Progress Notes

Dick Dolby of Eldon called me recently to tell me he had a couple of historical items to donate to our museum. On arriving at his home he presented them to me. One was a “clerk’s stool” which was used at the historical Miller County Exchange Bank of Olean, Miller County’s first bank. The other was a large jug used in the medical office of Dr. William Allee, one of Miller County’s most well known residents, who also was a state senator. Dr. Allee also was one of the first officers of the Miller County Exchange Bank.

Here is a photo of Dick with the two donated items (photo 01).

01 Dick Dolby with stool from Miller County Exchange Bank and jug from Dr. Allee

The jug was a container for whiskey which was a common medicament in physicians’ offices of the past.

Dick told me that he was the real estate broker who was an agent for the Allee family during the time the historic Dr. William Allee home was being sold several years ago. The historical items from the Allee home were given to Dick by the Allee family.

Here are photos of the Miller County Exchange Bank, Dr. Allee, and Dr. Allee’s home (photos 02, 03 and 04):

02 Miller County Exchange Bank

03 Dr. W.S. Allee

04 Dr. W.S. Allee Home

You can read the biography of Dr. William Allee at this previous Progress Notes.

Dick, who is a native of Eldon, was born in 1923. In the late 1800's Dick's grandfather George and father Matt migrated to the state of Washington from Croatia traveling down and around Africa to the East to get to America. Their Croatian name was Dobrijevic. Grandfather George went back to Croatia to bring the rest of the family back with him to America but unfortunately he died there and the siblings of Matt never made it here. Matt migrated east to Illinois where he began work for the Rock Island Railroad which soon sent him to Eldon to be an engineer in about 1906. Matt married Gertrude Van of Gladstone and Dick is their son.

Here is a photo of the Dobrijevic family taken before George and Matt came to America. Matt is the boy on the far right (photo 05).

05 George and Kate Dolby Family. Young Matt Dolby on right

Dick and his father were entrepreneurs having established a bait store for fishing enthusiasts at the same location as where the Gier Bait and Tackle store is today (photos 06 and 07).

06 Dolby Minnows and Tackle - 1936 to 1946 when sold

07 Dick Dolby at Corner Bait and Tackle - Late 1930's

In addition, his father established the first cold storage locker in Eldon (photos 08 and 09).

08 Dolby Locker Plant - 208 South Maple - 1945

09 Dolby Locker - Killed and quartered at the Farms

Here is a photo of Matt Dolby, father of Dick, with his Nash automobile (photo 10):

10 Matt Dolby with Nash Car

Later, Dick was a successful real estate broker. His mother's brother, Arthur Vann, was killed in WWI (photo 11).

11 Arthur Vann WWI - Dick's Uncle

Dick's father Matt also served in WWI but returned home safely (photo 12).

12 Matt Dolby - WWI

Dick has an old Advertiser article which lists the known Miller Countians who served in WWI (photos 13 - 16):

13 WWI Miller Countians
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14 WWI Miller Countians
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15 WWI Miller Countians
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16 WWI Miller Countians
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Dick’s mother, Gertrude, was the daughter of Grant Van. Her family lived at the end of Horseshoe Bend on a farm owned by her mother’s uncle, Willard Stevens. Here is a photo of the Grant Van family (photo 17):

17 Grant Van, Arthur Van, Fannie Stevens Van,
Gertrude Van Dolby - Behind: Jim Stevens, Grandmother's Brother

Gertrude’s grandmother Stevens owned a store at Gladstone (photo 18).

18 Arthur W. Van and Grandmother Stephens General Merchandise in Gladstone
Arthur is Dick's Uncle

After the Union Electric Company came into the area to buy land for the Bagnell Dam development, the Steven’s farm where Gertrude lived was purchased by Union Electric Company (UE). According to Dick, it was made into a duck shooting and fishing camp for guests of Union Electric and company officials.

Dick’s father, Matt, was a fishing and hunting enthusiast. He owned some lake property on the North Shore where he and Dick often went to fish. Matt was well known in the area as being having superb skills as a fisherman. He also liked to duck hunt on the Lake. Here is a photo of Matt and a couple of friends after a successful duck hunt (photo 19):

19 P.M. Adams - Real Estate, Matt Dolby and Howard Stephens - Post Master Eldon 1930's

Union Electric Company retained Matt to pilot their excursion boats at the UE dock next to the Bagnell Dam. Also, Matt would go to Warsaw where new boats arrived by train to pilot them down to the UE dock at the dam (photo 20).

20 Union Electric Bathing Pavillion and Excursion Boat Dock
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Dick said that Matt became friends with the UE officers who managed the Dam, Lewis Egan and G.E. Crosby. Often, they would duck hunt with Matt at Matt’s lakeshore property on the North Shore.

Dick also was a fishing and hunting enthusiast very early in his life. In later years he bought a farm which had an old log cabin to use as a hunting preserve located near the Jack Buster Creek south of Etterville (photo 21).

21 Hunting Cabin at Jack Buster Creek

Here is a “mad stone” retrieved from a deer’s stomach from that farm (photo 22):

22 Mad Stone found in Deer Stomach

Dick said that in times past people believed that rubbing an area of the body with a mad stone would heal any disease in that location.

