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Monday, April 12, 2010
Progress Notes
This week we have more contributions to our website by Mike Wieneman (photo 01), Eldon native now living in Springfield, Missouri.
01 Mike Wieneman As I have noted before, Mike has more old photos of Miller County from the past than about anyone I know. This time Mike has written a short narrative about his Palmer family relatives. Researching our website I found 57 historical references to members of the Palmer family in Miller County. Even today 39 members of the Palmer family can be found listed in the telephone book, although admittedly some of those could have moved into our area from elsewhere:
Palmer Family History
Mike Wieneman
1. Marcus Marcellus Palmer was my great-great-grandfather. He was born June 15, 1828 in Christian County, Kentucky and died August 27, 1912 in Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri. He was married December 4, 1849 in Morgan County, Missouri to my great-great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth Harrison. She was born December 27, 1831 in Kentucky and died January 16, 1903 in Miller County, Missouri. They are buried in the Jukes Cemetery, Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri. They were the parents of 6 children. The names of the children were: Frances Ann, Josephine Tomas, James Elihu, Mary Laura, John Wesley, and Sarah Elizabeth.
2. Josephine Tomas Palmer was my great-grandmother. She was born June 15, 1853 in Morgan County, Missouri and died June 1, 1952 in Eldon, Miller County, Missouri. She married October 7, 1874 in Miller County, Missouri to my great-grandfather Daniel Webster Scott. He was born January 1, 1855 in Miller County, Missouri and died December 19, 1897 in Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri. They were the parents of 5 children. The names of the children were: Elbert Justus, Elmer Marcellus, Lena Alice, Leona Elizabeth, and Lacy Everette.
My great-grandfather Marcus Marcellus Palmer was called “Tony” Palmer. In early manhood he gave his heart to God and since that time had lived a true Christian life. Always ready to work for his Master. When my great-great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth (Harrison) Palmer, his loved companion was called to her rest she awaited with patience the coming of her beloved husband. Their remains were laid to rest in the Jukes Cemetery. Grandpa Palmer passed away in his sleep while taking a nap.
My great-grandmother Josephine T. (Palmer) Scott was called “Josie.” She was born in the Lone Jack Community in Morgan County. When she was four years of age she moved with her parents to a farm near Tuscumbia. She passed away just fourteen days before her 99th birthday.
The surname of PALMER is of ancient English origin. It originally signified “pilgrim.” There were many who visited Jerusalem during the Crusades, who returned bearing palm branches and to these pilgrims the name of “Palmer” was often applied.
Mike sent a couple of photos to accompany his short narrative of his Palmer family relatives. First is a photo of Marcus Marcellus Palmer (photo 02):
02 Marcus Marcellus Palmer The second photo is of four of Marcus and Mary Elizabeth’s children (photo 03):
03 Children of Marcus M. Palmer These are the names of those in the photo:
Standing: Mary Laura (Palmer) Jolly, John Wesley Palmer
Seated: Josephine T. (Palmer) Scott-Brown, James Elihu Palmer
Here is more information about Jukes’ Cemetery copied from this website:
Equality Township; Section 2, Township 40 North, Range 15 West, Miller County, MO.
From the junction of Hwy’s 52 and 54 at El-Rancho take Hwy 52 toward Tuscumbia. Go 4 miles to Rush Road and turn right. Go 1 mile and you will come to a sharp right turn and you will want to turn left onto private drives. The private drives goes to the left and the right. Stay to the left and go 50 feet and park your vehicle by the fence on the right. The cemetery lies between these two drives and in the field. You can see one stone, which is down but lies up against the original base. The rest of the stones are completely down. This cemetery is not fenced and there is evidence that cattle run through there.
Inventoried by Dianna (Hale) Mattingly & Glenda (May) Crawford (March 27, 2002).
Listing
? ? stone broke
12 ? ? 1812 - 19 Jan. 1863
Palmer, Marcs M.
15 June 1828 - 27 Aug. 1912
same stone as Mary E.
Palmer, Mary E.
27 Dec. 1831 - 16 Jan. 1903
same stone as Marcus M.
Pountain, Sarah F.
20 Dec. 1880 - 16 Mar. 1884
d/o C. E. & P. E.
