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EARLY AUTOMOBILES The coming of the automobile had a big effect on society in the County. In the summer of 1901, Fern Arn brought the first automobile to Boonville. By 1915, the automobile began to affect the lives of all County people. There was finally a real need for road building and expansion. With the popularity of the automobile, people in the county began to develop hard roads to replace the rough and muddy wagon trails. Several road surfaces were used. Gravel roads were made by either scraping off the soil to reveal the underlying gravel, or by bringing gravel in layers and laying it over the smoothed soil. The speed limit on early roads was usually 12 miles per hour. Motorists often had to stop and make repairs, especially to fix tires that punctured easily on the rough roads. The automobile had a revolutionary effect on American travel and society Beginning as a rich man’s plaything in the late 1890’s, with the development of the first gasoline engine, and steam-powered cars, automobiles began to be bought in quantity by the middle class. There were only four registered automobiles in the US in 1895, while in 1915 there were 2.5 million registered automobiles, and by 1930 the annual production had risen to 4.8 million, with six companies doing 90% of the business. The top three were Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. The first car to be owned in Cooper County belonged Ferd Arn. He was a local Boonville sporting goods owner who specialized in guns and bicycles. In June 1901 he purchased a Willis Grant Murry’s “one lungers”, or as the locals called it, a “devil buggy.” It had a top speed of 16 miles per hour, although it could be geared to run as fast as 30 miles per hour. The car sold for the modest price of $750. In 1908 Henry Ford developed the assembly line technique and introduced his Model T, which sold for $825. By 1917, the price had dropped to $350. Farmers on their way to town dreaded meeting Arm and his automobile because it made so much noise it frightened the horses. There was talk of having the city council pass an ordinance prohibiting the use of the car in town. In 1902 Arn became attracted to the Winton Touring car and began selling them in Boonville. Mr. Arn became an expert in tearing a car apart and building a new one. By 1909 Arn had sold a number of his expensive Winton Touring cars to some of the town’s wealthier citizens, including Charles A. Sombart, who was involved in looking for roads to route the New York to Seattle auto endurance race. Whether it was the introduction of the cheap and popular Model T Ford in the period between 1908 and 1910, or the generally depressed financial situation in Boonville at that time, Arn got into some serious financial trouble by the mid-teens, lost his business and left town. Arn had ditched his Murry automobile in 1910 and gave the engine to A.K. Wallace, who lived near Lamine. Wallace added a cooling system to the engine (the early engines had no cooling system and often overheated), installed it in a boat that he operated on the Lamine, and thus developed one of the first gasoline motor-powered boats in the area. Source: Bob Dyer (1921) The Centennial Road Law was signed into law to improve road conditions in the state. C ourtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline “Improvements to road conditions became a popular topic of state politics with the rise of automobile purchases in 1917. Before 1907, highway improvements were left entirely to counties, many of which did not have trained engineers. The Centennial Road Law shifted highway building efforts in Missouri from the local level to the state level by granting the State Highway Commission the authority to supervise highways and bridges. In the 1920s and 30s, the commission undertook massive road building projects that improved the highway system and “Get Missouri out of the mud.” U.S. Highway 40 was the first major highway to be built across Missouri in the 1920s. It came down the main street of Boonville and crossed the Missouri River on a bridge built in 1924. Today, there are major highways going through Cooper County. Interstate 70 is one of the main highways across the United States. U.S. 50 also comes through Cooper County. It followed the Osage Indian Trail. Both of these highways connect to St. Louis and Kansas City. Missouri’s Highway 5 is a much-used north-south route coming through the center of the county, and is also known as the old Warsaw Road. It goes from the Iowa line to the Arkansas line. It carries a lot of traffic to and from the Lake of the Ozarks. Other state roads in Cooper County are Highways 47, 87, 98, 135, and 179. Many of these highways followed old Indian trails. Source: Discover Cooper County by Ann Betteridge The Mitche l l Car Museum Boonville did not manufacture fancy wagons, cars or trucks, but the Mitchell Museum located near the Boonville train depot, has a wonderful showroom of well-preserved Mitchel wagons and automobiles. Henry Mitchell, originally from Scotland, started his business of wagon making in Kenosha, then Racine Wisconsin, in the early 1830’s. He produced a wide variety of farm wagons, and Urban wagons. By 1890 he was manufacturing 100 wagons per day. By 1900, the “horseless carriage” was replacing the horse and carriage. Eventually, they were selling vehicles all over the world. You will want to visit this museum for a once in a lifetime look back in history as you view the beautifully resorted cars of yesteryear. For more information call: 660-882-3767 Source: Historically Yours by Elizabeth Davis

