Drywood Township

Drywood Township

Drywood township is composed of congressional township 34, range 31. Although scant six miles in width, from east to west, it extends from the Barton county line north eight miles.

Three-fourths of the township is prairie. The only timbered tracks lie along Pleasant Run and its tributaries in the southwest, and the Lanclon and Lost branches in the northwest. The gen¬ eral surface is level, but along the streams it is broken. The sandstone is exposed in many places, especially in the western part of the township.

Pleasant Run is appropriately named. It is indeed a very pleasant stream. Rising a mile north of Sheldon, it Aoavs in a general direction to the northwest, leaving the township two miles north and five miles west of its source at the railroad, and empties into Little Drywood. Along its banks in many places the sand¬ stone forms cosy grottoes, and with the trees and bushes pre¬ sents delightful retreats and pleasant seats.

On the southwest quarter of section 23, a little west of the railroad water tank north of Sheldon, a fine natural mound rises out of the prairie to the height of sixty feet, its base covering more than an acre of ground. From the top of this mound, which is covered with ferruginous sandstone, a delightful view of the surrounding country is to be had.

Early Settlers

Perhaps William Hudson was the first actual settler in Drywood township. In 1840 or 1841 he came from Alabama to the north west corner of the township and settled on lot 6 of the northwest quarter of section 6. Plere he built a large double log cabin, known as Hudson's tavern, because he entertained trav¬ elers, passing over the road known as the Texas trail - the main road from Balltown to Fort Gibson and on to Texas. Here was the voting precinct of Drywood township, when this was a part of Bates county. Hudson was one of the county judges of the county (Bates) from 1842 to 1846, and one of the townships of Bates county was named for him.

A mile or more south of Hudson, on lot 2, lived Jesse Mundin, an Illinoisan, in 1842. In 1846 he evacuated his claim, however, and went to Jasper county. A little south of Mundin, on lot 1, lived Dr. James WTiite ; and still below, on section 7, lived a man named Bigham; both Bigham and his wife died about 1847.

According to the testimony of Peter Teel, who came to the country in 1842, there was a considerable settlement at that time in the neighborhood of Avola. The families of Jefferson Cope¬ land and Jesse Copeland, and the Nugents, Halls and Bloom¬ field were living here. The Halls and Nugents lived on section 19, west and northwest of the village. All were from Illinois. A few years later the Nugents removed over on the Osage and the Copelands and Halls to Iowa.

Samuel Simpson came in 1847 to the southeast quarter of section 18, a mile north and a little west of Avola. His brother, Benjamin, came the same time and located on Pleasant Run, aft¬ erward at "Shanghai." The Simpsons were natives of Kentucky, but came directly to this township from Gasconade county. Ben Simpson was killed in the Confederate service during the war.

Other early settlers in the township were Judge Grace, who lived in the northeast corner of the township ; Dr. Helper, who lived near Sam Simpson ; Barnett Boulware, who lived a mile east of Avola, having removed there from the western part of the county in 1855, where he married a Miss Apperson, daughter of Mrs. Celia Apperson, who came to Harrison township in 1842; Rev. Thomas R. Davis, who lived near Shanghai.

from North Carolina and settled in this township, on the north side of Pleasant Run, on the south part of section 6. He built a blacksmith shop on the old Nevada and Lamar road, and this he operated for some years. During the Civil War he was com¬ pelled to leave, and with his family removed to Cooper county. Returning in 1865, he found his farm dismantled by the storms of war, but in a few years he had about made his losses whole. Mr. Estes died in 1879; his wife in 1876. His eldest daughter, Helen M., married George C. Hardy, of Moundville township.

The first postoffice in the southern part of Vernon county was at the residence of Judge William Hudson, who was the first postmaster. The office was called Drywood. After Judge Hud¬ son the next postmaster was Judge James Grace. After the war Peter Teel had charge of the office for many years. Then it was moved a mile to the eastward, and when Milo was estab¬ lished the office was discontinued or practically removed to Milo.

Shanghai

In the southwest corner of this township in the northeast quarter of section 31 there was a locality before the war called ' ' Shanghai. " (The situation was about a mile and a half south of Avola.) Several years before the war Rev. Thomas R. Davis started a steam sawmill a quarter of a mile from the exact loca¬ tion where he had laid out a town which he called "Fairview. " At Shanghai" proper Benjamin Simpson had a considerable dry goods and grocery store, and there was a blacksmith shop, a grocery and two or three dwelling houses.

