In 1981 the fiftieth anniversary of the construction of Bagnell Dam was celebrated by what was known then as Union Electric Company, now known as Ameren (photo 01).
01 Bagnel Dam Nearly Finished
In conjunction with that ceremony Union Electric sponsored the publication of a large book with the very long title: 50th Anniversary Bagnell Dam 1931-1981 Lake of The Ozarks(photo 02).
02 Fiftieth Anniversary Lake of the Ozarks
The book now serves as a valuable historical reference not only for the history of the Lake and Dam but also for the numerous biographies published of local people and families throughout this area. One of the projects completed for this celebration was a movie film in which eight Union Electric employees were interviewed and given the opportunity to share their memories of the construction of the Dam. Paul Martin, father of Doris Wiggins, one of our board members, was one of those interviewed. Recently, Doris obtained a copy of a DVD from Ameren Missouri Company of St. Louis which recorded this old film (the DVD also is on display at the Willmore Lodge Museum locally). I thought the ten minute old film was very interesting historically since the information was coming from local people who had worked on site in 1929-1931 during the Dam’s construction. The last part of the film included a number of color movie films taken of vacationers at the Lake who were swimming and boating. You will smile as you see the old time swimming clothing as well as the old wooden speed boats used in those days. We are very grateful to Ameren for sharing this DVD with Doris and for giving us permission to put it on our website for our readers.
First, I will present the DVD and after you have viewed it you can read the biographies of those men who were interviewed:
The Moseleys are “natives,” born and raised in the Miller-Morgan County area of Missouri, within a few miles of what is now the North Shore of the Lake.
Okle’s grandfather, Henry Clay Moseley, born in 1849, arrived with his wife, Elizabeth Ross, in Morgan County about 1883. Okle’s father was Guy Moseley, born in 1884, in Gladstone, Missouri, which is now under water at the confluence of the Gravois and Osage Rivers. Guy Mosely married Lora Bowlin, born in 1881 in Miller County, in 1904. Guy and Lora lived in Miller County near the Rocky Mount-Blue Springs area all of the years of their marriage.
Okle J. Mosely was the first born son of Guy and Lora, born in January of 1907. Okle married Ozell Crum, daughter of Laura Brewer and William “Bill” Crum of the Rocky Mount-Morgan County area, in October of 1930. They had four children, Otis, Harley, Ronald and Linda. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in October of 1980 at The Lodge of the Four Seasons.
Okle Mosely is very much a part of the Lake. In September of 1929 he started work for the Stone and Webster Construction Company in the Carpenter’s Shop, building the Bagnell Dam. He started working for the Union Electric Company, in operations, at the Dam in July of 1931. He worked for the Union Electric Company until retirement in February of 1972, nearly 41 years in all (photo 04).
04 Okle and Electricians
All of their children were born in, or near the “Union Electric Village” on the hill north of the Dam.
Now retired, they live next door to their eldest son, Otis Moseley, M.D. in Lake Ozark, Missouri, on the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks!
Loyd and Jewel Sandfort are life long residents of Miller County, their early years were spent around Bagnell. The town consisted of a church, Post Office, barber shop, Jr. High School, two general stores, a lumber yard, and a gravel business. A ferry was used to carry traffic across the river, as Highway 54 passed through the town.
Loyd, the 5th child of William and Emma Howser Sandfort, was born near Bagnell, February 19, 1911. At the age of 18, he worked in construction of the Bagnell Dam in the pipe fitters group. From 1934-36, he was employed in Nevada, in construction of the Hoover Dam, as an iron worker. From June 1943 to 1975 he was employed in the Control Room of Bagnell Dam, retiring as a Senior Switch Board operator, ending 32 ½ years with Union Electric Company. Loyd helped in recording of the history of the Lake area to be used in celebration of the 50th year of Bagnell Dam.
Jewel, was born August 19, 1911, the 3rd child of Howard E. (Dunk) and Margaret (Mag) Niebert Howser, in the Horseshoe Bend area of the Osage River. Her parents moved to the present farm in 1917.
