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Looking Backward 10.11.2012

25 Years Ago

October 8, 1987

 

About 43 Winnebago owners converged on Ava last weekend for a monthly campout. The owners of the 21 motor homes parked at the Missouri Fox Trotter Complex north of town are all members of the Ozark Winnies, the Springfield branch of the national organization of Winnebago Itasca Travelers.

Robert Lee “Pop” Spurlock, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 30 was recently featured in a San Bernardino, Calif. newspa­per for the marvelous recovery he made after having his right leg amputated at age 99.  Spurlock, a native of Missouri has many rela­tives still living in the Ava area, including nephew Vernon Ray, who brought a copy of the newspa­per article to the Herald.  Pop, a nickname used by family and caretakers, was born in Ava and lived here 40 years. He owned and operated a large cattle ranch and raised alfalfa. He also grew tomatoes for a cannery he owned.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Sanders will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Oct. 17 with an open house at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, Weldon and Suzanne Sanders.  Herbert Sanders and Stella Denney were married October 16, 1937, in Webster County, Missouri, by the late Rev. Walter Goss.

Grand Opening, October thru 31, Dales’ Tire Barn, North Jeffer­son, Ava, Mo., Formerly Davis Tire Barn,  Dale, Carl and Daniel Vineyard, owners.

A surprise birthday dinner was given Sept. 27 by Jackie Hall for Verlin and Verla Jo.  Those present for dinner were Mr. and Mrs. Voyne Merritt, Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Cornelius, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Hall, Tanya and Robert, Hazel Hall, Juanita Shebiel, Mr. and Mrs. Dewayne Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Matney, St. Louis, Jeff Cornelius and Joshua, Brian Matney, and his friend.

 

50 Years Ago

October 4, 1962

 

AHS grad of 1956, Dwight Roper with Peace Corps on Pacific Island.  Mr. and Mrs. R.V. Roper have received a certificate from the director of the Peace Corps, Sar­gent Shriver, appointing their son, Dwight D. Roper, as a volunteer “to serve our country in the interest of world peace.”

George Ebbert, who has been assistant manager of Carps De­partment Store in Mountain Grove for the past six months, assumed managership of the Carps Store in Ava last Saturday.  He succeeds Robert Jarrett, manager here for about seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. James (Buddy) Norman (Laverne Sellers) and chil­dren, left Ava Sunday afternoon enroute to their new home in Overland Park, Kan., following a visit with Mrs. Norman’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sellers of Smallett, and with Mr. Norman’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Boone Norman, Sr., Ava.

Mrs. Emma Mae Meads enter­tained at her home on Nola Street Sunday when a group of relatives and friends met in Ava to honor her on her birthday.

The marriage of Miss Mae Donna Gunter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gunter of Brixey, Mo., and James Alcorn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Alcorn of Ava, was solemnized Friday, Sept. 7.

The “median” income of all families in Douglas County was the second lowest in the state of Mis­souri, according to a 1959 census report.  Median income here was $2050.  Lowest was in Ripley County, $1977.  Ozark County’s median was $2107; Taney County, $2892; Wright County, $2588; Webster County, $2554; Christian County, $3189; Howell County $2998.  Highest median was in St. Louis, $7527. The Greene County figure was $4801.

THE SNOOP, With Bob Bowles –– A two-column advertisement appeared on page eight of last week’s Herald, giving notice that walnut buying time started Oct. 1. On top of this ad was a smaller two-column ad (separated by two of the heaviest borders we have in the printing shop), which read: “ ‘Poor White Trash’ is coming!”  (This was an advance notice for a movie, which is to be shown at the local theater soon.)  Early Friday morning a lady called and very indignantly demanded to know the reason for calling people who sell walnuts “poor white trash.”  Need­less to say, we’re proud of the big walnut crop grown in the Ozarks. It represents a large income for thou­sands of landowners in this area, and we hope that every single nut is picked and sold.

MT. TABOR –– Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Roller, who have been liv­ing in the Vernon Gunnels house, have moved to town.

Ava boys among the leaders in SCA grid competition.

MOUND –– Little Dwight Armour spent Tuesday with Mrs. Madeena Bray and Connie while his mother, Mrs. Melverine Armour, went to Springfield to be with her mother, Mrs. Roy Gray, who had entered Burge Hospital Monday where she underwent sur­gery Tuesday morning. She is re­ported doing well.

 

75 Years Ago

October 7, 1937

 

Judges of the county court, in an adjourned term of court Monday appointed J.E. Reeves, former Benton township constable and Douglas County Deputy Sheriff as justice of the peace for Benton township to fill the vacancy created by the death of C.H. Ross.

C.E. Denney, who lives ten miles northwest of Ava at the head of Cowskin Creek, Monday held two timber wolves in captivity, the result of setting two steel traps six nights. Three wolves really have been trapped by Mr. Denny in the six-day period but one escaped from the trap, leaving his toe.

Ava High School classes met Monday morning and formed their class organizations and elected officers for this year. Class officers were selected as follows:  Senior –– Sponsor, Miss Una Ellison; president, James Curry; vice presi­dent, Harrison Shipman; secretary and treasurer, Vivian Uhlmann; class reporter, Betty McClendon; sergeant-at-arms, John Barrett.

Six new students enrolled in the Ava Schools Monday morning, four in the grades and two in high school.  They are Lois Manis, first grade; Curtis Manis, fifth grade; Elva Roy, sixth grade; Doran Ma­nis, seventh grade; Bertha Hun­saker, entered the freshman class and Miss Carlene Hunsaker entered the junior class.