Shanghai wras a hard locality. A great deal of whisky was sold and drank and the place was the scene of frequent brawls and fights. In vain did Mr. Davis try to repress the sale of whisky and the proceedings of those who drank it. When the war broke out Mr. Davis went to Illinois, where he remained until it was over. Nothing more was heard of this place after the war and the site is now an excellent farm.

During the Civil War Drywood township was the scene of some tragedies worthy of note. All occurred at or in the imme¬ diate vicinity of Shanghai.

In the fall of 1861 the first tragedy occurred at the cross¬ roads near the house of Mr. Davis. A Union citizen from Bar¬ ton or Dade was fleeing into Kansas. His family was with him.

as was another man, and the entire party were traveling in a wagon. At Davis' they were overtaken by a party of secession troops who had followed them. The Union man jumped from his wagon to defend himself, but the leader of his pursuers shot him dead after an exchange of shots between them. The other man's life was spared, but the dead man's arms and his saddle were taken. The family were then allowed to go on to Kansas, taking the dead man with them.

Another time, in 1863, a Union man named Buffington, who had lived near Greenfield, was on his way to Fort Scott in a wagon with his household goods. He, too, was overtaken at the Davis place by a party of Confederates and killed. His horses were taken at the time, but his wagon, some harness, a spinning wheel and other trumpery were scattered about and left to decay.

In the fall of 1864 - some say it was at the time of the Price raid - three Confederates, or bushwhackers, were captured down in Barton county (at Jesse Riggs', probably), by some Kansas troops, brought to Shanghai and hung on the apple trees in Mr. Davis' orchard.

But in the summer of 1863 an incident occurred at Davis' which was bloodless in its character, but exciting, full of interest and fairly humorous. Benjamin Archer and Benjamin Simpson, Jr., two young bushwhackers, just setting out, waylaid two Kan¬ sas soldiers at the Davis house. The soldiers were mounted and going from Lamar to Fort Scott. Archer and Simpson were in Davis' abandoned house; one had a musket and the other a horse pistol. The road ran by within thirty yards of the doors and when the soldiers came opposite the house the boys poked their weapons through a crack and called out, "Halt! Surrender or we will blow you through!" The soldiers stopped and threw their arms over the fence, when Archer went out and dismounted them. Simpson came out and the two buckled on the captured revolvers and carbines, mounted the horses and sent the prison¬ ers on to Fort Scott. The Kansans were greatly chagrined when they found how they had been taken in. They swore as only troopers can swear and declared they believed Archer and Simp¬ son when they said, "There are ten muskets and shotguns point¬ ing at you." But at last they made the best of the situation and good-naturedly set out on their trudging journey to Fort Scott.

dier, named AYilhite, was killed by some bushwhackers at the house of Joseph Copeland on the Landon branch. The soldier lived in Cedar county, near Stockton ; he was on his way to Kan¬ sas on private business and stopped at Copeland's for the night. The bushwhackers rode up dressed in blue and claimed to be Federal soldiers from Fort Scott. The soldier was deceived, ad¬ mitted his identity in spite of the hint of Mr. Copeland that he was in danger and the bushwhackers took him out and shot him. His body was buried on the Landon branch on the south part of section 4. In years past the lonely grave was strewn with flowers every Decoration day.

Permanent Settlement

According to the best information obtainable, the first per¬ manent settlement in Drywood township was made a score of years before the beginning of the Civil War. The credit is cine to one of three men - Barnett Boulware, L. Caney Grace or Sam¬ uel Simpson. These three men, with their respective families, located in 1840 or thereabouts in the neighborhood of what was later Avola in West Drywood. As is usual in all new countries, the first settlements were made in the vicinity of water courses, and this is, in all probability, the reason that Little Drywood and Pleasant Run were chosen as the first homes of white fami¬ lies in this township. L. Caney Grace, who was probably the township's first settler, came from Tennessee, a state which, with Illinois and Indiana, furnished the majority of South Vernon's emigrants. While the first permanent settlements were made about 1840. it was onlv shortly before the time of the Civil War - in the early fifties - that this section began to attract general attention.

The township's first sehoolhouse was built in 1850 at what was later Avola, and, curiously enough, the pine lumber from which it was constructed was hauled from Arkansas - from Van Winkle's sawmill - a mill in northern Arkansas, well known to southwest Missourians of the early days, and the nearest point at which sawn lumber could be obtained. The old sehoolhouse stood for many years, its exterior blackened and charred by prairie fires which many times threatened its destruction and, in fact, it was only by heroic effort of volunteer fire fighters on several occasions that it escaped. The prairie grass in Drywood 's early days and, indeed, up to the middle eighties grew not as we know it now, but as a luxuriant, tangled mat, tall as a high horse's withers, of coarse, rank, succulent growth and in which a well-developed prairie fire meant a serious matter.

