USA > Missouri > Dade County > History of Dade County and her people : from the date of the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 18
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In addition to its other business enterprises Everton also had two saloons in an early day. Andy Jack Barker conducted an "irrigation parlor" for a number of years on the corner near where his good wife, "Mother" Bar- ker, presided over a pioneer hotel, the "Everton House." Andy Baker also conducted a saloon for a short time, Jake Samples was the pioneer produce dealer in Everton, enter- ing business as early as 1885, and in 1895, W. D. Brown, present Circuit Court Clerk, entered the produce business on a large scale.
On the 12th day of September, 1882, W. Y. McLemore sold his interest in the firm of Wilson & Mclemore to his partner and the firm continued as Wilson Bros. In 1884 he again entered the general merchandise business in partnership with his brother, J. M. McLemore, and in 1888 his brother, Robert F., came into the firm, after which they moved into the two-story brick building on the corner and continued business till 1896.
G. W. Wilson erected the first brick building in the city in 1889. The first bank in Everton was established by G. W. Wilson as a private bank, and for a number of years was one of the largest private banks in Southwest Missouri. On the 1st day of June, 1914, it was incor- porated as "The Bank of Everton" with a capital stock of $25,000. G. W. Wilson was elected President, W. Y. Mclemore, Vice President; Monte Poindexter, Cashier;
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Clarence McLemore, Assistant Cashier, and W. O. Wilson, Director.
In 1889 W. C. Holman started the first livery business in Everton. He was succeeded in 1894 by Monte Wheeler, who continued in the business till 1904, when he sold out to Cunningham. The original building was destroyed by fire. Monte Wheeler, in the year 1904 engaged in the hardware business and continued in the same till January 1st, 1915.
W. Y. Mclemore sold out of the general merchandise business in 1898 and entered politics, being elected Re- corder of Deeds of Dade County on the Republican ticket in 1902, whereupon he moved to Greenfield and spent four years in that office. In 1908 he moved to Porum, Okla- homa, and engaged in business with success, but the ties of Dade County were too strong for him to remain away very long. He returned to Everton June 1st, 1914, and re- entered business. After the capitalization of the Bank of Everton he organized the Everton Hardware Company with a capital stock of $10,000, of which G. W. Wilson was elected President; W. Y. Mclemore, Vice President and Secretary, with Monte Wheeler, W. S. Wilson, W. O. Wilson and John Bell as Directors. This Corporation purchased the hardware business of Monte Wheeler, and also that of Goforth & Hankins. They are now located in business in a brick block on the East side of the street running North and South through the business section of the city.
B. F. Johnson was one of the early merchants of Everton, succeeding Hughes & Clark in the general mer- chandise business. Dr. T. W. Burleyson established the first drug store in the place in 1883, Dr. W. I. Carlock begun the general practice of medicine in Everton in 1882.
The three Mclemore boys, W. Y., Robert F., and J. M., were sons of Archibald Mclemore, a Dade County pioneer, who came from Tennessee and settled on Sac River, five miles Northeast of Greenfield, in 1849. He raised a family of six children, three boys and three girls, Mrs. G. W. Wilson being one of the girls. This
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family has contributed largely to every business enter- prise in Everton.
One of the largest industries ever started in Everton was the Ash Grove White Lime Association, which pur- chased a large tract of land adjoining the city and erected a lime works plan. The quarries were among the finest in the state and for a number of years this industry pros- pered. It purchased annually about 3,000 cords of wood and employed about sixty men, and shipped many car- loads of its product to all parts of the United States. A few years ago the kilns were destroyed by fire. The As- sociation still owns the land and may again rebuild.
Smith & Likens were merchants in Everton about the year 1894. and in 1896 the firm was Smith Bros. They were succeeded by Mclemore Bros.
Parker, Dye & Small was another prominent firm. consisting of J. C. Parker, W. R. Dye and T. W. Small. The business still continues as W. R. Dve & Son. It is a general merchandise establishment.
James A. Mason has for many years been identified with the business interests of Everton. He came to the city as a teacher in the public schools, after which he was manager of the T. A. Miller Lumber yard. After remaining in this position about ten years, in company with his father-in-law, A. Dickinson, he established a Furniture and Undertaking business, which after a number of years they sold out to A. W. Poindexter. Mr. Poin- dexter has been engaged in many business enterprises in the city, the largest being the erection of the magnifi- cent New Crescent Hotel, a two-story brick structure, lo- cated on a beautiful site overlooking the Frisco depot and yards and surrounded by attractive shade trees. It repre- sents an expenditure of something like $10,000, and is a credit to the city. It is now owned and operated by R. Fowler.
