Progress Notes

John Michael Smith, originally from Tuscumbia, but now living in Grand Junction, Colorado, regularly corresponds with me sending interesting items about his memories of Miller County (photo 01).

01 John Michael Smith

Recently, his mother, Betty Lou Messersmith Smith passed away. Many residents of our county will remember her, especially regarding the years she worked for the Miller County draft board (photo 02).

02 Betty Lou Messersmith Smith

For those who didn’t see the obituary I will copy it here:

Betty L. Smith of Grand Junction, CO passed away 11-22-2011 at the age of 84 (photo 03).

03 Betty Lou Smith

Betty was born Oct. 16, 1927 to Charles and Minnie Messersmith in Tuscumbia, MO (Miller County). Betty was the youngest of seven siblings, all preceding her in death with the exception of Mildred Gray of Decatur, GA. Betty married Logan Ellis Smith, who precedes her in death, and from that union three sons survive-John Michael Smith of Grand Junction, CO; Don Ellis Smith of Desloge, MO; and Roger Dale Smith of Canyon City, CO. She is also survived by 2 daughter-in-laws, 4 grandchildren-Lance Michael Smith of Danbury, TX; Dustin Smith of Bonne Terre, MO; Misty Smith of St. Elizabeth, MO; and Tina Thomas of Key West, FL.; 12 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren. Other surviving relatives include sister-in-law Judy Campbell and brother-in-law Dale Smith of Grand Junction, CO; Wayne and Margie Campbell of Grand Junction, CO and Mark Smith of California.

Prior to moving to Grand Junction, Betty had been a coordinator for the Mo. State Health Dept-Miller County, as well as supervisor for the Military Draft Board in Miller County. During the Viet Nam War, she saw many young men enter the service that she had known since they were children.

Note: After twenty years of service with the Selective Service System Betty received this Certificate of Appreciation (photo 03a):

03a Certificate of Appreciation
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She and her husband, Ellis, owned and operated the Hillcrest Cafe in Tuscumbia, originally built by Betty's parents in 1932.

Betty and Ellis moved to Grand Junction in 1979, and Betty became a member of the First Disciple of Christ Church on N. 1st St. She enjoyed singing, and was a member of the choir for many years. She also served as Chapter Regent for the Mount Garfield Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). Betty had a direct family connection to Hiram Rowden, who served with the 5th Virginia Line during the Revolutionary War. Regretfully, health issues forced Betty to relinquish her active role with the DAR.

Betty made many friends in this life, and will be missed by family and friends. A memorial service will be held at Callahan Edfast Mortuary on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 10:00am. A visitation will also be held from 10:30-12:30 on Dec. 3, 2011 at Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon, MO, with graveside service to follow at the Tuscumbia Cemetery, Tuscumbia, MO at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.

Betty was a charter member of the Miller County Historical Society. We have established a fund in her honor at the museum to which donors can contribute at this address:

Miller County Museum
2005 Highway 52
P.O. Box 57
Tuscumbia, MO 65082

Betty had deep familial roots in our county on both sides of her family. Through the years she and her sister, Mildred Messersmith Gray, have saved many historical items which have been of interest to us (photo 04).

04 Mildred Messersmith Gray, age 90 - 2007

Recently, John Michael has been sending me some of these artifacts and documents.

One item John Michael sent me was this certificate of Stock in the “Simmons Glare Shield Company” of Eldon (photos 05 and 06).

05 Glare Shield Share
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06 Glare Shield Share
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The company was started by William A. Simmons of Eldon. John Michael’s grandfather, Charles Messersmith, had purchased one share in the company in 1927 for one hundred dollars (photo 07).

07 Charles Messersmith

You will notice that the attorney signing the certificate was the well known Harry Kay of Eldon. According to John Michael this certificate of stock was issued by a company located in Eldon. Its product was a cover for windows, both auto and home, to keep out or cut down on sunlight. However, the company went defunct leaving very little further information available.

At first, I could not find out very much about the company, so I emailed Debbie Simmons Leonard who had presented us the Simmons’ family history last year at this previous Progress Notes.