This first school was taught by C. Correll, who forty-six years later was chosen to represent this county in the Missouri legis¬ lature and was one of the township's foremost citizens. In this house Mr. Correll frequently conducted religious services on Sun¬ day afternoons, as the township in the fifties was without church facilities.

The first postoffice in the township was called Drywood and was established in the fifties at the home of Peter Teel in the extreme northwestern corner of the township, with Mr. Teel as postmaster, and it is needless to say that his duties were neither exacting nor arduous. Avola was platted in 1869 and the Drywood postoffice, which had been discontinued during the Civil War, was re-established there with James Hy der as postmaster. Mr. Hyder soon tired of the duties of postmaster and resigned in favor of his brother, W. B. Hyder, who had arrived the pre¬ vious year from Tennessee, and who served as postmaster through successive administrations. The Avola, as well as the discon¬ tinued Drywood office, were served by a star route, the mail being carried from Nevada to Lamar by a carrier who made the trip occasionally on horseback.

The Avola school district at that time was composed of what later made the Sheldon, Avola and Correll districts. When the Avola district was separated from the others, a sclioolhouse of hewn hickory logs was put up in what later became the Correll or Prairie View district. Some time later, about 1871, some pub¬ lic benefactor conceived the idea of making a passageway through the prairie grass to the schoolhouse for those children who lived in the southeastern corner of the district, and with this end in view a team was hitched to a small log and this was dragged through the five-foot prairie grass from a point southeast of where Sheldon now stands to the log schoolhouse. This trail crossed what is now Main street in Sheldon at the intersection of Second street, where the Farmers' Bank building now stands and from there on a direct line northwest by west. This path was greatly appreciated not only by the few school children for whose use it was made, but, lacking roads, it became a thor- oughfare for all who had occasion to travel in that general direc¬ tion; the herds of cattle which fed at pleasure on the prairies used it for their passage and it became so definitely marked that it was not until the plow of the farmer succeeded the herd of the cattleman that it was obliterated. Sheldon district separated from the Correll district in 1875 and the first school in the former

The evidences of civilization and the improvements which had began to manifest themselves in the early fifties were largely destroyed during the stirring time of 1861-64, and it was not until the establishment of peace that the real and permanent growth of the township began. A house, which until recent years stood southeast of Avola, was during the War of the Re¬ bellion the scene of a sharp engagement between a small body of Federal troops from Kansas, who had taken possession of the building and were attacked by a detachment of Confederates. The house, which was known as the " Riggs' place," bore many bullet holes which gave mute evidence of the warmth of the engagement.

Avola, which until the establishment of Sheldon and the building of the Missouri Pacific railroad through the county, was the township's principal trading point, at that time rapidly lost prestige and population and now nothing but a name and a memory remains of what was once the stopping point of prac¬ tically every traveler who journeyed north and south through Vernon and Barton counties.

The village of Avola was situated in the southwestern part of this township on the lower half of the section line between sections 19 and 20, mainly on the southwest quarter of the latter section. James Hyder settled a quarter of a mile north of the site some vears before the war, and a schoolhouse w as built m 1859 or I860. It is said that the lumber out of which this house is built was hauled with ox teams from Arkansas. During the war the soldiers set out a prairie fire which charred the weather boarding a little, but the building itself passed through the war all right, and furnished shelter for many a houseless, homeless from Ohio, bought a tract of land which included the schoolhouse, built a little storehouse, and opened a stock of goods. Mr. James Hyder laid out the village, but the plat was never recorded.

The town of Sheldon is in the southeastern part of Drywood township, on the northeast quarter of section 35, half a mile from the Barton county line. It was laid out by Hon. Sheldon A. Wight, of Nevada, who gave the place his Christian name. Mr. Wight was a large landholder in this quarter and founded the town on the completion of the railroad. The plat was regularly surveyed May 6 and 7, 1881 ; S. T. Emerson was the surveyor.

The first building was a storehouse, put up by William Hycler on Main street (lots 1 and 2 in block 12) and occupied for a time by his family, which was the first in the place. Probably the next store building was erected by Frank P. Anderson. C. P. Barnes was an early comer, as was Samuel Weld, the hotel pro¬ prietor, and Nicholas Wells. Adjoining the town lived John Croy, a farmer, who kept hotel when the town was first laid out and wyas Mr. Wight's agent for the sale of lots. Jerry McGrew and James Baker were among the first merchants. Dr. Pope was probably the first resident physician. The "Enterprise" news¬ paper was established in 1884; Harry Swan was the first editor and manager. R. G-. Campbell was his successor.