Everton has always been wide-awake on the question of schools. Seeing the needs of higher education in the year 1892, a number of public-spirited citizens organized the Everton High School as a private enterprise for pub-
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lic use. The leading spirits in this enterprise were James A. Mason, G. W. Wilson, W. C. Holman, W. T. Hudson, W. H. Mitchell, W. Y. McLemore and many others. They employed George Melcher, one of the leading educators of the State, as Superintendent, in which position he con- tinued for four years. The city now has an elegant school building, costing approximately $10,000, and is modern in every respect.
The legal profession has been represented in Everton by one illustrions citizen, Howard Ragsdale, who was a soldier, politician and practitioner. He is now a resident of Ash Grove, "just over the line," but still retains a large share of the legal practice in Everton.
Everton has not been without church interests. As early as 1883 the Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. W. J. Garrett, who was its first pastor, and held their meetings in the school house till 1887, when they erected a nice frame church building. It is now a Presbyterian U. S. A. church with Rev. W. R. Russell as pastor, a position which he has held for more than twenty years.
The Missionary Baptist church was organized in 1888 with Rev. W. F. Parker as first pastor. They have a church building and Rev. Calton is their present pastor.
The Christian organization was effected in 1909. They have a good building and Rev. A. J. Bloomer is their present minister. Each of these churches have a flourish- ing Ladies' Auxiliary.
Fraternally, Everton is represented by the Masonic, Odd Fellows and W. O. W. lodges.
In 1910 a second bank was organized in Everton un- der the name of "The Citizens' Bank." It was capital- ized at $10,000, with Cyrus Yoakum as President, and Don Adamson as Cashier. It is comfortably located in its own brick building in the very heart of the city and is doing a good business.
The City of Everton was incorporated as a city of the fourth class in 1892, with W. C. Holman as its first Mayor. At the present time John Adamson is Mayor; Don Adam-
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son, City Clerk, and M. F. Stamate, L. E. Cantrell and C. W. Edwards as Aldermen.
Everton has no electric lighting system. There are two private systems being operated, one at tle Raubinger Mill and one by Mr. Riddle. Several private residences are, however, brilliantly lighted with ascetylene lighting plants, among them being the residences of G. W. Wilson, L. E. Cantrell, J. F. Carlock, H. A. Carlock and perhaps others.
As a shipping point Everton compares favorably with any city of its size on the entire Frisco system. As an apple shipping point it holds the record for the entire Ozark region.
The publicity department of Everton has been repre- sented by the Everton Journal, a local newspaper, inde- pendent of politics and owned by E. H. Carender and Howard Ragsdale.
This sketch is not a complete history of the growthi and development of the city of Everton, nor does it make mention of all the prominent citizens who have contrib- uted to its success. It is written from facts gathered from talking to various persons and then related in a hap- hazard sort of way, but taking all in all, Everton, past, present and future is just about as good a little city as one will find in a month's travel any place in the Ozark region.
Others who have contributed to the growth and gen- eral welfare of Everton are W. T. Hastings, who was a pioneer Justice of the Peace and Notary Public. Wash Hankins was also a J. P. as early as 1885. J. C. Tomson first became prominent as a J. P. about 1886, served as postmaster two terms, from 1888 to 1892, and from 1896 to 1900. S. H. Wheeler was another veteran J. P.
A. F. Nixon was a prominent hardware dealer in an early day, and as a Notary Public drew and took the ac- knowledgement of many deeds.
Dr. W. J. Rabinau was a prominent physician a number of years ago. Dr. W. R. Beattie came to Everton about 1897, and remained till 1909. Dr. Box also prac-
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ticed in Everton, from 1910 to 1913. Dr. W. R. Riley was formerly Station Agent at Emmet, married there and came to Everton about 1896. In partnership with his son, he conducts an up-to-date pharmacy, ice cream stand and soda fountain.
Following W. C. Holman as first Mayor of the city, W. D. Brown held that office two terms; J. W. Stockwell, Howard Ragsdale, James A. Mason, and Taylor Hughes also officiated as Chief Executive of the city. John H. Estes was elected to the office, qualified and served four days, and then resigned.
Charley Barker was the first City Marshal and served six years, he was succeeded by James Clark. John H. Estes held the office of Constable and City Marshal for a number of terms.
