during the 1920s-1970s........What wonderful memories it evoked in my mind as I remember the years of my childhood and teen years when I attended many of the picnics over the summers. It was held yearly in either late July or early August. Dr. Pryor, the Society's president, presented the lengethy article of those years and I am sure it awakened many stories for those who attended the popular event over the years........they had music on the grounds, dances, bathing suit & swimming contests, hog and chicken calling contests, skillet-throwing contests, rides by the traveling carnivals that came into town and featured the merry-go-round, ferris wheel, and other rides of pleasure. My mind goes back to the tubs of ice cold watermelon, homemade ice cream, soda pop stands, all kinds of food for the dinners, candies, popcorn, and in later years along came the cotton candy, and other delicacies.....I have heard it said more than once that many primary elections were either won or lost at the Tuscumbia picnic where politicians made the rounds shaking hands and passing out their cards to the picnic-goers. Today, the most important place for a person running for public office to attend and greet the voters is the Brumley Lions Club bean suppers!
Take time to look at the website and enjoy the story of the "Tuscumbia Homecoming Picnic" at the following address: www.millercountymuseum.org and look under the August 1, 2011 issue of the "President's Page".
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​​​SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE STATES ...........
1. Alabama was the first state to have 9-1-1, started in 1968.
2. Arkansas has the only active diamond mine in the United States.
3. In Illinois the first sky scraper was built in Chicago and it also has the biggest airport in the world.
4. The Ouija board was created in Baltimore, Maryland in 1892.
5. In Minnesota, Bloomington's Mall of America is so big, that if your spent 10 minutes in each store,
you'd be there nearly 4 days.........
6. In Nebraska, more triplets are born there than any other state in America......
7. Oregon has the most ghost towns in the country.
8. West Virginia had the world's first brick paved street--Summers Street, laid in Charleston in 1870.
9. Wyoming was the first state to allow women to vote !!
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​​COUNTY NEWS...
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After Miller County was organized in February 1837, the county court ordered Alfred M. Houston to superintend the building of a courthouse. It was to be built of logs and was to be one story measuring 35 ft. by 20 ft.. The lowest bid of $975 was offered by J. L. Davis and accepted.
Hardin M.Williams was in charge of contructing the first county jail which was to be 19 ft. by 19 ft. and also built of logs. The old jail had a 'dungeon' built below ground level for the hardened criminals and it had 3 grated windows for light that measured 10 inches square. Entry to the dungeon was by trap doors! Just a little above ground level was the main room called the 'debtors room'.......The description of that old jail house should have cut down on the population of housed prisoners but I don't know how often it was in use............Today's modern jail sounds like one of the Hilton Hotels in comparison to the first one built in the mid 19th century ! ! ! ! !
In 1857, once again the county court ordered a second courthouse be built to replace the one that had been in existence for less than 20 years. The new one was to be built of bricks measuring 40 ft. by 56 ft. A contract for construction was given to Robert McKim for his bid of $6,000.....it was completed in 1859. The county court made a ruling that "the new courthouse could NOT be used for cotillion or dancing parties, preaching, public worship, singings, tea parties, or other assemblies except for political purposes".........later this old brick courthouse was doubled in size and had different stones put on the exterior in the early 1900s........the 3rd county courthouse is the present one sitting on Hwy. 52 which was built just a few years ago with the new modern jail situated next door.
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​​​​​​​WEATHER PROVERBS from “THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC”
1. Spiders in motion indicates rain.
2. When cats sneeze, it is a sign of rain.
3. When cattle lie down in the pasture, it indicates rain.
4. When horses & cattle stretch out their necks and sniff the air, it will rain.
5. Chicken cackle and owls hoot just before a rain.
6. When fowls root in daytime, expect rain.
7. The louder the frogs, the more the rain.
8. Leeches kept in glass jars are active just before rain.
9. Hang up snakeskin and it will rain.
10. Birds singing in the rain indicates fair weather is approaching.
SO, the next time you need some rain, start watching those cats, horses, birds, cows, owls, leeches, spiders and other creepy critters ! ! !