COOPER COUNTY TIMELINE Grandma Day's Clock This is Grandma Day's Mars Mantel Clock, Model 194, which she purchased from Gmelick & Schmidt in 1898 for $5.63. After her death, the clock went to Geneva Day, then to my mother Edna Widel Lammers and then to me, Wayne Lammers, in November 1983. Photo by Wayne Lammers. This website is based loosely on the Timeline history of the development of Cooper County from Prehistoric times until the mid-20th century. It is quite amazing to see the tremendous progress that has been made in 200 years. Early Historical Missouri Timeline and Tidbits (Adapted from Mogenweb) 1673 – Louis Joliet and Father Jacques Marquette traveled down the Mississippi River and were the first Europeans known to set foot on what would later become Missouri. (June 25) 1682 – Explorer Robert Cavalier - called Sieur de La Salle, claimed all the land that drained into the Mississippi River for France, naming it Louisiana Territory in honor of King Louis XIV. (April 9) 1724 – Fort Orleans was built on the north bank of the Missouri River by Etienne de Bourgmont in today’s Carroll County; the first European outpost west of the Mississippi (November 14). Abandoned in 1728. 1740–1750 – approximate date of the founding of St. Genevieve, the first permanent white settlement in what was to become Missouri. 1762 – Spain acquires the Louisiana Territory in the secret Treaty of Fontainebleau (November 13). 1764 – The Treaty of Fontainebleau is made public. Saint Louis is founded as a fur trading post by Pierre Laclede Liguest and his stepson Auguste Chouteau. Saint-Ange et de Bellerive becomes the first governor of the fledgling community and recruits farmers, artisans and craftsmen from Illinois to settle at the post. 1769 – Spanish officials arrive to administer the government of Louisiana Territory. The region of Missouri becomes known as “Spanish Illinois.” 1780 – British and Indian forces attack St. Louis and nearby settlements because of Spanish support for the American Revolution. (May 26) 1789 – Colonel George Morgan, Revolutionary War veteran, establishes the town of New Madrid in the spring. 1790–1794 – The Osage Nation and Spain are at war. The Chouteau brothers negotiate peace in return for exclusive trade rights with the Osage. 1798 – Lieutenant Governor Zenon Trudeau in St. Louis offered Daniel Boone 1,000 arpents (845 acres) of land to settle in Missouri then known as “Spanish Illinois.” 1799 – Kentucky Frontiersman Daniel Boone comes to Howard County. 1800 – Spain agrees to return the Louisiana Territory to France (October 1) 1803 – The Louisiana Purchase was signed transferring possession to the United States (April 30). 1804 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition embarks from Camp Dubois east of St. Louis. (May 14) 1805 – The Territory of Louisiana was established; the seat of government was St. Louis (July 4) 1805 – First Governor of Louisiana Territory J. Wilkerson 1808 – The Osage cede most of their land in Missouri, opening the way for future white settlement. (September 14). 1809 – The Missouri Fur Company was organized in St. Louis. The abundance of animal pelts in the Missouri and Mississippi Valley region played a key role in the economic development of the Upper Louisiana Territory. 1810 – Earliest settlers arrive in Cooper County in the spring. 1811 – The first shocks of the New Madrid earthquakes , the worst in U.S. History (Dec.16) 1812 – A portion of the Territory of Louisiana becomes the Territory of Missouri (June 12). 1812 – The first general Assembly of the Territory of Missouri met (October 1); the five original counties were organized: Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, St. Charles, St. Louis, and St. Genevieve. 1812 – The War of 1812 , begins June 18. The Sac & Fox, Ioway and Kickapoo, and Pottawatomie allied with Great Britain conduct raids in the Missouri Territory. 1815 – Peace treaties signed with 14 Indian nations at Portage des Sioux end the war in Missouri. (July 18 – September 16). 1816 – Howard County established (January 23). 1816 – Mid-Missouri’s first circuit court opened at Cole's Fort (July 8). 1818 – The speaker of the US House of Representative presented the first petition to Congress for Missouri requesting statehood (January 8). 1818 – Cooper County is established out of Howard County (December 17) 1820 – Missouri statehood became a national controversy over the issue of slavery. The “Missouri Compromise” allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine as a free state. Territories north of the 36 parallel are designated to be slave-free territory. 1820 – Missouri’s first Constitution was adopted (July 19) The first state officials are elected in August. They elect Alexander McNair the first governor, 43 representatives and 14 state senators. The population of the Missouri Territory is around 67,000. 1820 – Daniel Boone dies at age 85. 1820 – Missouri’s first Constitution was adopted (July 19) 1820 – Saline County is established out of Cooper County (November 25) 1820 – Missouri Packet , steamboat sinks in the Missouri River, 11 miles west of Boonville on May 5, 1820 on a supply voyage to the fort at Council Bluffs. Little was salvaged from this 2 Century old vessel in December 1987, which was one of the first steamboats to ply the Missouri River. You may view these artifacts at the Boonville, River, Rails and Trails Museum at the Katy Depot District here in Boonville. 1821 – Missouri admitted as the 24th state (August 8) 1821 – The first commercially successful trade venture to Santa Fe from Franklin. (September 1). The route becomes the Santa Fe Trail , linking Missouri and New Mexico. Many Cooper County merchants become engaged in the trade and some wagon caravans are outfitted in Boonville in the 1820s. 1828 – Major flood of the Missouri River, washed away the town of Franklin, plus Cooper’s Fort and cemetery. “New” Franklin built on higher ground. 1830 – Indian Removal Act 1835 – 6 Months of Public School became a new state law 1838 – Missouri Governor Lilburn Boggs issues extermination order against the Mormons in the state. 1839 – Boonville was incorporated 1839 – Mormon War 1844 – Fredrick T. Kemper built the family school, later military school 1844 – (Jun 21) 4th worst flood of Mo River – Crest at 32.70 feet 1845 – George Bingham 1846 – Mexican War 1848 – Thomas Benton argued against expanding slavery 1849 – People left Boonville via the Santa Fe Trail in their quest for gold 1851 – A plank road was built from Boonville to Warsaw 1853 – First official Missouri State Fair was held in Boonville 1857 – Thespian Hall was built in Boonville 1861–1864 – Cooper County involved in Civil War Battles 1865 – Slavery was abolished in MO making it the first slave state to emancipate its slaves before the adoption of the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution. 