Riley, William
died - 21 Jan. 1872
And here is a copy of the plat map where the cemetery is located (photo 04):
04 T40N-R15W - Section 2 - Jukes Cemetery
Click image for larger viewIf you look at section 2 in the top right hand corner you will see listed the James Jukes farm. The little black square highlighted by the red circle is the location of the cemetery (photo 04a).
04a T40N-R15W - Close up of Section 2 - Jukes Cemetery
The Jukes farm is just west of the old John Adcock farm now owned by the Steen family. John was a river boat captain many years ago (photo 05).
05 John Adcock James Jukes was a stone mason in Tuscumbia according to Louie Lawson in her history of Tuscumbia.
The Jukes farm now is owned by Chris Connell.
Mike Wieneman has a large collection of photos of various scenes around the Lake of the Ozarks taken many years ago in the 1950’s or earlier. I will copy four or five of the photos weekly; some readers may want to add them to their photo collections (photos 06 - 12).
06 - The Larry Don
07 The Larry Don
08 Gov. McClurg
09 Motorboating
10 Winter Time at Lake of the Ozarks
11 Bagnell Dam
12 The Tom Sawyer
A couple of weeks ago Peggy Hake (photo 13) was featured in the Lake Today online newspaper.
The article was written by Debra Wolfe (photo 14).
13 Peggy Hake
14 Debra Wolfe For those readers who had not seen it I wanted to place the article here. Peggy has been our premier Miller County historian for many years. Much of our website is made up of her historical articles. Peggy recently retired from her position as secretary of our Miller County Historical Society board after having served in that position for more than thirty years. We will miss her, for sure. So it is fitting that she should be remembered in this very nice feature article by Debra:
Peggy Smith-Hake takes on passionate genealogy search
By Deborah Wolfe, The Lake Today
Published: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:12 AM CDT
Since the first time Princess Anna Comnena of the Byzantine Empire put pen to papyrus to document the Crusaders' invasion of Constantinople in a biography about her father, Emperor Alexius Comnenus, women have embraced the task of chronicling the triumphant and sometimes turbulent details of our collective past.
Considered to be the world's first female historian, Princess Anna's detailed account of the people and events she witnessed during the First Crusade garnered her the title of the world's first female historian.
But one's memoirs need not include world changing events to merit a place in local archives. Through centuries of bedtime stories, baby books, family bibles, birth records, marriage and death certificates; mothers, sisters, aunts and educators dedicated themselves to preserving both the landmark occasions and everyday details that laid the foundation of our culture and our communities.
For some, the scrapbooks and photo albums become little more than creative ways of sharing family lore. But for others, tracing and documenting the history and genealogy that shaped one's environment becomes a passionate pursuit for the people, places and events of our heritage. Much gratitude is owed these avid researchers, who by tracking the course of our yesterdays provide us with a valuable road map to our tomorrows.
Through years of digging through court records, rummaging through attics and visiting county seats, these kitchen historians provide gems of wisdom to their communities and in the process become treasures themselves.
One such treasure has contributed reams of little known facts to local historical societies and brought a depth of understanding about our Lake Area origins to generations of residents and visitors.
With family roots running deep through the Miller county farmland that was homesteaded by her great-great-grandparents, Peggy Smith-Hake came into the world during the chaos of the Great Depression. Both parents were native to the area and her education was earned in the Iberia school system.
As a young woman, Smith-Hake moved to Kansas City where she raised her family and worked her way up to associate vice president of the Indian Springs State Bank. After returning to Miller County in 1979, she became the first woman to serve as county judge and commissioner.
Though Smith-Hake loved the hometown of her youth and was active in the community, she did not start digging through her family roots until the death of her grandfather, Henry Franklin Smith, at the age of 92. Realizing she had lost a valuable source of family lore, Smith-Hake set forth to discover her heritage among the "dusty files of courthouses, archives, libraries and museums." She spent endless hours pouring over microfilm in the Kansas City office of the National Archives where "old newspapers, crumbling with age, were read from cover to cover."
As her family history unfolded, Smith-Hake found herself extending her expedition beyond state borders. She traveled to counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, known to be home to her ancestors. With each new tidbit of information, she gained greater insight into her ancestors and deepening desire to record their history.