In 1896 Mr. ITowmrd C. Storrs purchased the "Enterprise" and has since conducted a bright and newsy newspaper in the interests of Sheldon and the southern part of Vernon county.

Nestling in the midst of a man-made forest, where but thirty years ago was wonderfully fertile but barren prairie, is Sheldon, the metropolis of south Vernon, and the county's third city. Those who budded Sheldon budded wiselv, well, and for the future. The town is located but a short distance from the Vcrnon-Barton line, on land of sufficient undulation to afford natural and ample drainage, but flat enough to present to the eye a practically unbroken plane. The streets are of unusual width and are lined in the residence districts with shade trees, many of which have assumed mammoth proportions. So many are the trees - shapely maples and stately elms predominating - that when approaching the city from any direction no cluster of ugly roofs and square-topped structures greet the eye, the mass of foliage which is seen giving the appearance of a virgin forest with but. a glimpse of well-turned cornice or church steeple to notify the traveler that he is approaching the "City of Trees."

Sheldon was founded in 1881, immediately following - or, rather, coincident with - the building of the Missouri Pacific railway through Vernon county, and so closely allied were the establishment of these two advance agents of civilization and prosperity that when material for the first house was unloaded here it was necessary for the prospective builder, "Col." W. B. Iiyder, to handle the material himself, as there was no depot, agent, nor even a side track, and the switching facilities con¬ sisted of a car standing on the main line only between trips of a frequently moving construction train. In its early life Main street resembled in many respects the typical frontier town and, indeed, Sheldon was frontier at that time. The business houses consisted of one-story frame shacks, and the early residences were put up on much the same plan, tents frequently housing an enthusiastic citizen's family until material could be secured for the erection of a more permanent abode. Seemingly dis¬ astrous, but in the final results, wholly beneficial conflagrations swept Main street from First to the Missouri Pacific right-o '-way at frequent intervals of the town's early history, and in their wake came more commodious structures of brick, of improved appearance and of greater permanency.

While Sheldon never presented the lawlessness of the wild and woolly West, yet in her early day saloons were the scenes of frequent brawls, and upon more than one occasion the town was "shot up" by some bibulous and hilarious celebrant. Even at first this condition was frowned upon by the better class of citi¬ zens, many of whom were attracted here by the obvious advan¬ tages which Sheldon offered the homeseeker, and with the pass¬ ing of a few years a better state of affairs was established and Sheldon's growth along all lines which tend to good citizenship - religion, education, morality and sobriety - has been hand in hand with her development on a commercial footing.

Sheldon, it might be mentioned, has long been known as the "dryest" spot in Vernon county, and it was here that the move originated in 1907 which put Vernon in the ranks of the "dry" counties of the state by means of a local option election. The story is yet told of the enthusiastic dry advocate who, during the closing days of the strenuous campaign just previous to this election, arose in a temperance meeting in response to the speak¬ er's statement that he would be pleased to answer any question which any one in the audience might wish to ask, and said: "I would like to ask what the Bible says about temperance and drinking/' "Well," responded the speaker, who was a wellknown Nevada clergyman, "for one thing Habakuk says, 'Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken, also.' " "I don't car a pica¬ yune what Habakuk says; I want to know what the Bible says," was the dry man's quick and earnest response.

Sheldon's pre-eminence in commercial life may in part be attributed to the good roads which center there from all direc¬ tions. Good roads have been a hobby with more than one of Sheldon's leading citizens in years past and the reward has been reaped in the gratifying business growth of the city. Upon no other call is the average business man of the city so willing to loosen his purse strings as for good roads, and much money has been spent for this purpose. The story is yet told of a Sheldon merchant, long since gone to his reward, who was always so willing to help the cause of good roads that it was only neces¬ sary to mention the subject to start him toward his cash drawer. To test his readiness to give to any good roads project two friends decided one day to play a joke upon him, and the plan they pursued was something like this: The two went into the mer¬ chant's place of business and extending a paper to him, one of the practical jokers said: "Here's a subscription paper to raise funds to do some work on the road out at the Willhite hills, and wrn'd like to have you head the list." "All right, boys," he replied, "I'll sign my name. Put me down for any amount you think proper," and for weeks after the jokers exhibited to ap¬ preciative friends a paper which read something like this: "In¬ asmuch as I realize that I am a general nuisance, and a detriment to the community, I respectfully request my friends to make away with me in any manner which seems fitting and proper, and for this purpose I contribute the amount set opposite my name," and here followed the victim's signature.