1870 – Ground was broken for the Tebo and Neosho Railroad . (MKT) 1870 – Mules in Missouri 1875 – Missouri Constitution Ratified ## 1898 – Main street in Boonville was paved with bricks 1889 – Nation-wide law Separate Schools for Black Students in US (Segregation) 1917 – Cooper County Citizens served in World War I 1919 – Missouri ratifies the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote ## 1920 – Highway 40 built across Missouri River, went down Main Street 1920 – Prohibition to 1933 1921 – Centennial Road Law 1924 – Highway bridge opened across the Missouri River 1937 – Constitutional Amendment - Conservation 1929 – Stock Market Crash 1930–1939 – Great Depression 1937–1940 – Civilian Conservation Corps trained young men in Pilot Grove 1941 – Pearl Harbor attack 1941–1945 – Cooper County citizens served in World War II 1945 – 4th Missouri Constitution signed ## 1945 – WWII over, surrender signed on USS Missouri 1950 – Korean War 1960 – Interstate 70 was constructed through the County 1961 – Defense missiles were installed underground in the County ## 1965 – Vietnam War 1970 – Cooper County Hospital was built 1980 – Farm Crisis in the Midwest 1984 – Sales tax for Soil & Water Conversation 1987 – Missouri Packet steamboat salvaged in Cooper County, 11 miles west of Boonville in December of 1987. Some of the 2 Century old artifacts are on display at the Boonville, River, Rails and Trails Museum. 1990 – Cooper County Historical Society was formed 1990 – The first section of the KATY Trail was started at Rocheport 1991 – War in Iraq 1993 – July 29 – Worst flood of Missouri river – Crest at 37.10” 1995 – New Highway 40 Boonslick Bridge was built across the MO River near Boonville 2019 – Second worst Flood in Missouri History - Crest 33.73 feet ## Indicates topic is not covered on this website but information is available at: Missouri Bicentennial Timeline

COOPER COUNTY BANKS DURING THE DEPRESSION The Bank of Speed “Speed” is an unincorporated town in Palestine Township, Cooper County, Missouri. The Bank of Speed was the center of what was once a thriving community. It was incorporated on October 9, 1909. The amount of Capital Stock was $10,000, which in 1909 was a great sum of money. Fast forward to January 1, 1928. Harold E. Mitzel took over the bank operation in 1928 and served in that capacity through the Great Depression until June 30, 1937. According to E. J. Melton, (who wrote “History of Cooper County” in 1938), the Bank of Speed was “the only bank in Missouri that did not have to close its doors during the bank crisis of the early 30’s.”After the Boonville National Bank and the Bunceton State Bank closed, Mr. Mitzel went through the books and then advised the board of directors how many depositors would likely demand their money. They were backed by well-supported loans, but there wasn’t enough cash on hand if there was a run on the bank. The board decided to borrow $20,000 from the Federal Reserve in St. Louis. Mr. Mitzel took the bus to St. Louis and came back with $20,000 cash in his pockets. When he got off the bus in Boonville, he ran into O. J. Schlotzhauer who asked what he had in his pockets. Mitzel told him and let the story spread. When depositors came to the bank and asked how much of their money they could get, they were promptly told, “All of it.” Knowing their money was safe was all they needed to know. From then on, they either withdrew only what they needed or made deposits. The bank was saved. The loan from the Federal Reserve? It was paid back in thirty days. Resource: A Town Called Speed, by Gerhardt, Roy B., c/1984 Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove October 29, 1929, went down in history as Black Tuesday, and America went from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression. Banks failed and millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and life savings. Things were still bad in November 1932, but Henry A. Seltsam, cashier and secretary of the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove, had a plan. It was a daring plan that Seltsam presented to the bank directors on Monday, November 7, 1932. “It is not fair to the faithful to permit steady withdrawals to undermine the bank’s stability, and then be forced to close with subsequent division of the remainder. I favor closing the bank tomorrow. “There is one chance to save it. If all the depositors will sign a moratorium not to draw out for 18 months what they now have on deposit, we can save the bank.” After much discussion and planning, the plan was accepted. All banks were closed the following day for the Presidential election, but the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove remained closed on Wednesday as well. Working day and night, Seltsam and director Wallace Burger began collecting signatures. The catch: the voluntary impounding of funds would not go into effect until, and unless, 100 per cent of the depositors signed the agreement. Every depositor had an opinion about the plan, but most agreed the bank must be saved. Finally, with the signatures of all depositors, the bank re-opened and deposits grew. Pilot Grove might have been on the road to recovery, but the nation was not. While signatures were being collected in and around Pilot Grove, the people were voting for a new President. Franklin D. Roosevelt was that man. FDR took office on March 4, 1933, and immediately ordered every depository in the nation closed. After each was audited, only the financially sound were allowed to re-open. And thanks to the foresightedness of Seltsam and the directors, the Citizens Bank of Pilot Grove was one of the first to do so. Source: Pilot Grove Bicentennial