During a 1990 trip over the old Oregon Trail she re-traced the route her ancestors followed to resettle in the great North West, locating the graves of her great-great-great grandparents on a scenic mountainside in the Willamette Valley.
The passionate search to discover her past inspired Smith-Hake to help others do the same. As a longtime member of the Miller County and Osage County historical societies, she has contributed volumes of information and insight into our local legacy. History buffs and genealogists from across the United States harvested fields of advice through the newsletter, "Seeking 'n Searching Ancestors" that she edited and published over 18 years.
Her genealogical column titled "Window to the Past" appeared in the "Miller County Autogram-Sentinel" for many years. Above and beyond her ongoing archival contributions, three books written by Smith-Hake read like love letters to the land of her youth.
"Iberia Academy and the Town, its History," 1988; "Pioneer Families of Miller County, Missouri: Journey to the Past," 1990; and "They Left a Legacy: Historical Stories of Miller County, Missouri," 1992; are testaments to Smith-Hake's research skills, writing ability and zeal for history.
A devoted Lake Area resident, Smith-Hake is at home among the Osage River bluffs near their Whispering Hills Farm in Miller County. Her family tree continues to grow with four children, four stepchildren, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Through her hard work, research and writings Peggy Smith-Hake has not only created in-depth accounts of our local history, but she has also given our community a priceless gift to be treasured by generations to come.
Recently retired from the Miller County Historical Society as a charter member and secretary, many of her historical accounts can be found on the group's Web site.
Although the museum was not open during the recent winter, we did put up a display featuring the snow sports of hill sledding and river ice skating. Here are some of the photos (photos 15 - 19):
15 Third from Left: Ella Fendorf Swanson
Sixth from Left: Rose James Fendorf, Mother of Helen Phillips
16 Ice Skates
17 Lantern for Ice Skating
18 Ice Skating Display Sign
19 Hillside Sliding in Tuscumbia Dr. Joseph Kallenbach, to whom I alluded in last week’s Progress Notes as being a son of Hattie Maylee Kallenbach, wrote of his memories of skating on the Osage:
Ice Skating on the Osage:
Joseph Ernest Kallenbach PhD. (1903-1991) (photo 19a)
Department of Political Science
University of Michigan
19a Joseph Kallenbach M.D. Winter sports at Tuscumbia were, as a rule, no big thing, because the climate there is too mild for pronged periods of ice and snow. Nevertheless, we could count on having the opportunity to engage in skating and sledding to some extent during the winter: Skating was possible whenever we had a very cold snap of several days duration. It would cause ice to form on the quieter stretches of the Osage River.
Once in a while, the river would even become "blocked" at some of its quieter stretches; that is, frozen solid from bank to bank. Usually only a fringe area of relatively still water would have ice form on it slick enough for skating. One such stretch of still water that would freeze was adjacent to the old steamboat landing place near the center of the business section of town. At such times many of the younger people would have a chance to try out their skates. One winter in January, 1916, there was an unusual winter flood on the Osage. The flood was so great that it over flowed the land along side the river's banks practically from hill to hill. At the very height of the flood a very cold snap ensued, freezing a layer of ice several inches thick on the flooded areas. When the water receded soon afterward, a coating of ice about four or five inches thick was left lying on the more or less level ground where the over-flow water had stood. This created an unusual opportunity for skaters. They found they could skate on wide stretches of level land that was normally simply pasture land for horses and cattle.
For a few days we had fun, skating there. We never had very good skating equipment. No one, so far as I was aware, had skating boots or shoes, with skates attached. The skates we all used were the clamp-on type. Skates could be attached to the soles of ordinary shoes by pushing in clamps that would hold them in place. They were all right for ordinary skating purposes; but there was always the problem of losing one's skate when the clamps might give way. Moreover, our regular shoes did not give perfect ankle support. We managed to get along pretty well, nevertheless, and learned to keep our balance and move about quite rapidly. If the ice was thick enough, we would even build a fire on the ice to provide warmth at intervals for our hands and feet.