After high school Dick attended the University of Missouri; however, he was drafted for service in WWII and spent three years in Europe.

Dick received a document after the war which recorded him as being one of those who fought in the “Battle of the Bulge" (photo 24).

24 In Honor of Dick's participation in The Battle of the Bulge
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Here is his own personal canteen (photo 25):

25 Canteen used by Dick in WWII

And here is a photo of the helmets Dick and his father Matt wore during their service in the military (photo 26):

26 Top: Helmet worn by Dick in WWII - Bottom: Worn by Matt in WWI

During his three years in Europe Dick sent home many letters which his mother stored (photo 27).

27 Letters sent home from Europe during WWII by Dick

As an outdoorsman Dick has had many opportunities to collect arrow heads (photo 28).

28 Dick's Arrowhead Collection

He has a collection of unusual fishing lures and fishing poles (photo 29).

29 Fishing Poles

A most unusual collection he has is a large number of sausage grinders, collected from the time he and his father operated the cold storage plant and butcher shop (photos 30, 31 and 32).

30 Meat Grinders

31 Sausage Grinders

32 Sausage Grinder

Dick has kept a number of items related to his father’s occupation as an engineer on the Rock Island railroad. Here are a couple of photos (photos 33 and 34):

33 Rock Island Lanterns and Spikes

34 Rock Island Wrench

Dick is one of the Eldon “oldtimers” who can fill in the details of about any of Eldon’s history. Recently, some may remember that Dick had the answer for Vernon Publishing’s Wallace Vernon who inquired in his weekly column what was the building which was removed to construct the present Eldon post office. Dick not only knew the answer but sent Wallace the photo informing him that the first building there was the home of J. Snyder (photo 35).

35 J. Snyder Home - Where Post Office is now

Dick also has a number of historic area photos which he allowed me to copy for our readers (photos 36 - 43):

36 First Eldon High School

37 First Missouri Capitol Building

38 Gladstone Presbyterian Church

39 Good Roads Delegation

40 Lover's Leap Confluence of Osage and Glaize

41 Maple Street - Eldon 1930's

42 Steam Engine

43 Zebra Bridge

I want to express my really profound gratitude not only for Dick’s gift of the old bank clerk’s stool used at the first bank of Miller County, the Miller County Exchange Bank and in addition the large jug from the office of Dr. William Allee, but also for the time he spent with me discussing the history of his family and other interesting topics about Eldon and Miller County.

Another immigrant to Miller County very early in its history was one of the area’s more successful developers and businessmen. His name was Emanuel Godlove (photo 44).

44 Emanuel Godlove

Emanuel had the distinction of being the first immigrant in Miller County to apply for and receive documentation of being a naturalized citizen of the United States. The story is told in historian Gerard Schultz’s book, “The History of Miller County:”

"The first person in the county to file his intention to become a naturalized citizen of the United States was Emanuel Godlove. The record of his intention is as follows;... be it Remembered that on this 4th day of the Year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty-two. Personally appeared in open Court, Emanuel Godlove, a native of the Kingdome Bayrne (Bavaria-Bayer, German spelling), and made oath upon the holy Evangelis of Almighty God that it is his bonafide intention to become a Citizen of the United States and to renounce and abjure forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate State of Sovereignty whatever and particularly all allegiance and fidelity to the King of Bayrne of whom he was last a subject…."

Peggy Hake has written this about Emanuel Godlove:

Emanuel was a business man in the town of Tuscumbia in it's early history. He was in partnership with a man named Daniel Cummings. Emanuel also operated a hotel in the town called the Tuscumbia Hotel during the same era of time.

The only census I can find record of Emanuel Godlove was the 1850 Miller County census. His name was recorded as Gott... at first I could find no record whatsoever. I thought he just was gone by then. but realized he was still in Tuscumbia area in the mid 1850'... so I went back and looked some more... sure enough, by looking in the area where Daniel Cummings was recorded living, I found this family of Emanuel and Louisa GOTT. I do not know if it was the census taker's fault or a typographical error in the book.

According to historian Clyde Lee Jenkins’ “History of Miller County,” Mr. Godlove was a slave owner, something unusual for German immigrants who almost always were antislavery:

"Emanuel Godlove purchased from John Flanagin Two Negroes, Milley and child, Eliza Jane, slaves for life for $800; and from Joseph Howser, of Morgan county, two Negro girls, one named Nancy, and her child Charles, three years of age, slave for life, for an undisclosed sum."

- Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County, Page 223

Another anecdote written by Clyde Lee Jenkins which included Emanuel Godlove, indicates he was a prominent business owner in Tuscumbia:

DEATH OF THOMAS EMERY AT TUSCUMBIA

"When I first saw Thomas Emery, he was passing E. Godlove's store," D.R. Martin said. "Garrett Stanton was beside him, Above Godlove's, meeting John K. Hall, they tried to pick a fuss, Hall informed them to desist or he would whip them both: guns, knives, rocks, and all. Hall, entering Godlove's storehouse; Emery and Stanton pushed on up the street toward the Court House."