THE MEXICAN WAR In May, 1846 , a call was made for one company from Cooper County to join troops already in Mexico. Sixty-one men volunteered. The company was organized and assembled in Boonville, where they were trained in military duty by their Captain, John C. Stephens. They departed May 28, 1846 , on the steamer L. F. Linn, for St. Louis, where they were to be armed and equipped. When they arrived in St. Louis, they were ordered to report to Jefferson City. When they got to Jefferson City, they were told to be in readiness and were then allowed to return home. Even though they never saw any battle, the volunteers were welcomed home by large, cheering crowds. The 1865 Missouri Constitution bans the practice of slavery. Missouri was still very much a divided state over the issue of slavery at the end of the Civil War. Many citizens, including Radical Republicans led by Charles Drake, fiercely opposed the institution of slavery and pushed for a new constitution. Among the amendments were the emancipation of slaves and determining voting privileges for loyal citizens to the Union. The ordinance introduced at the constitution convention in St. Louis to abolish slavery in the state passed overwhelmingly with only four delegates voting against it. Missouri’s document that made slavery unlawful came three weeks before the U.S. Congress proposed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which banned slavery in the country. The loyalty oath, which also was adopted by the 1865 Missouri Constitution would exclude all but pro-Unionists from public life, including the fields of teaching, law and politics, also went into effect until the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Missouri’s loyalty oath two years later. Daniel Boone Camp No 42 "In the Name and by Authority of the United Spanish War Veterans …" These are the first words on a Charter that hangs on the northwest wall of the first floor lobby of the Cooper County Courthouse. Americans have fought in many wars since winning their independence in the Revolutionary War in 1775-1783. The War Between the States (or the American Civil War as many call it), World War I, and World War II are the ones that most often come to mind. But there have been others. The Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the China Relief Expedition are three others. Like veterans of other wars before and since, veterans of the Spanish American War, which officially ended in early 1899, formed organizations to keep in touch with those they fought with, and to remember those who didn't come home. The three largest of these organizations (the Spanish War Veterans, the Spanish-American War Veterans, and the Servicemen of the Spanish War) merged in 1904, becoming the United Spanish War Veterans. By 1906, all the other organizations had merged with them as well. Although the organization existed primarily in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, there were other "camps" across the country. On May 20, 1928, the Daniel Boone Camp No. 42 in Boonville, Missouri, was chartered by the United Spanish War Veterans. Signed in the organization's national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 28, 1928, there were 20 members at the time Camp No. 42 was created and each veteran's name is written on the charter. The United Spanish War Veterans ceased to exist in 1992 with the death of its last surviving member, Nathan E. Cook. Often referred to as a Spanish-American War veteran, Cook, was actually a veteran of the Philippine Insurrection. He had lied about his age and enlisted at the age of 16. Cook died just before his 107th birthday at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

THE MORMON WAR The Mormon war took place in the year 1838 . When the Mormons came to Missouri in 1831 , they located in Jackson County. The citizens there did not like their customs and became angry at the many crimes they committed because of their religious views. They were soon driven from Jackson County, and they moved to Caldwell County, Missouri. The citizens of Caldwell did not want the Mormons to settle in their town, either. They didn’t have sufficient troops to force them to move, so they asked the governor to send in troops to get rid of the Mormons. Governor Boggs called for 7,000 volunteers. In answer to the call, three companies were formed in Cooper County. One was called the Boonville Guards. The second was a volunteer company raised at Boonville. The third was raised in Palestine township. These companies marched twice towards the Mormon settlement and the place of war. While they were marching, the Mormons surrendered. The companies returned home without having ever met the enemy. Upon their arrival at Boonville, these troops were disbanded. The Mormons, after the end of the war, left the state and went to Nauvoo, Illinois, where they stayed for several years. After having difficulty with the authorities of the state of Illinois, the Mormons left and went to the Great Salt Lake.

Acerca de TABLE OF CONTENTS Genealogy Cooper County Historical Records Family History and Vital Records Church, Cemetery, and School Records Books, Maps, and Resource Materials How to do an Oral History Records at Recorder of Deeds Office Online Research Sites Friends of Historic Boonville Other Area Research Sites Military War Records Early Cooper County E arliest Inhabitants Minerals and Soils Louisiana Purchase Early Explor ers Fur Trade First Permanent Settlers Forts are Built Discovery of Fort McMahan New Madrid Earthquake Cooper County is Formed Cooper County is Formed Politics and Early Elections Early Cooper County Personalities Community/Township Settlement Townships Formed Struggle for Statehood Early Water Tra nspo rtation Missouri River and Transportation Cooper County Rivers and Streams Sunk on the Missouri River Wars 1812 in the Boonslick Area Indian Removal Act 1836 the Alamo 1839 Mormon War 1846 Mexican War Pre-Civil War Civil War Early 20th Century Wars World War I World War II Railroads Cooper County Railroads Towns That Once Had Trains & Depots Towns without Trains Train Depots Orphan Trains Early Buildings & Cemeteries Homes & Buildings Churches Cemeteries Schools Communication Pony Express Post Offices Newspapers Telegraph Radio Telephone The Great Depression The Depression in Cooper County Prohibition Early Land Transportation 1821 The Santa Fe Trail Stage Coaches Early Road s & Bridges Automobiles Roads in Cooper County Bridges in Cooper County Early Cooper County Businesses Early Businesses Cooper County Banks Banks & Train Robberies Banks During The Depression Early Veterinarians Early Medicine Funerals & Funeral Homes Authors, Artists, & Historians Agriculture Early Agriculture Mills Beekeeping Farm Machinery What Did People Do for Fun? What They Did for Fun Harley Park Cooper County Infrastructure City Hall & Elections Fire Departments Were the " Good Old Da ys" Really That Good? 1939 Boonville Movie Life Without Electricity Were the "Good Old Days" Good?