Loyd and Jewel were married in July 1934. Their son, Phillip, graduated from School of the Osage in 1955, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his senior year at Missouri University. The family lives near Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Loyd and Jewel now live in Eldon. Both are teachers of Adult 55 Classes in the First Baptist Church. Loyd is a Mason. Jewel, a member of two Federated clubs, Eldon Sorosis and Town and Country Garden Club (photo 06).
Note: Paul Martin did not have a biography in the 50th Anniversary Bagnell Dam book but I do have his obituary which gives personal information about him and his family:
Obituary: Combined information from Miller County Autogram and Jefferson City Post Tribune, January 1990
Paul J. Martin, 84, Eldon, a former Miller County Court judge, died Friday, Jan. 19, 1990 at Charles E. Still Hospital in Jefferson City. He was born Nov. 6, 1905 in Iberia to Matt L. and Millie Jane Lawson Martin. In 1926 he was married in Brumley to Hazel E. Wall, who survives at the home.
Mr. Martin lived in Miller County most of his life. He was a farmer and was employed as a tile-setter in the construction industry. He was a member of the Mount Herman Baptist Church. He served 10 years as a judge of the Miller County Court, two terms as presiding judge and one term as a district judge.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two daughters, Pauline Klug of Tuscumbia and Doris Graham of Jefferson City; a son, Jack Martin of Olean; a sister, Sue Haynes of Donna, Tx; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. One son, Dave L. Martin, died Oct 3, 1963.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon with the Rev. Jay Quinn officiating. Burial was in the Hawkins Cemetery near Brumley.
In addition, I have this personal biography written by Paul’s daughter, Doris Martin Wiggins, whom I mentioned above is one of our board members:
Paul Jesse Martin was born November 6, 1905 in the Curry Community, Miller County MO. His parents were Matt Logan and Millie Jane Lawson Martin. He was the first of six children. He attended Curry School until the family moved to Brumley MO. He was a graduate of Brumley High School.
He was married in 1926 to Hazel E. Wall. They were parents of four children: Pauline, Dave, Jack and Doris. He was a substitute rural route carrier before the family moved from Brumley to Kansas City KS. where he worked as a tile setter. He came back to Miller County to work on the construction of Bagnell Dam during those years, 1929-1931. He returned to Kansas City for another few years before moving the family to a farm outside of Olean, MO. in 1942. The family lived on two other farms in Miller Co. after that.
Along with farming, he established Martin Tile Construction Company, Eldon Mo., selling and installing tile in many new homes in central MO. and also at Fort Leonard Wood.
He was a member of Central Baptist and Mount Herman Baptist Churches. He served 10 years as a judge of the Miller County Court, two terms as presiding judge and one term as district judge.
He enjoyed farming and raising cattle. His garden was the envy of everyone because he had a constant supply of water from the overflowing well on the farm on Saline Creek, east of Eldon.
Here is a photo of Paul and Hazel on their fiftieth wedding anniversary given me by Doris (photo 07a):
“August 1, 1929
Report for work September 3rd
Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.”
This is the message that brought Wayne S. Frame and his wife Helen to the construction area of Bagnell Dam. At the time they were living in Fort Smith, Arkansas where Shannon had established a water resources branch office for the U.S. Geological Survey for the Southern States. It was during this time that Shannon compiled a report on “Stream Gaging,” which was published by the U.S.G.S.
Shannon was familiar with the Osage River area. He had worked with the U.S.G.S. at Rolla, Missouri, and was interested in the construction of the hydro-electric plant to be located on the Osage River. He was employed as office engineer under Mr. Ole Davidson, Superintendent of the Bagnell Dam Reservoir.
They lived in Eldon during the construction and moved to the Union Electric Village when Shannon was employed as hydraulic engineer by Union Electric until he retired in 1967.
Their daughter, Donna Jane, was born in March, 1931. She attended School of the Osage, Drury College, and was graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism. She and her husband, Clair Morehead, lived in Los Angeles, where she was Executive Editor of California Apparel News until she retired shortly before her death in 1976.
Shannon served as President of Directors of the Osage Consolidated School from 1933 to 1953, during which time the present high school was built.