Grover Blakey, a farmer of near Smallett, experienced a painful injury last Thursday afternoon while heading goats.  He was at­tacked by a large goat that knocked him down, causing a broken collar­bone, two broken ribs and many bruises on the face and body.

The building program in Ava continues.  Mr. and Mrs. Cal Neiman began last week to remodel their suburban home east of town.  Frank Givans is installing a furnace in his town property in the north­east part of town, now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hailey and fam­ily.  Work on the new home of Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Norman in the south part of town is progressing rapidly.  The Lawrence Croslin home in the south suburbs is nearing comple­tion.  The tire shop one block north of the public square, belonging to Murley Grabeel is being remodeled and enlarged and rock is being hauled for cobblestone work in the building.  The cottage belonging to J.H. Sell, one block east of the high school, is being repainted and re-decorated this week and several modern conveniences are being added.  The cottage is being pre­pared for Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Gaston who expect to be at home there after next week.

City council in regular session Tuesday night, appointed Ovle House as alderman in Ward No. 1 to succeed the late W.A. Croslin.

MERRITT –– Quite a nice size crowd attended the pie supper at Mound last Friday night. The cake for the most popular girl present went to Miss Nola Mapes.

About 2500 horses in Missouri have been affected by sleeping sickness in the last two months, Dr. H.E. Curry, State Veterinarian, said Wednesday.

 

100 Years Ago

October 17, 1912

 

The person who cannot give re­spectful consideration to the views of others is in poor shape to expect respectful consideration for his own views.

Milwaukee, Oct. 14 –– Colonel Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the abdominal region shortly before 8 o’clock last night while sitting in his automobile in front of the Gilpatrich house in Milwaukee about to start for the auditorium to deliver his scheduled address.  The bullet is imbedded in the muscular tissue and the wound is not serious. The attempted assassination and all its accompanying scenes were dra­matic in the extreme. The would-be murderer was John Schrank of New York City, a man apparently de­mented on the subject of the third term. He was captured and locked.  Schrank’s reason for attempting the Colonel’s life was that “anyone running for a third term should be shot.”

Local businessmen are greatly interested in the campaign now being conducted for one-cent letter postage. Active steps looking to­ward the inauguration of the lower postage rate will be taken by Con­gress this winter according to the present outlook.  Many important postal reforms have been inaugu­rated during the past year, resulting in the elimination of a huge deficit and the accumulation of a credita­ble cash surplus.  Although it re­quires two cents to mail a letter anywhere in the United States, it is estimated that it actually costs the government about one cent to carry it.

NEW YORK, Oct. 15 –– With guns firing their salute to the Presi­dent of the United States and to the Secretary of the Navy, the 120 bat­tleships which have been taking part in the greatest naval parade in the history of the country, passed in review before President Taft today and returned to their different stations.

Never before have the great cereal crops of the United States been so bountiful as those of this year. The October crop report of the Department of Agriculture, issued today shows spring wheat, oats, barley, rye and hay all have exceeded best record productions.

Ira M. Davis is having some cement walks built about his resi­dence in the northwest part of town.

Miss Kathryine Olson went to West Plains yesterday to attend the Christian Endeavor Association.

There are now in the United States alone 1,300 electric railways, carrying more than 10,000,000,000 passengers in a year.  They own and operate 42,000 miles of track and 90,000 cars, and employ 350,000 persons.

 

125 Years Ago

October 14, 1887

 

There is nothing like the free and boundless West for fresh and breezy episodes. A pretty Nebraska widow, who had ensnared the affections of many respectable farmers living near Wyman, was recently ordered to leave the coun­try by a band of “regulars”, under penalty of a coat of tar and feathers. Nothing daunted by the threat, the widow bought a double-barreled shotgun and awaited developments. When the “regulators” approached the house to carry out their threats, the sight of a loaded gun pointing from one of the windows deterred them, and one of the number in admiration of the women’s pluck, advanced under a flag of truce, proposed marriage and was ac­cepted on the spot. Then a parson was called in , the marriage was celebrated, and the account closes with the statement that the night wound up with a round of festivi­ties.

One of the greatest evils, which is becoming more apparent every day, is the vast number of secret organizations now in existence in our land. Here, there and every­where some new plan of organiza­tion is sprung, some open, but most of them fearfully secret –

Settlers are being evicted from their homes located on the un­earned land granted to the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad in Iowa. The evictions are said to be accompa­nied by scenes of hardship and brutality.

Local option has been defeated in five counties and two cities in the State.   The Springfield Herald is taking a decided stand against the adoption of local option by the Queen City.

Fire! Burglars! Thieves! Safes!  Our Victor household and office safes are expressly meant to supply an urgent demand for a first-class fire-proof, burglar-roof combina­tion lock safe, adapted in capacity and price to suit.  The Victor Safe & Lock Co., Cincinnati, O.

Having recently built a new shop, I am now prepared to do all work in a neat and workmanlike manner. Give me a trial. Black-Smith and Wagon Shop, Lewis Hampton, Proprietor.  Wagon work a specialty.  West of the Singleton House, Ava, Mo.

A horse that recently fell on and killed an Indian near Garfield, Idaho, was made the subject of a barbecue by the surviving relatives of the departed redskin.

Local news is scarce this week – almost as far between as money.

The question for debate on next Friday night is: Resolved that Grant was a Greater Military Leader than Washington.

Married –– On the 7th of October, at the residence of the brides parents, Mr. J. W. Cham­berlain to Miss Indiana Hetherly. Squire Casad performed the cere­mony.

There resides in Santa Rosa, Mexico, a Negro man who is from all accounts, the oldest man now living in the world. His history dates from the year 1752 when he was born in Dorchester, S. C., making his age 135. Until five years ago this aged person, who name is James James, was able to do light chores.