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ADVERTISEMENTS from "THE IBERIA SENTINEL" NEWSPAPER, Printed in August, 1916
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Published each Friday…….George M. Martin, Editor-Publisher
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Some Interesting Ads in the Iberia Sentinel in August, 1916:
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ATTENTION: Big Reductions in FORD CARS……..
TOURING CARS ---------reduced from $440 to $360
RUNABOUTS-------------reduced from $390 to $345
J. A. Eads, Agent F.O.B. -- Detroit
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Farmer’s and Traders Bank………Capital $25,000 Surplus $10,000
Bank of Iberia....Our records show we have paid $250,000 interest to our creditors in the past 16 years.
John Kinder--------Auctioneer-------Iberia, Mo. -------R.F.D. No. 2------Charges Reasonable
See W. T. Mace for Paper Hanging and Painting………..Iberia , MO.
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John Ferguson, Justice of the Peace and Notary Public---- Office in the G.A.R. Hall---Iberia, MO
Get a Telephone---------IBERIA TELEPHONE CO.
C. W. Farnham, Iberia, MO---UNDERTAKER AND FUNERAL DIRECTOR---A Full Line of Coffins and Caskets
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The following Iberia physicians advertised in the Sentinel in 1916:
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Dr. Wm. A. von Gremp ----------201 Main St.
Dr. George R. Mace -------Calls answered day or night
Dr. George W. Duncan, Physician and Surgeon……..Office on Main St.
Dr. W. M. Scott------Dentist----Hidden Human Happiness-----I Will Be Happy to Discuss with You.
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CASTORIA for Infants and Children….In Use for over 30 Years
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IBERIA SENTINEL---- $1.00 per year
IBERIA ACADEMY-----New Year September 12th ………..Tuition $35 year including room, board, laboratory fees…..Principal ready to arrange work…….. G. Byron Smith, Principal
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SOME LOCAL NEWS……
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> Miss Norma Thompson visited relatives in Brumley this week.
> Parker Cross came home Saturday after a few weeks absence in Kansas and southwest Missouri
> A number of workmen at the Academy are pushing repairs so that everything will be in readiness for the opening Sept. 12th
> Otto and Lenna Cross and Miss Lura Setser, who have been attending school at Warrensburg this summer, returned home last Saturday.
> Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. Porter and son, Quentin, returned home from Warrensburg, Sunday, where the former had been attending the summer session of the state normal.
> Charles Bond, one of our bustling restaurant men, served lunch and cold drinks at the Watkins sale last Saturday.
> Quite a few Iberians attended the St. Anthony picnic Tuesday and Wednesday.
> Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Jackson and daughter, Julia, of Linnwood Farm (Ulman), motored over to Iberia Wednesday.
> The European War (WWI) is now costing in direct governmental expenditures $110,000 a day; $4,450 an hour; $76,000 a minute and $1,270 a second ~~~~~~~~
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​​​Unclaimed Mail----------------
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Once in awhile, when researching an ancestor, you may come upon an old newspaper that lists unclaimed mail for him at the local post office. Do not assume that the person to whom the mail is addressed has moved away….. He may well have remained in the area, but may not have had the money to claim the letter. Before 1845, postage was paid for by the receiver. It was expensive---25 cents for a distance over 500 miles and only a little less for shorter distances …. That could be very expensive for the average person in those days !!!!!!!​​
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RECORD OF BIRTHS FOR BLACK CHILDREN FROM 1883-1890 RECORDED IN THE OLD BOOK AT THE MILLER COUNTY COURTHOUSE........
BERRY, Cora Mae---dau. of Eva Ann Berry ( no dates given)
LAWLESS, Missouri---b. 5 Jul 1886........dau. of Hardy Lawless/Lollis age 52 b. KY and Bett Shell, age 27 b. ARK.........