Helen is a charter member of Niangua Chapter of DAR which was organized in 1957, and served as Chapter Registrar from 1958 to 1971.
They now live in Lookout Point on the Lake of the Ozarks (photo 09).
09 Donna, Shannon and Helen Frame
William Coulter
William Coulter did not have a biography in the 50th Anniversary of Bagnell Dam but I do have his obituary which gives some information about him:
The Miller County Autogram-Sentinel, Thursday, September 13, 1990
William D. “Bill” Coulter, 80, of Eldon died Friday, Sept 7, 1990 at Osage Beach Health Care center in Osage Beach. He was born July 10, 1910 in Eldon to Oscar and Lola Roberta Coulter. On May 2, 1932 he was married in Rolla to Mary Jean Carner who died Jan 15, 1969.
Mr. Coulter was employed with Union Electric for 47 years and at the time of his retirement was supervisor of operations at the Osage Power Plant at Bagnell Dam. He had been with Stone and Webster during the construction of Bagnell Dam. He was a 50-year member of the Lake Ozark Christian Church and also was a member of Ionia Lodge 381 AF & AM in Eldon.
Surviving him are a daughter, Lola Jean Lay of Memphis, Tenn.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Monday at Greenmore Memorial Park in Barnett with the Rev. Stanley Duncan officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Phillips Funeral Home of Eldon. The family suggests memorials to the Masonic Home.
Jody Newman, who is a regular volunteer at our museum, knew William Coulter. She wrote the following:
Bill worked in the control room at U.E. with my Dad. The title of their jobs were Operating Engineers. They did not have degrees. He probably went to work for U.E. about the same time my Dad did when the dam construction first started. He and his wife, Jean, had one daughter, Lola Jean. She married Donald Lay and they retired to Eldon from Memphis. She died several years ago. The Coulter's were our neighbors in the village for years. They went to the Methodist Church in Eldon and when Bill retired he moved to Eldon. His wife had passed away.
Thomas W. Pierce was born December 22, 1903 near Eugene, Mo. to Daniel and Sarah E. Roberts Pierce. He attended school at Eugene. Bernice M. Hibdon Pierce was born December 8, 1909 in Phenix, Mo. to William and Maggie Calista Jenkins Hibdon. She attended school in Eldon, Mo. Thomas and Bernice met in September 1927. They were married July 27, 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Thomas was employed at that time with King Motor Company, Kansas City, Mo. In September 1929 they returned to Eldon to make their home. Thomas obtained employment with Stone and Webster. He stared work on September 5, 1929.
Their oldest daughter, Bernice Evelyn, was born on August 8, 1930 in Eldon, Mo. On completion of the Bagnell Dam by Stone and Webster, Thomas obtained employment with Union Electric Company. In May 1931 the Pierces moved to Lakeside Village. The Pierce’s second daughter, Barbara Ann, was born on December 7, 1943.
All three children attended School of the Osage. Thomas and Bernice were active in school and community activities. They enjoyed fishing, hunting and all outdoor recreation provided here at The Lake of the Ozarks.
Bernice was employed several years at the Museum Gift Shop and The Barefoot Traders Gift Shop. She is a member of Rebekah Lodge 324, Eldon, Mo., Ladies Auxiliary of Lake of the Ozarks Christian Church.
Thomas retired from Union Electric Co. on December 31, 1968 after thirty eight years service. They will celebrate their fifty second wedding anniversary July 27, 1981. They make their home in Lake Ozark, Mo (photo 12).
We don’t have a narrative of Curtis from the 50th Anniversary of Bagnell Dam book but I do have his obituary which gives some information:
Obituary: Jefferson City Post Tribune, Tuesday, April 18, 2000
Curtis Victor Beach, 88, Eldon, died April 16, 2000, at Lee House in Eldon. He was born March 11, 1912, in Miller County, a son of Hardy and Margaret Collier Beach. He was married Sept. 15, 1934, in Tuscumbia to Gladys Leotta Blankenship, who died April 13, 1988.