Viewed from the standpoint of educational facilities, religious life, and secret society organizations, Sheldon stands well in the front rank of cities of much larger population. The Baptist,

Methodist, M. E. church, South, and Christian churches have each live, enthusiastic organizations, and have ample and com¬ modious houses of worship. Congregations listen each Sunday to discourses in Sheldon's churches which are well worthy the listener's attention. Sheldon's schools are known for their thor¬ ough, conscientious work over a large contiguous territory, and many non-resident pupils attend each year for the benefit of the better educational facilities offered here. The various secret fraternities have large and growing memberships. The A. F. & A. M., the I. 0. 0. F., the M. W. A., the W. 0. W. lodges and their auxiliaries are represented by flourishing lodges, and of those named, the Odd Fellows own a commodious and wellconstructed lodge building, erected in 1910.

Particularly fortunate is Sheldon from the fact that only a block from the business section, and on the north side of Main street, the city's principal thoroughfare, is the beautiful Sheldon park. The park consists of about five acres and is surrounded by a double row of massive trees, affording ample shade and com¬ fort. The land composing the park was purchased in 1905 by a sextette of public spirited citizens, and has since been open to the public. Here is a base ball diamond, where many hard fought battles have been decided, and where the Sheldon Invincibles have year after year demonstrated that ball players are one crop which south Drvwood township grows to perfection. Here are tennis courts for the use of the devotees of that game, and here, also, is held annually Sheldon's old settlers' picnic - an affair which ranks high in the annals of such gatherings - really one of the biggest affairs of the kind in southwest Missouri, a picnic where the attendance is numbered by the thousands, and who come not only from this and adjoining counties, but many from far distant states, the picnic being in the nature of a home-coming for Sheldon folk who have wandered far. Here have been heard speeches by some of the brightest minds of the state, oratory being one of the leading features of the annual old settlers' picnic.

Sheldon has been called, and not unjustly, the "City of Side¬ walks." Miles of 'well-constructed concrete walks reach out through the residence districts and add not only to the value of the property but immeasurably to the comfort of the citizen¬ ship. A progressive city administration - and their names are worthy of record as public benefactors: Mayor W. G. Jones and Aldermen F. G. McCutchen, G. B. Beeny, S. M. Hickman and WT. C. Shoemaker - along about 1904 started a reign of civic im¬ provement that has given Sheldon a much wider than local creditable reputation. In addition to the miles of concrete walks and street crossings by the score, this administration purchased for Sheldon a well-equipped chemical fire fighting apparatus, the like of which is perhaps not possessed by any town of Sheldon's population in the state.

Sheldon has behind it a well-spent past and before it looms a brilliant future. For her sturdy upbuilding thanks are due to many - a large number of those who contributed to the city's moral and commercial uplift have gone to their reward. Credit to all to whom credit is due would fill many pages of this work ; an acknowledgment to a part only would be a manifest in¬ justice; so suffice it to say that the reward of those who budded well in Sheldon's early development is the knowledge that her sturdy sons and comely daughters of the present generations are traveling a smoother path than did their forefathers.

Sheldon Business Houses

The various businesses of Sheldon are of a prosperous and widely diversified nature, befitting, though, as is to be expected, a wholly agriculture district. With a trade radius extending far in every direction, Sheldon's commercial life is, naturally, a healthy one, and, generally speaking, her business men are thor¬ oughly awake, well qualified, keen and liberal.

G. B. Beeny. Heading the list of local business men comes fittingly the name of G. B. Beeny, Sheldon's foremost business man. Mr. Beeny identified himself with Sheldon's business life at an early stage of her existence, coming here in the early eighties. His first business venture was a small grist mill, and from this comparatively modest beginning has grown what is one of Vernon county's chief industries. Mr. Beeny transacts a yearly business well in excess of $100,000, and his pay roll adds much to the circulating medium in Sheldon. Mr. Beeny is an ex¬ tensive farmer, usually caring for from 1,200 to 1,500 acres of hay land each year, and putting in from 200 to 300 acres of corn annually, to mention none of the minor crops which he harvests.

He adopts all of the latest labor saving machinery in his farm¬ ing operations, using traction engines and gang plows, duplex and automatic hay presses, and, in fact, every piece of machinery the use of which is calculated to cut down the cost of produc¬ tion or improve the output. His various business plants such as his harness shop, carriage and woodworking shop, blacksmith shop, grist and feed mill, and other of his enterprises are equipped with power and with the latest labor saving devices.

During the busy season when his haying operations are in full blast, Mr. Beeny employs something like sixty men and thirty teams, and his weekly pay roll runs close to $1,000. Personally, Mr. Beeny is progressive, clean in his business life, and scrupu- * lously upright. He has served several terms as mayor of Sheldon, a like number as alderman, and is usually a valued member of the school board.