RADIO Radio Comes to Missouri Farmers The marriage between the Missouri Board of Agriculture’s Marketing Bureau, which was created in 1919, and that new-fangled medium called radio took place in March 1922 when a radio transmitter was installed on the roof floor of the Missouri Capitol. It was only the seventh transmitter of its kind in the United States. Radio station WOS, which stood for “Watch Our State”, was meant to “promote effectual and economic methods of marketing farm products.” On December 1, Arthur T. Nelson became the first State Marketing Commissioner, and it didn’t take him long to realize WOS could do more than broadcast market information to farmers. Soon professors from the University of Missouri College of Agriculture in Columbia were giving agricultural lectures and the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) Band and Orchestra was providing music. Market information came from the US Department of Agriculture and was broadcast the first fifteen minutes of every hour from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. At the time, radios were rare. There might only be one or two in the whole community so people would gather wherever a radio happened to be such as banks, county offices, and drugstores. Those with radios were instructed by the Bureau to record the news on forms they provided and then distribute the information by word-of-mouth and through the local press. Radios did not remain scarce for long. By 1927, there were more than 70,000 radios on Missouri farms. Religious services had begun broadcasting on Sunday evenings. Musical concerts were available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights from 8 p.m. until 9:30. Most Mondays, the music was provided by inmates from the MSP Band and Orchestra. It seemed that radio was here to stay. Source: Elizabeth Davis, "Historically Yours "

BOOKS, MAPS AND RESOURCE MATERIALS Cooper and other Counties Town/Area History Books: History of Billingsville, Prairie Lick, and Ston e y Point History of Blackwater Bicentennial Boonslick History A Pictorial History of the Boonslick Area Boonville An Illustrated History Boonville An Historic River Town Bunceton 1868-1988 and 1868 – 1993 History of Clear Creek Recollections of Clifton City Clifton City 1873 – 2019 Our Town Lamine Missouri History of New Lebanon Otterville Sesquicentennial Some Might Good Years – Overton Pilot Grove Centennial 1873 – 1973 A Brief History of Prairie Home Area Books : Green Ridge MO Centennial 1870 – 1970 Jamestown 1837 – 1987 Lupus – Portrait of a River Town History of Martinsville Old Trails of Missouri Once Upon the Past – Mid Missouri Places and People Sedalia MO 100 Years in Pictures Books on History of Cooper County and Other Counties Cooper County : Discover Cooper County by Looking Back – Ann Betteridge History of Cooper County Missouri Volumes I and II – W. F. Johnson History of Cooper County Missouri – Levins and Drake History of Cooper County – Melton Memorabilia of Cooper County – The Sesquicentennial Steering Committee for 150th Birthday of Boonville Other County Histories : History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties History of Harrison and Mercer Counties Howard County History and Families History of Moniteau County History of Morgan County History of Saline County OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE AT CCHS Free Cemetery maps and brochures on historical landmarks Books, P amphlets and CD’s for sale Cooper County Plat Maps – 1877, 1897, 1915 Books : Discover Cooper County by Looking Back by Ann Betteridge The “Best” Bustle in Fayette by Mary Louise & Sylvia Forbes This Cruel Unnatural War by James Thoma “Old Pleasant Green Underground” - The Old Cemetery, at the 1825 Pleasant Green Methodist Church Cooper County MO by Florence Friedrichs Old Cooper County Churches (Cooper County Church Sketches) by Florence Friedrichs Recollections of Clifton City Lamine School Book Historically Yours by Elizabeth Davis Pilot Grove Sesquicentennial Arts and Essays by local students CD’s: The Cooper County Missouri History Series Home Town Sketches – by Emile Paillou A History of Cooper County – Levens and Drake The First Hundred Years - Melton History of Cooper County Missouri by W.F. Johnson Volume #1 or Volume #2 Old Nick Abroad Cooper County Cemeteries - James Thoma This Cruel Unnatural War – James Thoma Cooper County, Missouri History Series (Contains all of the above series)

DEDICATION This website is dedicated to Ann Betteridge. Ann was one of the original Founders of the Cooper County Historical Society in 1990. Ann loved children, teaching, and history. She wrote a book of almost 300 pages named “Discover Cooper County by Looking Back.” For 25 years, Ann personally presented this book, free of charge, to every 4th grader in Cooper County, and her book is the inspiration and backbone of this website. Florence (Winky) Friedrichs, another Founding member of the CCHS, drew all of the lovely illustrations in the book, and some of those are used on this website. We owe both these ladies a debt of gratitude for preserving so much of Cooper County history.