Here is what Debbie wrote me:

However, after some searching on the Internet I did find that indeed, William A. Simmons had applied for and received a patent on his Glare Shield device patent No. 1,835,187 in 1931 and had the documents to prove it! You can view it at this website.

Click on the image below to view a PDF document that includes two pages of William’s narrative describing his “Glare Shade” and two more pages of diagrams (photos 08 - 11):

08-11 Glade Shield Document
Click image to view entire document in PDF format

I decided to call Mildred Messersmith Gray, daughter of Charles Messersmith, to see what she knew about the “Glare Shade.” Mildred is ninety years plus in age and has a terrific memory. And yes, she did remember the “Glare Shade” company and indeed, her father had one of the shades on his car. Mildred said that the principle component of the “Glare Shade” was “isinglass.” According to Wikipedia:

Thin transparent sheets of mica called "isinglass" were used for peepholes in boilers, lanterns, stoves, and kerosene heaters because they were less likely to shatter compared to glass when exposed to extreme temperature gradients. Such peepholes were also used in "isinglass curtains" in horse-drawn carriages and early 20th century cars. A book about a journey in a Model T Ford car describes isinglass curtains as follows: “Oiled canvas side curtains were put up over the windows for wind, rain, and cold (there were no heaters) and were held in place with rods that fit into the doors and twisting button snaps around the perimeter... 'Isinglass' peepholes in the curtains allowed limited visibility. Isinglass was made of thin sheets of cracked mica.”

Unfortunately, according to Mildred, Mr. Simmons’ company failed to generate enough sales to continue in business and it closed after a couple or more years.

Regarding the Charles Messersmith family, I have presented the Messersmith family history on a previous Progress Notes.

However,  I do want to tell the story of Charles Messersmith’s move to Tuscumbia from Iberia when he was elected to be the County Assessor at which time he also started and operated Tuscumbia’s historical Hillcrest Restaurant.

The following is told by Charles’ son, John Messersmith (photo 12):

12 John Messersmith

“My Dad operated stores in Tuscumbia and Iberia. He traded his little farm to Burley Abbett for a small grocery store in Tuscumbia in 1912. (I was born in the apartment above the store).

Note: This was later known as the George Nichols’ store (photo 13).

13 Nichols Store Tuscumbia - Birthplace of John and Mildred Messersmith

This small business prospered and grew until he sold it and moved to Iberia in 1920 where he went into a larger mercantile business with a cousin, Charley Short. Iberia was blessed with too many stores of this kind at that time and the business finally failed and Dad lost his shirt. After some rather lean years, he was re-elected to the office of County Assessor and we moved back to Tuscumbia in 1925. After another eight years in office, he was defeated in the election of 1932 when the Democrats swept the county. During this time my father and mother founded the small business still known as Hillcrest in Tuscumbia.”

The following article from the Autogram relates the subsequent history of the Hillcrest Café at a time it was being remodeled in 1964:

Miller County Autogram and The Miller County Sentinel
Thursday, September 24, 1964

Tuscumbia Landmark Razed To Make Way For Café, House

By Clare Mace

Another Tuscumbia landmark has been razed to make way for a new café and residence for Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Smith, who own and operate Hillcrest Café and Cree-mee at the corner of Highway 52 and the street leading to the courthouse (photo 14).

14 Betty and Ellis Smith

The new structure will be on the same site as the former residence and will extend further south. It will be of red brick and frame structure. The larger café and Cree-mee will face the highway and the increased living area will be on the south side. Both will be housed under the same roof. Harold DeMott is in charge of construction.

A full basement has been excavated this week by Truman Helton and son, Layne. The basement will open at ground level in the rear and will contain a large bedroom, laundry room and garage. The first floor living quarters will have three bedrooms, bath, living room, and large dining room. The café will also have increased dining area, modern kitchen with serve through window to the adjoining Cree-me, and rest rooms. There will be wood paneling throughout and the building will be air conditioned.

The residence section was torn down last week and the cafe will be operated in the old café building until the new one is completed. The old café will then be torn down to provide increased parking area.