Campbell & Sons - the firm being composed of J. S. Campbell and his two sons. Robert and Clarence - conduct a general mer¬ chandise house widely known over south Vernon and north Bar¬ ton counties, and their yearly volume of business is usually large for an establishment in a town of similar conditions. The firm occupies two adjoining store buildings on Main street, and the lines which they carry are extensive and varied. The establish¬ ment is one of Sheldon's oldest business houses and the senior member of the firm has been connected with it since its founding in the early eighties.

C. T. Gathright conducts a drug store which has a large clientage of customers, many of whom have patronized it for more than a quarter century. But few men in south Vernon have a wider circle of friends and acquaintances than genial " Charley" Gathright. Mr. Gathright has seen Sheldon grow from a little country village, and his store and business has kept pace with the growing country.

"Hickman's" is one of Sheldon's newer business houses, but the stock carried is an excellent one of general merchandise, and the constantly growing trade of the establishment is proof that the policy of the house is a good one. S. M. Hickman is proprie¬ tor of the business.

The Farmers' Bank, of Sheldon, is one of Vernon county's solidest financial institutions - old, conservative and well estab¬ lished - and it has a clientage of customers of which any banking house might well he proud. W. A. McCormick is the institution's president, and C. J. Donaldson has been for many years its ef¬ ficient cashier, and under his careful management the bank has prospered exceeding^.

The Sheldon State Bank is a new financial institution which opened its doors for the transaction of business on August 7, 1911. J. E. Couch is president of the bank, and Harold Pettibon its cashier.

In 1911 McCutcheon & Correll succeeded F. C. McCutcheon in the hardware and furniture business here, and since that date the new firm, composed of J. F. McCutcheon and George Correll, has enjoyed an excellent and flattering trade. The business of which they took charge was one of Sheldon's oldest establish¬ ments, having been located here since the early eighties, and the house was a well known and well liked one. They have cus¬ tomers who have dealt with the house for more than a score of years, and who would feel at a loss trading elsewhere.

The Sheldon Opera House is owned by W. G. Jones, M. A. Hatch and H. C. Storrs, and is a well-equipped and comfortable play house, of which M. A. Hatch is manager.

The Burgner-Bowman Lumber Company carries a stock of building material second to none in the county, and managed for many years by W. C. Shoemaker, the yard annually disposes of an immense amount of lumber and kindred building material.

The Charley Jones Drug* Company (and Charley Jones is the Charley Jones Drug Company) is an unusually neat and tasty appearing establishment, and while it is a comparatively new business house, being established here about 1905, it has built up an excellent trade. The Jones "Red Line" products put out by this firm, consisting of proprietary medicines, flavoring ex¬ tracts, and kindred articles, enjoy an excellent sale throughout southwest Missouri.

The Sheldon Roller Mills, which has been in the hands of its present owner since about 1897, is of the thoroughly up-to-date flouring mills of this part of the state. The machinery used in the mill is constantly kept abreast of the times, and no effort or expense is spared to turn out the best possible product. The mill's brands of flours of all grades are well known, and the demand for Sheldon Roller Mills flour is considerable. The mill, of course, turns out not only an excellent grade of meal, but all the customary by-products. In 1910 a complete line of farming implements and machinery was added, and the mill now handles these in addition to its customary lines.

Sheldon has two telephone systems. The Home phone is owmed and controlled by M. A. Hatch, who put in the system in 1903. This and the Mutual company, which installed its board in 1909, cares not only for the local systems, but SAvitch the large number of farmers ' mutual and country lines AAdiieh center here.

The Sheldon Enterprise" is Sheldon s oldest business estab¬ lishment and- since its founding in 1881, coincident with the birth of the town, it has, Avith never the failure of a single issue, told the story of the town in Aveekly installments. Many persons AA-hose birth it recorded are noAAr themselves parents, and "The Enterprise" is read with equal pleasure by the grandchildren of those Avho knew it in its early days. From the time of its founding in 1881 by Robert Campbell it lUed a precarious life for many years, and numerous names appeared in its subhead as OAAmers and editors. The present proprietor, H. C. Storrs, came into possession in 1895, and the publication since that date has prospered and groAvn. The paper is relied upon and beloved in a majority of the homes in South Vernon and North Barton for its strict adherence to the right, and it is always to be found behind any mo\'e or plan for the good of the community.

"The Record" is a neAver Aveekly publication, established in July, 1911, by B. F. Lusk, and as its motto it announces that it proposes to be "For Sheldon and vicinity all the time."