Following are the names of the merchants now doing business in Everton, taken from the Merchants Tax-Books of 1917:
W. E. Ballenger, Restaurant.
T. J. Burleyson, Drugs, Notions and Druggists' Sun- dries.
Dr. W. I. Carlock, Drugs, Paints, Oils, etc.
J. Frank Carlock, General Merchandise.
H. W. Crofford, Produce and Grocery.
L. A. Cunningham, Grocery.
Dunn & Taylor, Grocery.
Everton Hardware Co., Hardware, Machinery, Paints, etc.
R. L. Farthing, 5 and 10-cent Store.
M. Funk, Restaurant.
W. H. Grace, Jeweler.
Earl Linderman, Grocery and Produce.
B. F. Meek, General Merchandise.
T. A. Miller Lumber Co., Lumber and Builders' Sup- plies.
Poindexter Furniture Co., Furniture and Undertak- ing.
W. R. Riley & Son, Drugs, Ice Cream and Soda Fountain.
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H. H. Schmickle, Produce and Groceries.
J. C. Snoddy, Restaurant.
G. A. Thorpe, Groceries and meat market.
Zimmerman & Mallory.
W. R. Dye & Son, General Merchandise.
0 DADEVILLE.
by Sheridan B. Pyle.
In the year of our Lord, A. D. 1840 there was a cabin of native hewed logs erected in the northeast corner of a little prairie called Crisp Prairie, in honor of one of the early pioneers of the county, John Crisp. The cabin was built by a man named Johnson, who occupied it for five long years before he had a neighbor. Then in 1845 Thomas A. Dale, a Tennesseean, settled here and built a frame house near Mr. Johnson's, beside the wagon road that had been trodden out by ox-teams. A Mr. Theodore Switzler, from Virginia, moved to Missouri and also stopped beside the road. Mr. Dale and Mr. Switzler formed a partnership and entered the mercantile business. A postoffice was established and named Crisp Prairie, and Mr. Dale was appointed the first postmaster. A Doctor from Tennessee, about this time settled here by the name of Dr. Bender. He immediately engaged in the active practice of his profession, and his fame as a physician and surgeon went out over the land, and the sick and ailing from a distance flocked to him for treatment. A blacksmith shop was built and operated beside the wagon road by Mr. William Davidson along about 1855 or 1856. Feeling the necessity of a mill, Messrs Gaunt and Berry were induced to build and operate a grist and saw mill. The power used to make the wheels go 'round and round and the upright saw to go up and down was a yoke of oxen and an endless-chain tread-wheel. The people came for miles to patronize and view in wonder the modern machinery of breadstuff and lumber. This history would not be complete unless we mentioned that Thomas A. Dale induced a young Doctor Hampton from Dale's native
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state and old home, to imigrate to this section of the country. The young doctor, after his arrival, engaged in teaching school, and soon afterward married Miss Sarah Carmack, a sister of J. W. Carmack, one of Dade County's prominent citizens. Dr. Hampton soon became a very noted character in the neighborhood. For some reason or another it became desirable to change the name of the postoffice. Three prominent citizens were selected as a committee to decide upon an appropriate name. Dr. Bender, Dr. Hampton and Mr. Dale were chosen for this honorous duty. Three straws of different lengths were placed in a hat and drawn. Dr. Hampton drew the lucky straw and selected the name of "Melville," and Melville it remained until about 1865, when the Government discov- ered that the mail was being confused with Millville, an- other Missouri postoffice, so the name was changed to Dadeville, in honor of Colonel Dade of Mexican war fame.
As time passed on, other energetic, enthusiastic young men were attracted by the agricultural richness of the soil and the possibilities for mercantile success in Dade- ville, so that the population increased to that of a village in a short time. Bob and Dave Long were among the first merchants. Robert A. Clark soon began selling goods nd continued throughout the Civil War and up till ¿ bout 1879, when he sold out to J. W. Withrow and hoved to Springfield, Mo.
This thriving little town was supported by the sturdy settlers and pioneers from Kentucky and Tennessee who had found an ideal home on Crisp Prairie. The entire landscape was carpeted with blue-grass, with here and there along the branches dense copses of underbrush and splendid walnut timber. There was an abundance of water for their stock, that roamed at will over the prairie. West of Dadeville was heavy oak timber and numerous bubbling springs of as fine, clear, cool water as ever quenched the thirst of man.