The razing of the old residence which is next to the store brings many nostalgic memories to Mrs. Fred Klindt (maiden name Minnie Small, who later married Charles Messersmith and last was married to Fred Klindt) (photos 15, 16 and 17).

15 Minnie Alice Small Messersmith before Marriage

16 Juanita, Minnie and Mildred Messersmith - Late 1930's

17 Minnie, Olive, Irvin, Irene Small Family Photo

Mrs. Klindt, who is the mother of Mrs. Smith, has owned the building for many years and remembers it from her childhood. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Small who at the time lived across the highway from the Messersmith house which was adjacent to the Hillcrest restaurant (photo 18).

18 Arthur Eliot Small

She says she is now 78 years old and says the Messersmith house has been there ever since she can remember.

Note: Here is a photo of the Hillcrest Café with the home owned by the Messersmith’s behind it on the left (photo 19):

19 Hillcrest Cafe Tuscumbia - 1933
Nelly Small, Juanita Messersmith, Mildred Messersmith, Cabin R. Hiram Messersmith

And printed below is John Michael Smith’s commentary about photo 19:

“The date 1933 in the lower right hand corner, is in my estimation a very good overall look at the business building as well as a portion of the living quarters, roof and porch. Also, you will notice the cabin to the right of the café. That, according to Aunt Mildred, was where their grandfather, Hiram Messersmith lived until his death at age 83 in 1926.

The three young women seated between the gas pumps are Nell Small on left, Juanita Messersmith in middle, and Mildred Messersmith on right. With the aid of a magnifying glass I was able to read the sign that states, Phillips Gas. According to Aunt Mildred, that was the only gas sold there. The sign on the front advertises “Groceries and Lunches.” Also, “C.Messersmith is painted on the front wall. The side wall sign states “Meals and Lunches.” Aunt Mildred told me that Grandpa Messersmith did not have the best eyesight. Consequently, from time to time they had to rescue him if he wound up in an area he was not familiar with (photo 20).”

20 Hiram Messersmith

And here is a photo of the home across the highway where the Small family and Minnie lived for a while (photo 21):

21 Small Home - Later belonged to James Messersmith - Located across street from Hillcrest

Later, the home was owned by a number of individuals including James Messersmith who is the man standing in the yard of the photo. The home no longer is present having been replaced years ago by another smaller building. You can read the Small family history at this previous Progress Notes.

James sold the home to Nancy, Willard and Charles Williams in 1921. Almost ten years later, Alfred S. Woody bought it and later Mrs. Martha Clark purchased it. After her the owners were Fred W. Smith, Charley E. Abbett, and finally, Glen Warren.

Now back to the narrative of the newspaper article:

Some of the families Mrs. Messersmith remembers living there (Messersmith house) were the Perry Freemans when Mr. Freeman was circuit clerk; Probate Judge Baker’s family; Mr. and Mrs. Will Bear, one time editor of the Autogram; and the Lum Setser family, when he was county clerk.

Mrs. Klindt’s first husband was Charlie Messersmith, assessor of Miller County for many years. They bought the property from Ralph Atkinson about 1920 or ’21. Mr. Messersmith died there in 1939. Their youngest daughter, Betty Lou, now Mrs. Ellis Smith, was born there. Their other two daughters were married while they lived there, Juanita to Roger Stillwell and Mildred to B.B. Gray.

The Messersmiths built the business addition in 1933. After Mr. Messersmith’s death in 1939, his widow Minnie operated the business for several years, which at that time included a café, store and filling station.

Others who have leased and operated businesses there since that time include Arthur Bear, Garrett Berry and Madison Bear, T.C. Lawson, Ernest Abbett, Onis Keeth, and Roscoe Dake.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Smith have lived there and operated the business since 1959.

When the walls were torn down, a page or two of legal size paper, apparently scrap, was found in the space behind a door sill. It contained some fancy practice writing, some figuring, drawings, and several signatures. These names were on the paper: John Adcock, Joel B. Clark, James R. Wright, Thomas R. Clark, Eliza E. Clark and Minnie E. Allen. One notation said: “Copied by C.M. Thompson, February 27th, 1885.”