WHAT THEY DID FOR FUN In the early days of Cooper County, communities often shared the workload. Combining work and fun was a welcome and common activity. Barn raisings and barn dancing when the barn was finished were great social events. Another type of work/entertainment would be working together as a team to get major farm crops harvested. In the Fall, neighbors would gather for hog butchering at one farm and work together at what is a chore for one or two people, but not that difficult with many hands. The next week they would gather at another farm and repeat the work. They would do the same thing when it was time to bring in the grain crops at harvest time. Meanwhile, the women would be busy preparing food for the hungry workers. When the work was finished at one farm, the group would then move on to the next farm and repeat the activity until all the area crops were in. This was the “many hands make work light” idea. It was a very successful way of getting things done and enjoying the activity. Today we see farmers doing a similar activity when one of their neighbors is very ill, has been in a serious accident, or the widow needed help because she had no one to bring the crops in. The same process would also take place when it was hog butchering time. Not only was it enjoyable for the men to work together, it was a wonderful learning experience for young men. Women have had a similar type of “many hands make work light” activity. Preparing food together was a wonderful way to learn new techniques of cooking, new recipes, try new dishes and also make new friends "Quilting “Bees” were a similar activity for women. Whether it was creating a quilt for a new baby or for an upcoming wedding, women would work together on the project and have a great time during the discussions that went on. Like the young men, young girls would learn the art of quilt making which they could use in their future lives. Today, women still gather to do Civic projects and spend the day canning food. During WWI and WWII, women in the Cooper County area made quilts to raise money to send supplies to the soldiers. Today, Cooper County women make “Prayer Shawls for women with cancer. “Many hands make work light” is still true today. A Note About Quilt Making Making a quilt today is almost a lost art. Cooper County has been blessed with many current and former quilters. Even though there are many sources for fabric for today's quilters, this wonderful craft is almost unknown to most of today’s young women. If one has the opportunity to examine earlier quits, one is amazed at the variety of stitches used. These quits are truly a work of art! In colonial and later days, a family's only source of heat was the fireplace, and the fire was always "banked" at night for safety reasons. Quilts were invaluable to keep the family warm on cold/freezing nights. Early quilters usually did not have a source for their quilting materials other than their own household. Depending on the weight of the fabric, when a garment became stained, torn or had holes in it, it was not just thrown away, it was used for another purpose. It could be remade into a garment for a child or used for some other household use such as scrub clothes, towels or rag rugs. Small attractive pieces could be saved and used for quilts. Wool from men's trousers or jackets were often used for family winter quilts. For many families, it was the "wear it out, use it up, make do, or do without” policy. To receive a quilt as a wedding gift or a gift for a newborn, was almost a priceless gift. Source: Barbara Dahl Entertainment in Pilot Grove Gem Theater A small town just south of I-70 on M-135, Pilot Grove was once a thriving community. Schools, churches, doctors, and dozens of businesses once catered to the needs of hundreds of people in town as well as hundreds more on nearby farms. Heinrich's Country Store opened for business in October 1915. Later, the top floor of the store housed the town's main entertainment center—the Gem Theater. Admission was 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Air-conditioning consisted of six paddle fans. Heating was done by a huge coal burning stove that was fired up early in the morning for evening shows. “Deep Purple,” a melodrama starring Clara Kimbell Young and John Gilbert, was the attraction on opening night. Unlike today when whole movies are on one DVD, these movies were shown on several reels of actual film. Between reels, slides were flashed on the screen advertising local merchants. And did I mention these were silent movies? The only sound was from a live pianist who was often accompanied by a violin or mandolin. Other great silent movie stars appeared at the Gem. For comedy, there were Abbot and Costello, Our Gang, and Charlie Chaplin. Westerns starring Buck Jones, Tom Mix, Gary Cooper, and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., were always a big hit. The movie house closed with the advent of “talkies.” The Gem continued for a number of years in its new life providing a place for high school plays and commencements. One such play, “The Feast of the Red Corn,” took place on March 4, 1937. On July 1, 1969, Heinrich's Country Store closed its doors for the last time. The building still stands and old-timers often look up at the second floor … but those days are now just a distant memory. Resource: Tales From the Village, by Richard L. Salmon “Deep Purple,” a melodrama starring Clara Kimbell Young and John Gilbert, was the attraction on opening night. Unlike today when whole movies are on one DVD, these movies were shown on several reels of actual film. Between reels, slides were flashed on the screen advertising local merchants. And did I mention these were silent movies? The only sound was from a live pianist who was often accompanied by a violin or mandolin. Other great silent movie stars appeared at the Gem. For comedy, there were Abbot and Costello, Our Gang, and Charlie Chaplin. Westerns starring Buck Jones, Tom Mix, Gary Cooper, and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., were always a big hit. The movie house closed with the advent of “talkies.” The Gem continued for a number of years in its new life providing a place for high school plays and commencements. One such play, “The Feast of the Red Corn,” took place on March 4, 1937. On July 1, 1969, Heinrich's Country Store closed its doors for the last time. The building still stands and old-timers often look up at the second floor...but those days are now just a distant memory. Source: Elizabeth Davis "Historically Yours" The back of the Gem Theater looking to the left across the back of the theater at the projection room which is at the top of the short stairs The back of the Gem Theater in Pilot Grove during the town's 150th anniversary in Aug. 2023. Notice the stage and doors on each side going behind the actors or