Dadeville has an altitude of 1155 feet and the drain- age is divided between Sac River, three miles south, and Little Sac River, six miles north.
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The early pioneer, who was a sportsman as well as a farmer, was well supplied with fish from these streams, while deer and wild turkey from the prairie and barren woods were abundant.
Along in the early 50's an academy consisting of two rooms was established by private capital, and Nathan Dinwiddie conducted the school for the benefit of the rising generation.
Following are the names of a few of the prominent families who were residents of Dadeville vicinity: Tar- rants, Potters, Lindleys, Haileys, Mazes, Divines, Kirbys, Carmacks, Dunways, McMasters, Hembrees, McPeaks, Freezes, Smiths, Longs, Pylands, Pyles, Maxwells, Tun- nells, Haywards, Hobbs, Carlocks, Pembertons, Wheelers, Grishams, Morgans, Fisks, McGees, Berrys, Gaunts and Cowans.
At the breaking out of the Civil War most all of the inhabitants of Dadeville and vicinity were loyal to the United States Government. In 1860, however, there was but one Republican vote cast at this precinct, and that was a written ballot, since only democratic tickets were printed in the county. A few years ago, Allan McDowell, the grand lecturer of the Masonic fraternity for Missouri, visited his old birthplace, about four miles northeast from Dadeville. I had the pleasure as well as the honor of accompanying the distinguished gentleman while hunting for land-marks. He mentioned the fact that while his father lived here that their children were born in three counties, although all in the same house. The explana- tion was that Polk, Dade and Cedar counties had all for- merly comprised territory which belonged to Barry County, and changes in the county boundaries had placed this house in three successive counties.
W. K. Pyle, the father of Sheridan B. Pyle, moved his family from Dadeville to Greenfield in 1848, as a County Official. In 1861 at the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Union army. On the 4th day of July, 1861, there were 200 men from Dade, Cedar, Polk and Greene counties responded to the call at Dadeville, and
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enlisted in the Sixth Missouri cavalry, volunteers, organ- izing Companies "L" and "D" and also Company "E."
On the 14th of June, 1864, the Guerillas burned the town of Dadeville, leaving but a few houses standing, and killed a number of citizens. Among them were Lieutenant Jesse Kirby of Company A, Sixth Missouri cavalry; John Cantrell, Shed Berry, a blind negro. William Bradford, who was wounded, died shortly afterward. Sam Landers, now of Webb City, was also wounded. The town was soon rebuilt.
About the year 1892, Prof. George Melcher, one of the leading school men of the state, induced some of the enterprising citizens of the town and surrounding coun- try to build an academy. The enterprise proved a suc- cess and for several years it was one of the leading High Schools of Southwest Missouri. Other neighboring towns being inspired by the success of Dadeville, began to im- prove their graded schools and to establish High Schools, so that much of the patronage was withdrawn and the Academy went down, but soon afterward eight school districts organized a consolidated school district. It is said to be one of the largest and wealthiest consolidated districts in the state. With just a little "kick" it is possible to establish at Dadeville one of the leading High Schools of the state.
Dadeville today is an incorporated city of 500 people. It has three churches, nine stores, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop, garage, a fine flouring mill of fifty barrels daily capacity, and a flourishing bank.
S. B. PYLE.
Sheridan Byron Pyle-Says of himself: That he was born September 21st, 1856, in Dade County, Missouri. His parents were W. K. and Artimissa Pyle. His mother died in 1861, leaving three children, Lisyra and Rosalia, his two sisters. His father enlisted in the Union army in 1862. Indulgent grandparents cared for the homeless children until 1866, when his father married Mollie Finley and made a home for them on a farm. Rosalia died when
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17 years of age. S. B. attended the country schools, and had two years at Morrisville Academy in Polk County, working for his board and tuition. He married Matie Underwood March 31st, 1877. To them have been born four children, Lewis K. Thomas, Roscoe G. and Leslie C., only one still living, Roscoe G. Mrs. Pyle's father and mother, L. M. and N. J. Underwood, moved from Minne- sota to Missouri soon after the war.
Sheridan B. Pyle engaged in the mercantile business in Dadeville in 1880. While not a very successful mer- chant, still continues to do business. He votes the Re- publican ticket, having but once departed from the faith of his fathers, being in 1912, when he voted for Theodore Roosevelt for President on the Progressive ticket. He was a candidate for Representative once but was defeated by a good, round majority.