Curtis was involved in the construction of Bagnell Dam. He retired in 1976 after 42 years with Union Electric. He was a 60-year member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church and a member of First Baptist Church, Eldon. He served with the Miller County Baptist Association Camp for 40 years. Curtis was on the Miller County Senior Citizens Tax Board, as well as being a board member and volunteer with Eldon Meals on Wheels. He was a trustee for Blue Springs Baptist Cemetery.
Survivors include: one son, Ralph Beach, Eldon; one daughter, Rosalyn Sanders, O’Fallon; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. One son, James Curtis Beach, died Jan. 27, 1990.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Eldon First Baptist
Church. The Rev. Randall Bunch and the Rev. Louis Elseman will officiate. Burial will be in Greenmore Memorial Gardens near Barnett. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. today at Rekus Funeral Home, Eldon.
Memorials are suggested to Meals on Wheels; the Blue Springs Baptist Cemetery Trust Fund; or a charity of the donor’s choice.
John, born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, arrived in Old Linn Creek Missouri, on August 19, 1929 to work for Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation as an Engineer-Surveyor on the marking and mapping of “The Reservoir” of Bagnell Dam (later known as Lake of the Ozarks). This was his first position after receiving a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.
In 1932, after all work was completed by Stone & Webster, John was transferred to the Union Electric Company and continued to work as an engineer until 1938.
Also, in 1932, John married Helen E. Buckner of Galva, Illinois. While living at Lakeside, Mo. (Bagnell) a daughter, Laura Louise was born in 1937; Laura (Mrs. Charles H. Rice, Jr.) of Dallas, Texas, has a daughter and a son.
In 1938, John joined a nationally known firm of consulting engineers and worked on the design and supervision of construction of civil engineering projects such as: highways, water and sewerage works, airports, bridges, transmission lines, etc. until 1972. During World War II John served in the Sanitary Corps as a Sanitary Engineer.
John and Helen had lived in several states and when the time came for retirement in 1972 they chose the Ozark Hills, and now reside in a hilltop home overlooking the ruins of Ha Ha Tonka Castle which John knew so well over 50 years ago. John is a life member of The American Society of Civil Engineers and a 50 year member of Linn
Creek Masonic Lodge No. 152, A.F. & A.M.
David Statler, who is our computer and Internet consultant, has the following information to add about some of those interviewed above:
According to the Social Security Death Index:
- Okle Moseley passed away 18 Mar 1998. It states his last residence was in Ironton, MO.
- Loyd Sandfort passed away in Nov 1984. It states his last residence was in Eldon, MO.
- Wayne Shannon Frame passed away in Feb 1985. It states his last residence was in Eldon, MO.
- Thomas Pierce passed away in Aug 1983. It states his last residence was in Lake Ozark, MO.
- John Barjenbruch was born 09 Sep 1907 and passed away in Jun 1984. It states his last residence was in Camdenton, MO.
In addition, Doris Martin Wiggins has a memory board of the 50th Anniversary of the Dam (photo 14b):
14b 50th Anniversary Momentos Click image for larger view
And also some letters that were sent from UE to Paul Martin (photo 14c):
14c UE Letters to Paul Martin Click image to view complete collection of letters in PDF format
That completes the biographies of those featured in the Ameren DVD of the men who helped construct the Bagnell Dam in Miller County. Once again we are grateful to Doris Wiggins and Ameren for letting us put it on our website.
An article in the June 1931 Missouri Magazine described in great detail the building of Bagnell Dam. Bruce James, former officer at the Bank of the Lake of the Ozarks, whose father, William Bruce James, was superintendent of the Dam, kindly sent it to us for this week’s Progress Notes. You can read it here as an attachment (photo 14d):
14d Missouri Magazine - June 1931 Click image to view complete document in PDF format
It would be difficult to end this narrative about the construction of the Bagnell Dam without acknowledging the importance of William Bruce James (photo 14e).
14e W. Bruce James
Bruce joined the workforce of the Dam construction crew in 1931 as a wireman’s helper but quickly advanced in stature with the Union Electric Company becoming General Superintendent of the plant in 1945. Later he was given the position of General Superintendent of the Taum Sauk plant. He was manager of Lakeside district for twenty five years. Here is his biography as recorded in 1980 in the book Lake of the Ozarks 50th Anniversary:
The Jameses came to Bagnell Dam with Union Electric in the midst of the Depression, living in Lakeside with many families from different localities. It was an interesting and enjoyable time for the closely-knit Union Electric group. Since there was no entertainment near, activities such as square dancing, parties, and meetings were held at the local Clubhouse. To these were added rewarding fishing and hunting swimming and boating outings.