"Just above Joe Wyrick"s house," Martin continued, "they met old man Salsman, John Salsman, and one other Salsman coming down the hill."

Emanuel Godlove, down the hill nearly halfway, was coming from the Courthouse when he noticed Emery meeting the Salsman's. Overhearing the angry words, he stopped. He heard Emery accuse John Salsman of stealing his logs; John answering he did not. Heard Emery calling Salsman a liar; John countering he would settle some other time. "Emery kept a trying to get ahold of Salsman," Emanuel said, "and making threats, but John avoided him, and informed him he wanted no fuss."

Coming on down the hill," Godlove continued, "the Salsman's entered into the storehouse of Cummings & Wood. Emery following, Stanton commenced trying to restrain him."

Emery, upon passing Godlove's store," D. R. Martin continued, "picking up a rock, tucked it under his coat tail. Stanton had ahold of him, trying to restrain him. He kept talking to him, but Emery continued looking away, shaking his head. At the steps of Cumming's storehouse, Emery hesitating a moment, upon jerking away, rushed inside."

Daniel Cummings, when Emery and Stanton entered the storehouse, was at the safe. Hearing Emery threatening Salsman, Cummings hollered, "Men let's not have any difficulty in the house."

Salsman kept backing away, Daniel concluded, "as if to avoid a difficulty."

G. W. Wood was at the desk, working on some papers. He heard Emery in heated conversation with John Salsman. He heard Salsman say, several times, "Tom, Leave me alone!"

Just then, Wood continued, "Thomas Emery threw a rock with great force at John Salsman, knocking John's hat from his head. The rock striking a kettle, broke it, then hitting the pipe above the stove, the stove pipe fell!"

Everett W. Golden, a store Clerk, stated, "I was looking at some bills when I heard something strike a cook stove kettle, sitting on a Box in the house. I looked around and saw John Salsman advancing upon Thomas Emery, at the same time drawing a dirk from his comfort. When close enough he plunged the dirk to the bone in the heart of Thomas Emery; and the blood flew! Stanton, behind Emery, kept trying to hold him up."

In his own blood, spreading in a great pool over the floor of Cummings & Woods storehouse, Thomas Emery fell; dead!

John S. Franklin, Constable; Robert H. Davis, a Justice of the Peace, with Daniel Cummings a witness, upon searching the clothing of the deceased, found in bank bills, forty dollars; in specie, seven dollars and seventy cents; April 29 1858.

- Judge Jenkins' History of Miller County
Page 162

Emanuel Godlove married a local woman, Louisa Swanson, daughter of Joseph Swanson (photo 45).

45 Louisa Swanson Godlove

Joseph was also the father of William Swanson and grandfather of George Swanson, who later lived in Tuscumbia although he was born in the Mount Pleasant area (photo 46).

46 George P. Swanson

George was prominently Identified with the public life of Miller County for more than 30 Years; having the unusual record of holding three different important county offices at various times. You can read more about Geoge Swanson at this previous Progress Notes.

Not much is known about Emanuel Godlove after the Civil War. His wife, Louisey, is recorded to have died in St. Louis, so it is thought that the Godloves went to that area after leaving Tuscumbia. But we don’t know much about Emanuel’s activities there.

Emanuel did have a three year old daughter who died and was buried in Tuscumbia. There is a photo of the tombstone located by our website expert David Statler at the Find A Grave website.

David also found the death certificate of the son of Emanuel and Louisa Godlove, Charles Louis Godlove. It states he was born in Tuscumbia and died in St. Louis, so that would verify the relocation of the Godlove’s to St. Louis. David also found death certificates for the wife of Charles, Laura, and their son, Dempster (photos 46a, 46b and 46c).

46a Death Certificate - Charles Louis Godlove
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46b Death Certificate - Laura Annie (Flesh) Godlove
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46c Death Certificate - Dempster W. Godlove
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I want to thank Ron Vallance, Godlove descendent for the photos of Emanuel and his wife, Louisey.

When I am hosting at the museum I have found it remarkable that most visitors and I can find something in common about our Miller County heritage. Of course, some visitors are tourists who have no family connection but come to tour the museum for the purpose of learning more about our county. Recently, I met Bill Engle of Eldon and his daughter, Pat Martin (photo 47).

47 Bill Engle and daughter Pat Martin

I hadn’t remembered knowing Bill in the past but he told me he used to work for my father and my two uncles back in the early 1950’s at the first location of the Pryor Novelty Company which was east of the old Humphrey’s Hospital. The building, which originally was a stable, was built by the Goodrich family who were the original owners of the property dating back to the early 1800’s. You can tell by looking at this next photo that the original building, which is still standing (almost) is very old (photo 48).

48 Old Converted Stable

Bill said that his Miller County ancestry included the Robinett and Phillips families near Brumley.

The years he worked for the company was before the wood working shop was moved to a location on Highway 52 next to where the new courthouse now is located. Pryor Novelty Company now is closed. The old stable no longer is used as it is almost falling down.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

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