Editorial Note .- It will be seen by the above that Sherman B. Pyle is a man of extreme modesty, but I know from personal acquaintance that his attainments far out- weigh those of men who are given to vain boasting. Mr. Pylo has for years been one of the leading citizens of Dadeville, identified with every public movement, given of his means freely to the support of church and schools, invested in speculative mining enterprises "for the good of the community," always at the bat in every political campaign to help boost the other fellow into office, a man of wisdom, poise and discretion, being the soul of honor and a perfect Chesterfield in demeanor. Dadeville can well be proud of Sherman B. Pyle when the entire com- munity proclaims him as her First Citizen. A. J. Young.
O
CORRY.
A cloud of uncertainty rests over the first discovery of mineral at Corry. Tradition says that prior to the com- ing of the pioneer, the dusky red man dug lead from those native hills and smelted it in the crude furnaces along the banks of Sac River, but that is only tradition.
Shallow mineral, mostly silicate, was known to exist in the vicinity of the Pemberton Mill many years ago, but
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its value to the pioneer was unknown. About the year 1874 the mining industry in Dade county took a boom, and its activity spread over a large scope of territory, but finally settled in a camp at Corry. The diggings were for lead at first, but later on the silicate was also mined. Very little machinery was used. A pick, shovel, wheel- barrow, windlass and rope was considered a complete mining outfit. Wash places were erected along the spring branch east of the town and smelters were built for reduc- tion of the lead ores.
On the 27th day of March, 1875, J. M. Blakemore, J. M. Alexander and Sylvinia Alexander, his wife, owners of the land upon which Corry is located, caused a plat to be made and the land surveyed into streets, alleys and town lots. No name as yet had ben selected for the new vil- lage. Tradition again says that the Alexanders had a daughter by the name of Cora, and suggested to the sur- veyor who made the plat that the town be called Cora. Either by reason of illiteracy or dullness of hearing the name "Corry" was attached to the plat and so remains to this day. At this time from 500 to 1,000 people were camped at or in the vicinity of the mining camp. The place boasted of hotels, general stores, saloons, livery stables, restaurants and other business enterprises be- longing to a booming mining camp.
On the 20th day of April, 1876, eighty-five citizens of the place presented to the County Court of Dade County a petition praying to be incorporated under the laws of the state of Missouri as a village. The petition was grant- ed and W. M. Taggart, Z. Norris, A. H. Snyder, W. K. Pyle, J. C. Babb and J. M. Stookey were appointed the first Board of Trustees. Most of the petitioners as well as the trustees are either dead or removed from the county. W. M. Taggart afterward located at Lockwood in the real estate and banking business, J. M. Stookey was at the time Judge of the Probate Court and W. K. Pyle after- ward filled the same office.
The Corry boom was short lived. In a few years the price of mineral declined, transportation to the railroad
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was difficult and expensive, the deep shafts proved a failure, and finally when silicate was quoted at $6 per ton f. o. b. the bubble collapsed. Levin W. Shafer had been the moving spirit of the town and through his efforts for- eign capital was interested. . DeArmond, Shoemaker and others were associated with him in these ventures. F. D. W. Arnold, owner of the Pickwick Hotel at Lamar, was a prosperous liveryman of the boom days, while "Dad" Sul- livan, "Dutch" Kimber, J. A. Thurman, Alex Foster and other residents of Greenfield each survived a severe attack of Corry fever.
Corry is now little more than a wide place in the road. A store or two, a blacksmith shop, a Holiness church, a dozen or more isolated dwellings, a few shallow diggings and a day-dream of former greatness is all that remains to mark the place of Dade County's "Deserted Village."
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ARCOLA. by Dr. R. M. Crutcher.
For a number of years after the pioneer from Tennes- see had erected his cabin near the spring and cleared out a few acres of choice branch bottom for cultivation, in the wooded sections of Dade County, the deer roamed at will during the daytime and the coyote made night hideous on the broad rolling prairies of northern Dade.
On the 4th day of May, 1860, George W. White en- tered the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 2-32-27, and sold the same to Isaac Killingsworth on the 3d day of April, 1861. On the 20th day of January, 1872, Cyrus C. Bean appeared upon the scene and for a consideration of $14.00 purchased two acres of land in the northwest corner of Section 2, upon which he erected a combined residence and store building and began selling goods that spring. Application was made for a postoffice, which was granted, C. C. Bean appointed postmaster, and the location named "Arcola" in honor of the ancient city
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