Bruce James, a native of Springfield, with a Bachelor of Science degree from Drury College and an Electrical Engineering degree from Missouri University, came to Union Electric in 1931 as a wireman’s helper. In June 1932 he married Helen Wiemer of Joplin, also a Drury graduate. They became the parents of Judy in 1937. Judy, now Mrs. R.C. Wydick, living in California, has two sons, Bruce, 16, and Derrick, 13 (photo 14f).
14f W. Bruce James Family
In 1940, son Bruce was born.
He and his wife Sandy, live at the Lake and have Susan, 8 and Bruce, 6. In 1945 W. Bruce became General Superintendent of the Osage plant, later of Taum Sauk Plant, and Manager of Lakeside District, a position he held almost twenty five years. He retired in 1969 due to ill health and died in 1970. He was active in civic organizations including being Director and Secretary of Bank of Lake of the Ozarks, president of the Lake Association, and Executive in the Area of Boy Scout Council.
Helen James is active in local groups, a member of Drury Women’s Board, Jefferson City Music Club and member of the Lake Hospital Auxillary Board and volunteer since its beginning in 1977.
The entire family agree that the Lake area is the place to live.
Submitted by Helen W. James
My wife, Judy Steen Pryor, was a student at School of the Osage while W. Bruce James was General Superintendent at the Bagnell Dam plant. She told me she never knew anyone in the area who was as community minded as the James family. Even though Bruce was in charge of all the Dam’s operations he still made time for community service. What she remembers most is that he and his wife would come to her house, located on a turkey farm miles away from the Osage School, to take her in their car to American Legion Oratorical contests and speech and music festivals. Mrs. James would even bring a container of homemade cookies to eat on the way.
Bruce Forrest James, son of William Bruce James, has been very helpful in supplying us information about his family as well as other facts about the construction of the dam and some of those individuals mentioned in the DVD presented earlier. Although he and his wife Sandy now have retired to Pennsylvania, we have communicated quite well through a number of emails.
Bruce Forrest James and his family also were included in the biography section of the Lake of the Ozarks 50th Anniversary 1980. Here is the photo of him and his family as published in the book in 1980 (photo 14g).
14g Bruce Forrest James Family - 1980
And copied here is his biography from the 1980 book:
Bruce F. James family
After Bruce and Sandy got married in 1965, they lived in St. Louis County for 9 years until Bruce could endure the city no longer. So, in 1974, Bruce, who was born and raised at the Lake, brought his wife, the former Sandy Buby of Webster Groves, Mo. and their two children Susan and Bruce “home.”
Bruce was born in the Eldon Hospital May 13, 1940, the son of W. Bruce and Helen W. James. He attended School of the Osage and Drury college in Springfield, Mo. from which he graduated with a BA degree in Business and Economics. He met Sandy there while she was studying for a BS Degree in Foreign Languages. They were married in August of 1965 and Bruce worked in the insurance business while Sandy taught French for five years.
Susan Grant James was born November 13, 1972 and Bruce F. James, Jr. was born April 23, 1974, four months before the James family moved home.
Bruce is now assistant Vice President and Operations Officer at Bank of Lake of the Ozarks and Sandy is employed by Youth Dynamics, a Substance Abuse Prevention Program.
Submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Bruce F. James
Bruce F. James also sent us a nice poem by an Iberia native, Dorothy Wilson Humphrey, written soon after the Dam was completed. You can read it here (photo 14h):
14h UE Poem Click image for larger view
As a reminder, Alan Sullivan, Tuscumbia native who now is Consulting Engineer at Bagnell Dam, has announced that the dam will be open for public tours for one day, May 14 from 9AM with last tour at 4:30 PM for Oma-Noma Days in Lake Ozark. This is also the dam’s 80th anniversary.