the screen Lyceum There was a Lyceum in the early 1900's which hosted local and area educational talks on different subjects. At one time Pilot Grove had two movie theaters. One was in the hall above Pat Conway's store that was also used for roller skating. There was theater at the Mercantile store on the corner of Second and Roe, now the Meisenheimer Funeral Home. Mr. Conway was the first theater operator in Pilot Grove to run a weekly serial for children and parents. Two that were very popular were "Snow White" and "Perils of Pauline." Heinrich's Mercantile on the corner of First and Roe housed the second theater. His theater featured stationary folding chairs, an elevated floor which slanted towards the orchestra pit and a stage that was used for performances and movies. Admission to the theater was an expensive 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. Pearlie Dwyer was the first person to sell tickets and Miss Frieda Kistenmacher was the first pianist. Source: Elizabeth Davis "Historically Yours" The Princess Stock Company The Princess Stock Company presented plays featuring "Toby" and his players. In July of 1944, Toby and his players presented "The Long-Lost Perkins." "Chautauqua’s" were frequently held in Pilot Grove. They were a form of entertainment for adults by the giving of lectures, plays and concerts. They were held for several days, sometimes in tents. Outdoor movies were shown for a short time in the 1920's in a vacant lot where Twenter Lumber Company is now located. Movies were also shown in the Catholic Church Hall and there was a "CCC" or Civilian Conservation Camp located in Pilot Grove where outdoor movies were shown on Sunday evenings. Source: Elizabeth Davis "Historically Yours" The Pilot Grove Rodeo The Pilot Grove Rodeo, started in 1953, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023 featuring the Pilot Grove “Range Riders”. In 2023, over 2,000 people attended this event. Entertainment in Bunceton Princess Theater This was a theater, then a funeral home/furniture store in the 1930's, early 40's. Later a laundromat, then a bar, and is now apartments. Entertainment in Boonville Roller Skating Rinks Come to Boonville Boonville’s government and city council has changed over the years. In 1902 for instance, all elected officials were men. While the number of wards has changed occasionally, there have always been two councilmen per ward on the city council. Unlike today where the mayor leads the meetings, one councilman was elected President of the Council and led the meetings. When ordinances were passed by a majority, they were signed by the President, and then presented to the mayor for his approval. If ordinances were returned unsigned there would usually be more discussions and a vote to override the mayor’s objections. In 1902, the council had to decide if baseball could be played on public property on the Sabbath. Less than 40 years later the issue was roller skating rinks. In 1938, Ordinance #1281 was passed prohibiting the operation of skating rinks in Boonville. On November 9, 1938, Mr. Walter Viertel appeared before the Council and presented a petition requesting the city rescind the ordinance and asked for a license to operate a skating rink. Also present at the council meeting was Attorney John H. Windsor who was representing a group of businessmen who opposed rescinding the ordinance. The council voted to go into Executive Session to discuss the matter. After a lengthy discussion, no action was taken, and the regular session resumed. The following month, on December 5, 1938, a bill entitled “An Ordinance repealing Ordinance #1281 prohibiting the operation of roller-skating rinks in the City of Boonville, Mo.” was introduced by Councilman Cleary. The bill was read three times and passed unanimously by the council. The bill was signed by the President of the Council, and then presented to and approved by the mayor. Another bill was introduced to regulate and license the roller rinks. The first reading of the bill said license fees should be $50. A motion was made and seconded before the second reading to make the license fees $100. After a discussion, the bill was rewritten, read three times, and then passed unanimously. Signed by the President, it, too, was presented to and approved by the mayor. Sadly, roller rinks and bowling alleys aren't as popular in Boonville anymore. Missouri State Fair in Boonville The first attempt Within thirty years of statehood, citizens were calling for a state fair, a fair that would showcase the best of the best in the world of agriculture. On February 24, 1853, the Missouri Legislature authorized the incorporation of the Missouri State Agricultural Society. Paragraph 2 of their Charter begins: “In addition to the powers above enumerated, the Society shall, by its name and style aforesaid, have power to purchase and hold any quantity of land not exceeding twenty acres, and may sell and dispose of the same at pleasure. The said real estate shall be held by said Society for the sole purpose of erecting enclosures, buildings, and other improvements calculated and designed for the meeting of the Society, and for an exhibition of various breeds of horses, cattle, mules and other stock, and of agricultural, mechanical and domestic manufactures and productions, and for no other purposes…” Officers were named in Paragraph 5 and were from various counties around the state. M.M. Marmaduke was appointed president. James S. Rollins, Nathaniel Leonard, Dabney C. Garth, Roland Hughes, James C. Anderson, and Camm Seay, were named vice presidents. James L. Minor, Joseph L. Stephens, and William H. Trigg were appointed corresponding secretary, recording secretary, and treasurer, respectively. The Board of Directors held their first meeting in Boonville on June 22, 1853, and the first exhibition/fair was held in Boonville during the first week of October later that same year. As it was decided the Fair should also be educational, an annual address was included and the first speaker was Uriel Wright of St. Louis. The Missouri Legislature appropriated $1,351.50 for the event. The second fair was held the following year and the Missouri Legislature appropriated another $2,652.88. General James L. Minor, the Society’s corresponding secretary, was the speaker. While it has long been assumed that one learned farming and related agricultural skills by doing, Minor said, “The day is fast approaching when we must be educated for our great occupation.” It seems his vision of the future was on the mark. Few farmers today are without at least some college education. The third and last fair in Boonville took place in 1855, but it wasn’t for lack of interest. It was the last year the Missouri Legislature appropriated funds for the event. However, that did not permanently stop the fair. For years, people continued to come and compete