Sarcoxie Public Square Historic District

Probably the first marriage performed was in 1835, the contracting parties being Moses Powers and Miss Boyd. This was on Center Creek, about two miles below Sarcoxie. The first child born was John Powers, son of Samuel Powers, in 1831. The first minister was of the Christian denomi- nation, Rev. Natiian Buchanan. Tiie first lawyer was John R. Chenault, and then Bob Crawford. The first teacher was Samuel Teas, who taught the first school on Center Creek, three miles below Sarcoxie, and here was the first school-house. The first regular church edifice was erected in 1867, by the Cumberland Presbyterians, at Sarcoxie. The first post-office in this southwest was at Sarcoxie, in 1832-33. The first hotel was kept by a Mr. Hoi man, in Sarcoxie. The first store was kept by Abner Wilson, in 1833, and the second store was opened by Messrs. Massey & Tingle, the year following.

Passage source: The History of Jasper County, Missouri : Including a Condensed History of the State, a Complete History of Carthage and Joplin, Other Towns and Townships : Together with Numerous Portraits of Prominent Men : Cuts of Elegant Residences and Public Buildings : a Sectional Map of the County : Biographical Sketches of Many Enterprising Farmers, Merchants, Mechanics, Professional, and Business Men : the Constitution of the State : an Abstract of Laws : an Elaborate History of Jasper County - Its Topography, Natural History, Pioneers, Organization, Political History, Courts and Bar, Religious, Educational, Medical, Agricultural, Mining, and Horticultural, Its Commercial and Business Interests, Etc, published 1883.

It always has been, and is still, the gateway to Jasper county. Prior to the war it was of more political importance than Carthage, and was but a trifle behitid it in business. It had a daily stage line - a convenience Carthage did not have. When Tom Benton was running for governor of the state he delivered one of his big speeches in Sarcoxie to one of the largest assemblies that had ever been seen in this part of the state. A great many persons are still living in the county who were present on that occasion, and all agree that Colonel Benton made a magniticent speech, and drank a great deal of buttermilk.

Passage source: The History of Jasper County, Missouri : Including a Condensed History of the State, a Complete History of Carthage and Joplin, Other Towns and Townships : Together with Numerous Portraits of Prominent Men : Cuts of Elegant Residences and Public Buildings : a Sectional Map of the County : Biographical Sketches of Many Enterprising Farmers, Merchants, Mechanics, Professional, and Business Men : the Constitution of the State : an Abstract of Laws : an Elaborate History of Jasper County - Its Topography, Natural History, Pioneers, Organization, Political History, Courts and Bar, Religious, Educational, Medical, Agricultural, Mining, and Horticultural, Its Commercial and Business Interests, Etc, published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Sarcoxie Township - 27,076 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.