This week I am featuring George and Sarah Birdsong, who were charter members of the Tuscumbia Christian Church when it was established in 1889 (photo 15).
15 Mr. and Mrs. George W. Birdsong Click image for larger view
They lived for many years on a small tract of land located on Versailles Avenue (locally known as “Possum Trot Street”). You can locate their property in the left upper corner of these next two old plat maps of Tuscumbia across the street (Versailles Avenue) from the L.N. Musser tract (photos 16 and 17).
16 Tuscumbia Click image for larger view
17 Tuscumbia
George and Sarah lived a quiet life; not a lot is known about them regarding their lives in Miller County. However, my interest in them is one of those “what might have been” types of stories. The “might have been” is that if things had worked out I could have been one of the heirs to a huge tract of land in the San Marcos River Valley of Texas, an area I featured in the Progress Notes of February 28, 2011.
(Note: you will need to scroll down to the last half of the page for the San Marcos narrative.)
You see, Sarah, George’s wife, was the daughter of Abraham Zumwalt, and a sister to Mary Jane Zumwalt, who was married to my great great grandfather, William Abbett (variously spelled Abbott and Abbet). Abraham was my great great great grandfather. The Zumwalts’ originally were from Fulton, but early on migrated to Texas. On 11 August 1831 Abraham Zumwalt made application for a land grant in Texas as recorded at this website.
Copied below is the pertinent record as found on the website:
“Land grant records in the Texas Archives indicate that Abraham Zumwalt applied for title to a league of land on 11 Aug 1831. His league was described by a survey done by Byrd Lockhart as "situated on the southest margin of the San Marcos River, about four leagues above Gonzales......following the meanders of the river upward 7480 varas to the point where (this survey) began." Abraham's petition was signed with his mark "X". Green Dewitt’s affidavit says he arrived with his family of three in Jun 1830.”
According to this land grant the beautiful San Marcos River ran through Abraham Zumwalt’s property.
The above website indicates Abraham and his family lived in Texas from 1831 until 1837 when they returned to Callaway County. Records of Abraham’s residence in Texas include his land grant record, inclusion in a voting list and a reference by his nephew, Nathan Boone Burkett.
His neighbors and kin in Texas never knew what became of Abraham Zumwalt and his family. Quoted from the first website above is this comment:
In 1967, legend within the Zumwalt family of Gonzales County related by Mrs. Riley Zumwalt (granddaughter-in-law of Red Adam Zumwalt) was that:
"Abraham Zumwalt who was granted the land west of the San Marcos where the village of Ottine is now northwest of Adam Zumwalt's league disappeared. The family suspected foul play was involved, nothing more was ever heard of him and he left no heirs."
However, also quoted from the first website above is this statement:
"There were five families in our group, all being friends and neighbors from the same section of Missouri, which was also the home state of Green DeWitt. We went to the headquarters of DeWitt's Colony…. Uncle Abe Zumwalt, who married my father's sister and came to Texas with us.....after this happening <referring to encounters with Indians> he sold his league and labor of land $600, as he decided he had rather live where it was more thickly settled."
The fate of Abraham Zumwalt back in Missouri is unclear; however, wife Phoebe Burket Zumwalt and children Elizabeth, Mary J., Julia A., John, Sarah, Isaac and Singleton are listed in the 1850 census of Callaway County without him. On 16 Feb 1874, Phoebe Zumwalt and descendants granted power of attorney in Tuscumbia, Miller County, Missouri to Travis County, TX attorney George W. Miller for a fee of one quarter of assets recovered to gain title to lands granted to Abraham Zumwalt for service to Texas. The full list of the claimants in this suit is listed in the first website above near the bottom. Included are George and Sara (Zumwalt) Birdsong and William and Mary Jane (Zumwalt) Abbett (Abbott).
However, no matter how strong a case this large group of claimants thought they had, nothing became of it. So my great great grandmother Mary Jane Zumwalt Abbett and my great great great Aunt Sara Zumwalt Birdsong remained and lived the rest of their lives in Missouri. I’m not sure how Mary Jane and Sara Zumwalt met their Miller County husbands, William Abbott (Abbett) and George Birdsong.