just for the ribbons. It wasn’t until 1897 that the next serious attempt at a Missouri State Fair began. Source: Elizabeth Davis "Historically Yours" In this image we find 6 locals at the 1908 fair on Main Street. To the right you see a ferris wheel. The date is August 10, 1908. From the Wayne Lammers collection Before He ritage Days After the turn of the last century, Boonville’s business leaders came up with the idea to have festivals in order to bring people into downtown. The main event would be a parade of carriages and carts covered in flowers. The Missouri Drummers’ Association (traveling salesmen) held their first annual meeting in Boonville during the 1906 Street Fair and Flower Parade. During the three-day event on July 5-7, over 600 salesmen attended and participated in that year’s festival. Besides the Flower Parade, there were concerts by bands from as far away as Moberly, a shooting tournament, and other athletic events. The ladies were not excluded as they enjoyed rope skipping, potato races, and bowling. And there was a Grand Ball for everyone. No records are available to indicate when the festivals ceased, but by World War I, they were gone. Although Boonville was platted in 1817, the official “Act to Incorporate the City of Boonville” wasn’t approved until February 8, 1839. To celebrate Boonville’s 100th birthday in 1939, the city organized a Daniel Boone Days event to run from September 28 to October 1. The 4-day party must have been a success as it was repeated the following year from September 15-18. Records on display at the Old City Jail on Morgan Street indicate Daniel Boone Days became an annual celebration through most of the 1950s. There is a picture of ladies called the Sunbonnet Belles wearing long dresses that is dated “early 1950s.” These celebrations lasted until at least 1957 because “the 1957 festival also marked the centenary of Thespian Hall.” There were no records indicating additional festivals. Until 1989… As Boonville began to plan for its 150th anniversary, another festival was born—Boonville Heritage Days. Unlike Daniel Boone Days which were celebrated in early fall, Heritage Days take place is early summer. It might have started small but, with each passing year, it continues to grow. This year boasted a parade, high school reunions, a carnival, beer and wine gardens, and enough live entertainment to satisfy the whole family. Happy Birthday, Boonville. Boonville Events and Festivals - Past and Present Boonville is known for its many festivals and special events. It was the site of the first Missouri State Fair. Cooper County Fair Established in 1950’s Daniel Boone Days (1940s – 1950’s) Festival of Lights – (no longer held) Festival of Leaves – (no longer held) Heritage Days -est. 1989 Peddler’s Jamboree – est. 2000’s Big Muddy Folk Festival of the Arts – est. 1990’s Historic Homes Tour – off and on over the years Christmas in Historic Boonville

RECORDS AT RECORDER OF DEEDS OFFICE For more recent Cooper County documents please contact: Cooper County Recorder of Deeds - Georgia Esser 200 Main Street - Rm 26, Boonville, MO 65233 660-882-2161 or recorder@coopercountymo.gov General recorded information and other resources available Genealogy research is welcome at Recorder of Deeds Office under the following guidelines: Appointments are preferred, especially for lengthy research. COVID precautions limit our office customers to three in main office, and two genealogy researchers in the vault area. Staff assistance to researchers may be limited due to recording workload at the time of visit. Temperature checks may be given upon arrival. No food or drink is allowed in the vault. Masks are required to enter search areas and vault. Title searchers and marriage license applicants take priority in line. Office staff does not perform genealogy research or title searching. General recorded information and other resources available Recorded and indexed Plats and Surveys (both paper and digital copies on site) Recorded marriage licenses issued in Cooper County (1819 - present) Marriage applications are not public record, only the completed licenses. Original and reproductions of Cooper County plat books and Atlas books Historical maps of the county, towns, and some cemeteries Cooper County publications, compiled & written by local historians Recorded and indexed land transfer deeds, mortgages, assignments, modifications, subordinations, foreclosures, state and federal tax liens/releases, mechanics liens, power of attorneys, brands, etc. We do not have any bound “Abstracts” on property. Other miscellaneous documentation including but not limited to agreements, easements, leases, contracts, wills, UCCs, subdivision covenants and restrictions may also be found in the records. OLD wills and estates are in the records of the Circuit Clerk (660-882-2232) Death certificates (if recorded for land transfer purposes, 2010 - present) No birth certificates Military discharge papers (1918 - present, if recorded by service member) This documentation is not public record and can only be accessed by the member, funeral director, or immediate family member, being validated by a signed, notarized, and approved request document. Naturalization records (limited access due to age of documentation)

THE INDIAN REMOVAL ACT The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the indigenous nations to leave Missouri and resettle in Indian Territory. (Courtesy of Missouri Bicentennial Timeline) “The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced the indigenous people who once inhabited land in Missouri to leave and resettle in Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas). The removal process, however, began long before U.S. President Andrew Jackson signed the 1830 removal act. It was a policy introduced by President Thomas Jefferson and was largely carried out by treaties in Missouri supervised by William Clark as superintendent of Indian affairs. About 30 years before the last removal, the Indigenous Nations in the Missouri Territory at the time of the Louisiana Purchase included Sac and Fox, Ioway, Little Osage and Great Osage, Kickapoo, Shawnee, Delaware and Quapaw. Skirmishes and fighting ensued as the U.S. government expanded westward and other nations would be pushed from the East to Missouri. The military imprisoned the famous War Chief Black Hawk in St. Louis at the end of the Black Hawk War in 1832 . The Trail of Tears, as a result of the 1930 act, forced Eastern indigenous nations to relocate to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). One of the routes traversed the southern part of Missouri, where many lives were lost crossing the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau County during the harsh winters of 1838 and 1839 . An estimated 4,000 Cherokees lost their lives on the Trail of Tears from Tennessee to Oklahoma.”