Later one winter afternoon, I remember, I was skating alone on a stretch of good ice at the steamboat landing just opposite the business part of town. I had learned a few things about "fancy skating", and I was practicing the making of a reverse figure eight by skating backward at fairly good speed. Suddenly my feet went out from under me and I took a hard fall. I landed on the ice in such a way that my right hand and wrist, as I fell backward, took most of the force of the fall. Naturally enough, I looked around to see if anyone had seen me fall. I was relieved to see that no one apparently had observed my tumble. But my right wrist hurt rather painfully. I decided I had sprained it and thought little more about it. For weeks thereafter my right wrist was sore and weak; but finally it appeared to have recovered and that was the end of it I thought.
But that was not the end of it. Many years later, during the early 1950's, I was undergoing a thorough physical examination here at the University of Michigan. The University administration had inaugurated a system of giving without charge thorough physical examinations to Faculty members. When I went through this examination routine the first time, I said to the examining physician, "Would you please take an X-ray of my right shoulder and my left wrist?" I went on to explain that I had suffered injuries to those place on my body when I went out for football at Central Missouri State College many years earlier, and that they had continued to bother me some ever since that time. The physician readily agreed, and the X-rays were taken. The physician also had my right wrist X-rayed, for comparative purposes, he said.
When I went to receive my report on the examination, the physician as he read through it, said, "You have a broken bone in your right wrist."
"No." I said, "Not my right wrist; it is the left wrist which I hurt playing football that I wanted you to look at."
He looked at me and then began again, "You have a broken bone in your right wrist."
I interrupted again, "Not my right wrist; my left wrist."
He then said rather testily, "You have a broken bone in both of your wrists." So I had to believe him. It was only the only time that, thinking back, I concluded that my fall while ice skating had really resulted in a broken bone in my right wrist. That remains my legacy from my adventures in ice skating! Fortunately it does not bother me very much; but my broken bone in my left wrist has always been something of a problem.
Thanks Joe.
Once in a while I will copy here historical narratives of Miller County citizens of the past as described in the 1981 book “50th Anniversary of Bagnell Dam and Lake of the Ozarks.” One of those included in the book who was important in our county was Zachariah Taylor McCubbin, grandfather of Carrol McCubbin (photo 20), former state representative and County School superintendent.
20 Carrol McCubbin You can read more about Carrol at this previous Progress Notes.
The descendency of the McCubbin line all the way to Carrol is as follows:
Line of Descent
1. Sir John Maccubbin of Knocdolin in Ayrshire: a lineal descendant of Kenneth MacAlpin (of which Maccubin is a corruption used in the lowlands) first King of all Scotland, who died in 858 A.D.
2. John Macubbin: Born in Scotland in 1630; Died in Maryland 21 September 1685.
3. John Maccubbin: Born in Ann Arundel County, Maryland in 1666. Died in 1736 in Maryland.
4. William Maccubbin: Born in 1704 in Ann Arundel County, Maryland. Died in Maryland… date?
5. William Maccubbin: Born about 1730. During Revolution lived in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
6. James McCubbin: Born 1755, Baltimore County, Maryland. Died 1824, Green County, Kentucky
7. James McCubbin, Jr.: Born 1789 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. Died 1841 at Hickory Point Cemetery in Miller County (accident of unknown type)
8. William Cook McCubbin: Born 1812 in Green County, Kentucky. Died 1864 in C.W. Camp at Rolla, Mo.
9. Zachariah Taylor McCubbin: Born 1855 at Watkins, Miller County Mo. Died 1940 at Brumley, Missouri
10. James Oscar McCubbin: Born 1878 at Brumley, Missouri. Died 1967
11. Carrol C. McCubbin: Born 1915 Ulman, Missouri
And here is the biography written in 1981 of Carrrol’s grandfather, Zachary McCubbin (photo 21):
21 Zachariah and Eliza (McComb) McCubbin Zachariah Taylor McCubbin
Zachariah Taylor McCubbin and Eliza McComb were married March 12, 1874, at Brumley, Missouri (photo 22).
22 Zach and Eliza McCubbin The couple was the parents of sixteen children. Eleven children reached adulthood. They were Mary Adona, James Oscar, Clarence William, Elda Amy, Ernest Zachariah, Jethro Thomas, Lewis Kline, Flossie Eliza, Millie Canada, Virgil Albert, and Herbert Henry.