My wife Judy’s brother in law, Al Cates, lives in the area the Zumwalts settled in Texas. He said he knows a couple of Zumwalts living there now. Here is what he wrote:
The Abraham Zumwalt property was in Gonzales County, (actually in the town of Gonzales) down the river from here. On highway 80 it is 42 miles from here to where the property was.
Henry Zumwalt is a highway contractor in Helotes, where Sue (Judy’s sister) used to work. Tim (Al’s son) worked for him a few years back in the late '80s.
By the way, one of my school classmates, James Birdsong also would have been an heir if this dream of long ago had come true since he is a great grandson of George Birdsong. Here is a recent photo of James and his wife Linda (Thompson) (photo 19).
19 James and Linda Birdsong
One little item of interest is that Clara Birdsong, daughter of George and Sara Birdsong, married a man named Philander Richardson. They settled on a farm about a mile east of Tuscumbia later known as the Hig Atkinson farm. I believe the land now mostly is owned by the Missouri State Conservation department.
It was difficult for me to believe that someone would have been named Philander. I looked up the word on the Webster’s Dictionary website and I will not repeat what the one and only definition was.
But if you put the word Philander on your Google search engine you will find that at one time in our society Philander was a very common first name.
Well, as Wallace Vernon says: “Whatever!”
Our museum director, Nancy Thompson has put together a genealogical chart of the John Birdsong family from which came George W. Birdsong (photo 20).
20 John Birdsong Descendancy Click image to view complete document in PDF format
Nancy also researched the genealogy of John Birdsong’s brother, Josiah Birdsong (photo 21).
21 Josiah Birdsong Descendancy Click image to view complete document in PDF format
Probably, most of the Miller County Birdsongs descended from these two lines.
Recently, we received a wonderful photo from website reader Sheryl Hotlen Rivett which featured five generations of her Miller County family. What was so interesting is that her antecedents included some of Miller County’s most respected citizens, members of the Wright, Spearman, and Wetlock families. Here is the photo entitled five generations (photo 22):
22 Tennyson Clay Wright Jr. Family
And here is the caption sent by Sheryl:
Cynthia Hawkins Spearman is seated, holding baby Mary Louise Wright (Hotlen), my mother. In the back row left to right are Tennyson Clay Wright Jr., Mary Paul Spearman Wright, mother of Tennyson Clay Wright Jr., and Willard Spearman, father of Mary Paul Spearman Wright. This is a five-generation shot. The photo was taken in Kansas City, MO at Louise (Wetlock) Wright and Tennyson Clay Wright Jr.'s house. Cynthia was a beloved mother and grandmother.
So the descendency of these five generations is described as follows:
First, by way of explanation, Tennyson Clay Wright Sr., famous Miller County educator, married Mary Paul Spearman, daughter of Willard Spearman, son of Zebedee Spearman and stepson of Cynthia Hawkins Spearman, who was Zebedee’s second wife. The son of Tennyson Clay Wright Sr. and Mary Paul Spearman Wright, Tennyson Clay Wright Jr., married Louise Wetlock who was from St. Elizabeth. The baby in Cynthia Hawkins Spearman’s arms, Mary Louise Wright, is the daughter of Tennyson Clay Wright Jr. and Louise Wetlock. Mary Louise Wright married a man whose last name was Hotlen and their child, Sheryl Hotlen Rivett is the one who sent us the photo. So the descendancy of those in the photo would be Cynthia Hawkins Spearman, Willard Spearman, Mary Paul Spearman Wright, Tennyson Clay Wright Jr., and last would be Mary Louise Wright Hotlen. The lady who sent us the photo, Sheryl Hotlen Rivett, is the daughter of the baby in Cynthia Hawkins Spearman’s arms, Mary Louise Wright. Cynthia, being the step mother of Willard would make her the first in this descendancy by marriage.
We were very happy to receive this photo from Sheryl and also a promise from her that she would follow-up with more information about TC Wright Jr.’s story after he left Tuscumbia as well as more information about her Wetlock heritage from St. Elizabeth. Her great great grandfather William Wetlock was one of the most important citizens of St. Elizabeth early in its history.