PARKS, Anna Gertie--b. 25 Oct 1883...dau. of Miles Parks, age 28 B. Moniteau Co., MO and Harriett Clayborn, age 26, b. Cole Co., MO
ROBERTSON, William Erwin....b. 6 Feb 1890....son of Frank Robertson age 23 of Moniteau Co., MO & California Brockman age 26 of Cole Co., MO
SHELL, Ollie---b. 23 Jun 1886...dau. of John Lawless/Lollis age 25 Miller Co. & Frankey Shell, age ____of Miller County
WEBB, male---b. 30 Sep 1890---son of Riley Webb age 28 b. Dent Co., MO and Mary Ann Webb age 25 b. Cole Co., MO
THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE BOOK AT THE COURTHOUSE BUT WAS FOUND IN AN OLD 1881 NEWSPAPER CALLED "THE MILLER COUNTY VINDICATOR" James L. Allen, a colored boy of 14 years, was drowned in the Tavern Creek about 2 miles east of Iberia (he died 15 May 1881). He is buried at Iberia Cemetery. He was a son of Josephus and Stephanna Allen of Iberia (former slaves of the Elias Allen family from Barren County, KY).
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PIONEER PROVERBS…
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- Jest only with your equals; a fool can’t take a joke!
​- Glass, china, & reputations are easily cracked, and never well-mended.
- Brows may wrinkle, hair will grow gray, but friendship never knows decay.
- A nose is 9/10th for breathing and 1/10th for smelling. That leaves nothing at all for sticking into other folks’ business.
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MILLER COUNTY'S HISTORIC SITES THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED ON THE "NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES BUT NOT PLACED ON THE REGISTER.........
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Even though 12 Miller County historic sites/structures have been nominated over the past years for placement on the National Register of Historic Places, only one has the distinction of that prestigious honor...... the old Boeckman swinging bridge of Osage township. It was nominated in 1978 and place on the National Register in March, 1979.
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Other places nominated but not accepted were:
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1. Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Lake Ozark....It has since been demolished and replaced with a shopping area.
2. The Nixdorf House and Hotel, built in Ulman's Ridge in 1873.
3. Alder Springs country school, northeast of Iberia, built in 1878.
4. Groff slave cabin, located about a mile and half east of Iberia. It was constructed of hewn logs pre-Civil War times (possibly the oldest building still standing in Miller County).
5. The old Iberia Academy (1890-1951), organized by Professor and Mrs. G. Byron Smith
6. Old Iberia Jailhouse.....built in Iberia circa 1915.
7. Bagnell Dam at Lake of the Ozarks. Built 1929-1931 by Union Electric of St. Louis.
8. Willmore Lodge, Lake Ozark, owned by Union Electric and built in 1930 of logs. In 1983 it was owned by North Port, Inc.
9. Joshua Wells home....built downriver from Tuscumbia overlooking the Osage River. Built by the Wells family in 1889.
10. Brays Mill...northeast of Iberia. The first mill was built on the site in 1858; the present building constructed circa 1885.
11. Miller County courthouse, built 'on the hill' in Tuscumbia in 1858; remodeled in 1913. It has since been replaced by a new courthouse which is located on Highway 52 toward Eldon.
12. Boeckman Bridge, a timber suspension bridge, built in 1926. It is located a few miles southeast of St. Elizabeth in Osage township, measuring 240 ft. by 14 ft.......One of six 'swinging bridges built in Miller County between 1926-1931. It is thought Miller County has more existing 'swinging' bridges than any other county in Missouri.....(September 1983)
​NOTE: The old Boeckman bridge is now gone, replaced by a new modern bridge spanning the Big Tavern creek. Several swinging bridges have been replaced since 1983 and very few remain standing and in use today.
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A BREAKFAST FIT FOR A KING !!!!
Dress and cut a rabbit in pieces; put in a bowl and cover with salt water and let it stand for an hour.....Drain the water off; cover with vinegar, a dash of salt, pickling spice, slice one onion, dash of pepper and let stand overnight............. Next morning, take out of the vinegar mixture and rinse off; roll in flour and fry in hot fat. It will fry perfectly done in a few minutes. Make brown gravy by adding flour to grease in the skillet and then add milk, salt and pepper... then you will have a breakfast fit for a king!!
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NOTE: I remember how my grandmother could fry up a rabbit that would melt in your mouth. She must have used this simple and delicious recipe, but she did it from memory because without much schooling, the most she could read was a child’s book and print her name. God bless her... don't ever recall having this fried rabbit & gravy dish at breakfast, but it was beyond description for a supper meal ... God bless our ancestors who were blessed in so many ways and passed it on to us to use in our daily life today... Peggy.