Zachariah Taylor McCubbin was born September 16, 1885 at Watkins, Missouri, the son of William Cook and Margaret Canada Watkins McCubbin. His grandparents, James P. and Mary Parthenia Cook McCubbin, made the journey from Kentucky to Miller County in the autumn of 1836.
Eliza McComb was born October 5, 1854 on Gravois Creek, near Bagnell, the daughter of William and Mary (Polly) McComb. Eliza’s maternal grandparents arrived in Morgan County in 1837.
Her paternal ancestors settled in Miller County about this time. Her parents were cousins.
Eliza was buried on her sixty fifth wedding anniversary, March 12, 1939 in the Hawkins Cemetery, Miller County, Missouri. She died March 10. Zachariah died November 5, 1940. Both died at their home in Brumley.
They were active members of the Brumley Baptist Church. Zachariah was a deacon. Eliza was very talented musically. As a young woman, she led the singing.
Two of their children are living. Millie Sidwell, age 88, lives in Camdenton. Virgil A., age 84, lives in Jefferson City. Two grandsons, Roy and Carrol McCubbin, live in Miller County. Several live in Missouri.
Last week the Tuscumbia High School Alumni Association sponsored a basketball tournament among various alumni teams. One of the displays featured an article from the Miller County Autogram of February 22, 1940 in which the exciting details of the Eldon Tuscumbia game for first place in the Eldon Tournament were described. Many still remember that game as one of the most exciting ever played between the two teams. Tuscumbia squeaked out as the winner but just barely. Here is a photo of the winning Tuscumbia team (photo 23):
23 Tuscumbia Basketball Team - 1940
Click image for larger viewAnd here is a photo of the last shot taken by Eldon which missed giving Tuscumbia the game (photo 24):
24 McNatt of Eldon's Last Shot Copied below is the article from the Autogram about the game:
Miller County Autogram
Thursday, February 22, 1940
Tuscumbia Lions Cop Cage Honors At Eldon Tourney
Last Minute Rally Nets Them Victory Against Eldon Saturday Night
Record Crowd Attends
You may have heard the roar that’s been filling the hills and dales in and about Tuscumbia these past few days, and if you have, don’t be alarmed. It’s the Tuscumbia Lions basketball team and they’re just roaring about their victory in the Eldon Tournament last week-end. You may have seen Tuscumbians gathering in little bunches about the post office and other public buildings these past few days and, if you didn’t know, you may have wondered what all the talking was about. That, too, is nothing to be alarmed about. Tuscumbians are just playing the final game with Eldon Saturday night over and over, and they’re mighty proud of the Lions.
We said last week that the Lions would have a hard row to hoe to get in the finals of the Eldon Tournament and they did. We said, too, that Eldon would get through to the finals in their bracket, and they did. We didn’t prophesy just what the outcome would be if Tuscumbia met Eldon in the finals, but we did know that it would be a game of games and that the Eldon gymnasium would hardly hold the crowd. And all that came true.
Tuscumbia had a hard game against Osage Thursday night and won out in the final quarter when Snodgrass cut loose with three straight shots that found the net from center. The score at that time was 24 to 22 in favor of Osage, but these shots took the starch out of the Indians and the Lions scalped them to the tune of 31 to 24. Osage had led in scoring through almost the entire game.
Tuscumbia met Brumley Friday night and Brumley, minus one of its stars, didn’t put up its usual strong game against the Lions, the locals winning, 40-18.
Then the Lions met Salem in the semi finals Saturday afternoon and took the boys from Salem to town 42-33. Salem had been figured about the strongest team in the tournament but the Lions went into a good lead at the start of the game and, although the score at the half was 21-20, were never headed.
Eldon won its way to the finals by winning over Warsaw Thursday night, over Newburg Friday night, and over Birchtree Saturday. Birchtree proved its toughest opposition.