Many Miller County people, especially those who went to school at Tuscumbia in the years before the late 1940’s knew very well Tennyson Clay Wright Sr. who was on of the school’s most respected teachers. However, Tennyson Clay Wright Jr. left the area soon after marriage and many have been interested in what were his activities over these many intervening years.
Sheryl did have some memories about her grandfather, Tennyson Clay Wright Jr. which she shared with us:
My grandfather TC Jr. was very different from his father and it was tough for him as he was the only child. He was really more of a free spirit and blessed us all with his warmth, friendliness and joy of life. In many ways he was probably more like Mary Paul than TC Sr.
It was my grandmother, Mary Louise Wetlock, who was more like her father-in-law, Tennyson Clay Sr. She became an administrator in the public schools and was held in extremely high regard as an educator. TC Sr. greatly inspired her and her higher education meant a lot to her.
My grandmother was quite a woman - ahead of the times and very, very strong. My grandfather, Tennyson Clay Jr. came to live with my husband and me after his wife died, and I had three wonderful years of storytelling in my kitchen while we cooked together. At the time, we were able to access the Miller County Autogram online and often read it together. It was hard for him, though, as many friends from his childhood were listed in the obituaries. He would say to me often, "You have a lot of Spearman in you!" I'm still trying to figure that one out, but I hope that it means I have a bit of Mary Paul (Spearman) Wright in me as I have very fond memories of her.
Thanks again, Sheryl, and we look forward to learning more about your Wright and Wetlock heritage.
Last Saturday, April 2, 2011, we celebrated the warmer weather with Dan Peek at the Stonecrest Book and Toy store in Osage Beach where Dan hosted a number of former Ozark Opry performers to advertise the book Live! At The Ozark Opry (photos 25 and 26 - book cover and book display).
25 Ozark Opry Live Book Cover Click image for larger view in PDF format
26 Book Display Stonecrest Mall
A good crowd was entertained during the after noon by former Ozark Opry performers. The following photos include Opry musicians Bill Atterbury, LeRoy Haslag, Jim Phinney, Harold and Mildred Moore, Iva Stack, and Bob “High Pockets” McCoy (photos 27, 28 and 29):
27 LeRoy Haslag, Bill Goofer Atterbury, Joyce Mace and Bob McCoy
28 Mildred and Harold Moore, Iva Stack and Dan Peek
29 Jim Phinney, Howard Marshall, LeRoy Haslag, Bill Atterbury and Dan Peek
Lee Mace’s sister, Lois Mace Webb, of Stilwell Kansas also was present to visit with all who were there including her sister in law, Joyce Mace (photo 30).
30 Judy Pryor, Lois Mace Webb, Joyce Williams Mace and LeRoy Haslag
The day was highlighted by the performance of the River Berry Players of Richland, a blue grass group of very young siblings of the Aistrope family (photo 31).
31 River Berry Players - Ratlan, Lulie and Billy Aistrope
They were a surprise walk on which performed some of the best bluegrass music around. A new group, you can reach them if you would like to have them play for your event at this number: 573-855-7359.
Further events are planned which include signed autographs of sold books by former Opry performers as well as live music performed by previous Ozark Opry musicians. Here is the current schedule:
April 23 - Barnes & Noble - 3055 South Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65804 417-885-0026 - Renee
April 30 - Barnes & Noble - Columbia Mall, 2208 Bernadette Drive, Columbia, MO 573-445-4080 - Brian
May 14 - Artfolk - 3300 Gretna, Branson MO 417-334-2100 - Art
June 11 - Hazel Kinder's Lighthouse Theater - Exit 137 on I-70, Columbia, MO - guest musicians and book signing - 7 pm 573-474-4040 - Hazel
June 25 - Barnes & Noble - 19120 E. 39th Street, Independence, MO - 816-795-9879 - Lisa
August 17 - Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO
You can read a review of the book, Live! At the Ozark Opry as published in the Lake News Online at this attachment (photo 32).
32 Book Celebrates Lake Landmark Click image to read entire article in PDF format
That’s all for this week.
Joe Pryor
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Joe Pryor