W. D. Hughes conducts one of Sheldon 's older business estab¬ lishments, carrying a stock of general merchandise. J. W. Stouffer & Son is a younger house here, dealing in the same lines, as is John King, aaJio succeeded H. B. Gordon in August, 1911. M. A. Hatch has an excellently well-stocked grocery store and in connection with it a meat market.

J. W. Harbert has a large double building filled to its utmost capacity with a stock of general merchandise and drugs. W. J. Taylor has a racket store and C. B. Masters a grocery and feed store. B. F. Hanes, the undertaker, deals in furniture as well as undertaking goods.

In addition to these lines mentioned Sheldon has her usual quota of insurance men, real estate and loan agents of the legiti¬ mate as Avell as the curbstone variety, restaurants and barber

Early Churches

Sheldon M. E. Church South. A class belonging to this church was organized in 1881, with about twenty members. The church was built in 1882 at a cost of some $1,600. Rev. Sevier was pas¬ tor and Rev. Joseph King presiding elder. The church has since had the following pastors and presiding elders : 1883-4, Rev. H.

M. E. Church, Sheldon. This class was organized in 1882, some of the original members being R. K. Holland and wife, B. F. St. John and wife, G. M. Shanton and wife, J. P. Jones and wife.

Sheldon Baptist church was organized in 1883 with the follow¬ ing constituent members: J. E. Anderson and wife, Charles Seaver and wife, Jerry McGrew and wife, Jeptha Rathbun and wife, Amos Brown and wife, F. F. Sears and wife, J. T. Suelson and wife and James McClanahan.

1871, when the following named persons, perhaps with others, formed themselves into a religions body of Baptists, meeting at Raftown schoolhonse in Moundville township : A. Meadows and wife, Isaac Franks and wife, Jesse Stiff and wife, Levi Stiff and wife, George Ray, Ambrose and James Ray. The deacons were A. Meadows and Jesse Stiff.

Avola Baptist Church. In October, 1879, the organization of this church was effected with E. King and wife and Martha Davis, with others, as original members. The first pastor was G. M. Lankin.

M. E. Church South, Avola. There was a class organized in this vicinity before the Avar and after the Avar it Avas reorganized. Among the original members Avere the family of IV. F. Hoppenbrock and Samuel Simpson and Avife and A. W. Baker and wife. In 1884 a neat frame church Avas built at a cost of about $1,500.

United Presbyterian Church at Milo. In 1884, largely through the efforts of Rev. J. W. McNarv, this organization was started at Milo,, with GaATin Bickett and AATife, James M. BroAvn and fam¬ ily, Alexander Bickett and AAdfe, W. C. Taylor and AA-ife, John Coonrod and AA'ife and W. B. Taylor, AATife and daughter, as con¬ stituent members.

Milo M. E. Church. In 1883 a class under the direction of the M. E. church Avas started at Milo by ReAT. Smith, AATith Allen Shouse and Avife, J. M. Chandler and AATife and Mr. and Mrs. LafeATre some of the first members. ReA\ DaAnd Keeton is pastor for 1911.

Milo Baptist Church was organized December 5, 1885. Many of the original members had been connected with West Fork Baptist church. Among them were J. H. Sheets, Rufus W. Sheets, Mrs. Frances Sheets, W. B. Sheets, Ella M. Thornton, Ella J. Thornton, Susan Slow, Addie Baskett, 0. G. B. Cline, Melissa Cline, Mary E. Cline, Bettie Guthrie, John T. Hill, Mary E. Hill, Martha A. Deeper, Matt Webb, Adela Webb, Edith Webb, Mary Webb, John and Martha Fields. The folloAving were additional constituent members of Milo church: J. H. Lloyd and Avife, R. J. Dale and Avife, Mary BroAvnwell, John W. Curtis, Dr. John Ford and Avife, Joseph Ford, Thomas J. Shouse. Mary F. Shouse, Fmma Shouse, Mary Smith, William Northcroft and Avife and Emma Northcroft. Present pastor, 1911, Rev. S. B. Moon.

were deacons. This organization worshiped for three years in the old Avola schoolhouse, which was built before the war. Dur¬ ing this period the organization increased so rapidly that they found it necessary to erect a church and dedicated it in June, 1887. Here they continued to worship. The pastors of this church through all these years were Revs. Stark, George, De Jarnette, Sterling, Adcock, Price, Crank, Carpenter, Wait and W7illis. The present officers are Hover, Misner and Bare, elders; Williams, Holland, Gilkey, deacons.