Came the finals Saturday night and one of the best games as far as thrills are concerned that Eldon and Tuscumbia fans have seen in many a moon. It was a low score game with careful and close guarding and very few open shots at the basket. The Mustangs had defeated the Lions just a week before and seemed well on their way to another victory and the tournament crown as well, up as late as the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. The score was tied at the end of the first quarter 3-3 and then the Mustangs led until those two final minutes. The score at the end of the half was 5-4, Eldon up and at the end of the third quarter, 9-8 in Eldon’s favor. That’s tight going in anybody’s game, but the Mustangs pulled into a four point lead with but two minutes to go and came the word to “stall” the rest of the game.
The poet has said that the “best laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft a-gley,” and so it was with the best laid schemes of Eldon in those two final minutes. Ordinarily, a team with a lead of four points and but two minutes to go can figure the game in the bag and “stalling” is good basket ball. But not against the Lions.
There was a bucket by Woods. An intercepted pass by the lightening agility of the same lad and another basket that tied the score 14-14. Then Charley Snodgrass’ younger boy, Leroy, made one of those turn and jump shots that netted the goal that tanned the hide of the Mustangs.
And that’s what all this roaring and talking is about in and near Tuscumbia. The Lions tanned the hides of the Mustangs and they’re mighty happy and like to roar about it a wee bit. And the townspeople are just playing the game over and over and they’re mighty proud of the Lions. They’re “King of the Jungle” once more, and justly so after the ferocious kicks landed by the mighty Mustangs.
They tell us it is the first time that Tuscumbia ever won a tournament at Eldon. And they tell us the crowd at Saturday night’s finals was the largest ever to enter the Eldon gymnasium. They tell us, too that the Eldon band furnished sweet music all during the tournament, and we wish here to compliment that musical aggregation upon their variety of well rendered selections, and the refereeing was all that could be asked for. And Tuscumbia appreciates Eldon’s moral support from their rooting section in the hard fought Salem Tuscumbia game. But one certain Eldon citizen assured us that he could not lend his support in the final game. Eldon in general proved to be good losers and we believe that Tuscumbia in general proved to be good winners. So we’re all happy.
Salem won third place in the tournament, defeating Birch Tree Saturday night 31-29. Linn Creek won over Clarksburg in the consolation finals by a 32-29 score.
The Tuscumbia team, ten strong, was awarded gold basketballs, along with the tournament trophy for first place honors, and Coach Thayer got a gold basketball, too, for being the coach of the winning team.
Doris Edwards Wyrick (photo 25), widow of Rex Wyrick, one of the Tuscumbia players in the tournament, donated to us the golden basketball given to all the winning players which Rex had kept all these years (photo 26).
25 Doris Edwards Wyrick
26 Eldon Tournament Award - 1940 Karen Wyrick Smith, one of our historical society board members, is the daughter of Doris and Rex. You can read more about Rex Wyrick at this previous Progress Notes.
At the event last week some members of the 1949 THS basketball team and its coach, Jennings McKee, were present. That team won second in the Eldon tournament in 1949 (photo 27).
27 Carl McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Wyrick, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wyrick,
Wanda Wright, Dr. Paul Howard and Jennings McKee (Sitting) The tournaments were played in the old Eldon gymnasium which, although no longer the main gym, is undergoing repairs. It was built in 1931. Here are two current photos of it. The first photo is of the façade (photo 27a) and the second is of the inscribed names of those on the school board at the time (photo 27b):
27a Old Gym Building - Today
27b Original Concrete Name Stone
Last week Judy and I were returning from south Missouri and noticed that as we were entering the Camden Miller County area many more dogwoods and even redbuds were blossoming than from further south. This photo of redbud and dogwood trees was taken from just outside our home (photo 28):
28 Redbud and Dogwood Trees I wondered if the reason the Dogwood festival is held in Camdenton is because more dogwood trees are in this area than elsewhere. The first Dogwood Festival was held in Camdenton in 1950 during the month of April. This year’s festival is scheduled for April 15-18. My cousin, Carol Cunningham (who was my father’s niece), took third place as a candidate for the Queen of the Festival in 1950 (photo 29).
29 First Dogwood Festival Queen - 1950
Click image for larger viewHer father, Lou Cunningham, who had married my father’s sister, Lois Pryor, was Camden County Prosecuting Attorney in the late forties.
That’s all for this week.
 Joe Pryor
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