Sheldon High School

The Sheldon school district was organized as a village school district in the year 1895, and consists of eight sections of land in the southeast corner of Dry wood township, in Vernon county, Missouri, including the city of Sheldon. The first board of edu¬ cation was C. T. Seaver, J. W. Sharp, W. G. Wilson, J. I. Clark, P. M. Dejarnett and J. A. Roberts. C. T. Seaver was president of the board and J. G. Campbell secretary. Since its organization the school has been presided over by the following principals: Professors Brandon, Hale, Leedy, Keeling, Brown, Marquis and Martin. Four teachers are employed. At present the principal receives $75 per month and the other teachers $45 per month each. The enumeration list at present is something over 200, while the school enrollment is about 165. The high school has a two-year course, covering the subjects as outlined by the state superintendent of schools. Since its organization over 100 grad¬ uates have completed this course. A large portion of these graduates are engaged in teaching and the rest in other useful avocations. W7hile Sheldon High School has served a good pur¬ pose, there is yet in store for it better and greater things. The district is out of debt and has a valuation of some $200,000, from which it derives its revenue to meet its various expenses. The patrons of Sheldon public school have always stood loyally by the board of education in providing ways and means for the good of the school. Two vital questions are now before us - a new school building and a four-year high school course.

Milo

The village of Milo is situated in the northeastern part of Drywood township on lot 8 of the northwest quarter of section 2, and is a station on the Lexington and Southern railroad, divi¬ sion of the Missouri Pacific. It was laid out October 14, 1881, by J. L. Samples and Mary M. Samples.

Milo at this time, 1911, is one of the brightest and cleanest little towns to be found in the state; surrounded by a ricti and productive country, inhabited by a prosperous and progressive people. The town has a population of 200 or more people and the graded school has eighty-five pupils enrolled. J. W. Higgins is the principal, assisted by Elve Colsen. The school board is composed of the following named citizens : A. J. Earl, chairman ; J. G. Hatfield, W. G. Dale, clerk; W. A. McGoveny, T. E. Thomas and E. R. McKay, treasurer.

' ' Milo Chronicle" is the title of the local newspaper, which is ably edited by J. C. Hodson. Dr. J. L. Truex and Dr. C. L. Keithly are the local physicians and surgeons.

Milo is the proud possessor of a manufacturing plant, which for its up-to-date construction and value of output will compare favorably with plants in cities many times the size of Milo. The Dale Saddlery Company, whose goods are well and favorably known in the "West and Southwest, was incorporated July 25, 1910. They occupy a modern brick structure fitted with every convenience for carrying on their large and growing business. The business was first established by C. B. Dale and C. B. Cham¬ bers in March, 1907. The present officers are C. B. Dale, president - and treasurer; J. F. McKay, vice-president and secretarj^; C. B. Chambers, J. F. McKay, J. R. Rector, R. E. McAlister and C. B. Dale, directors.

The Modern Woodmen of America have a large and flourish¬ ing camp, No. 6680. The Milo hotel is conducted by A. J. Earl. McKay Bros, have a large and well-stocked lumber yard. The grain and. live stock business is looked after by Samuel McGovenv. There are three general stores conducted by Dr. C. L. Truex, A. H. Davis and J. B. Hatfield & Sons. D. C. Compton operates a feed mill and blacksmith shop. E. S. Levaugh has a blacksmith and general repair shop. 0. D. Carrio runs the livery stable, Joe "Wilson the restaurant, J. J. Cox the meat market and W. P. Rich the barber shop. Stanton & Herrick are contractors and builders and McGoveny & Counseller are general concrete contractors.

Milo School

The Milo school first opened in 1881, in a private house one and one-half miles northeast of Milo, which is now owned by Mrs. Jones, but which was then owned by T. J. Lacy. In the fall of 1882 we built a school house twenty feet square where the present school house now stands. This was soon insufficient to accommodate the scholars, and an addition of twenty feet more was built and two teachers employed. This only lasted some fifteen years when the building was sold and the present building was erected.

Many of the pupils in this school who were poor boys and girls at the time, now have comfortable homes, some have taken up professions, J. A. Wilson is superintendent of the Montrose school, and many others have followed the teachers' profession; Wyat Smith is practicing law at Springfield, Mo. ; Willie Schooiy, who became rich in Alaska, is now a pharmacist at Seattle, Wash.; Ode Nichols is an officer in the United States Army in the Philip¬ pines; R. B. Goodell is preparing to teach and will graduate at the Springfield Normal in regent's course this winter.

The school now has two years of high school, with Mr. Hig¬ gins, a graduate of the Springfield State Normal school, as prin¬ cipal. The school was made a village school December 23, 1905.