After this article was written the Smith’s ran the Hillcrest Café until 1979 when they moved to Colorado. Carolyn Patterson Pryor was one of those who worked at the Hillcrest Café during those years. Here are some of her memories:

Patsy Martin Angel worked there before I ever did and I took Patsy Burks Clark's place and worked there both my Jr./Sr. years and the summer in between. Grace Long Flaugher worked there when I did, Judy Martin Lawson for a bit and then Sue Keeth Lee took my place. Mrs. Bob Klug and Wilma Harbison were the wonderful cooks, along with owner Ellis Smith. I asked John Michael Smith if he could recall there being a pay phone in the cafe and that I would call mom from there and talk some. He could not remember the sign on the wall that fascinated everyone, but Don (John Michael’s brother) sure did and told me he still has it and sent me the wordings. I couldn't remember the very last part of it, deciphered out, but Marshall Humphreys could and many others I asked could, but not always all of it. Do you remember it?

SEVILLE DAIR DAGO
TOUSUN BUSSIS INURO
NOJO DEMSTRUX
SUMIT COUSIN
SUMIT DUX

Meaning:
SEE VILLE DERE DEY GO
THOUSAND BUSES IN A ROW
NO JOE DEMS TRUCKS
SOME WITH COWS IN
SOME WITH DUCKS

I was only 15/16 yrs. old when I worked there and John Michael was probably 12/13 or so, but he was such a good worker for being so young and would willingly come out each night and help me close down, he'd put money in the juke box and we'd work up a storm and talk of our days doings. Betty and Ellis only paid him to fill the bottle soda machine and mop the floors, but he did much, much more.

As a review the following is a summary of the various individuals who have been renters and/or owners of the Hillcrest Café:

After Charles died in 1939 Minnie rented the café to Madison Bear and Garrett Berry who soon turned it over to Madison’s son, Arthur Bear. The next renters were Tolliver Lawson followed by Ernest and Laura Abbett who turned it over to Roscoe Dake. After Roscoe, the café returned to the Messersmiths’ when Betty Lou Messersmith Smith and her husband Ellis Smith owned the restaurant for several years until about 1979 when they moved to Colorado.

After the Smith’s management the building was sold to Max Pryor and he rented it for office space. Kerry Rowden became the next owner of the building. Presently, it houses a hair dressing salon. Here is a current photo of the building which after several remodelings retains little that is reminiscent of the original structure (photo 22).

22 Current building at site of Old Hillcrest Cafe

Here are some more photos taken at various times at the Hillcrest Café: First is this old early 1930’s photo of Charles Messersmith and Jim Hardin at the gas pump (photo 23).

23 Charles Messersmith and Jim Hardin - Early 1930's

Next is one of John Messersmith holding in his arms his nephew, John Michael Messersmith, in front of the original home dwelling located next to the restaurant (photo 24).

24 John Messersmith and John Michael Smith

Next is Carolyn Patterson and Linda Thompson in a convertible at the east side of the restaurant (photo 25).

25 Hillcrest Cafe - 1960
Carolyn Patterson and Linda Thompson

Here is another of Carolyn Patterson (who worked at the restaurant) and John Michael Smith (photo 26).

26 John Michael Smith and Carolyn Patterson

Inside the store at the counter are employees Patsy Burks, Mrs. Klug and Mrs. McNeely (photo 27); and inside the home another of Carolyn Patterson (photo 28).

27 Patsy Burks, Mrs. Klug and Dorothy McNeely

28 Carolyn Patterson in Messersmith House

Here is a photo of one of the first receipts used at the store (photo 28a):

28a Hillcrest Receipt

As noted above, Betty Lou Messersmith Smith was a supporting charter member of the Miller County Historical Society (photo 29).

29 MCHS Charter Member Certificate
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She was involved from the very beginning in the Society’s activities and continued to support the society after she moved to Colorado in 1979. Included in her archives is the first members’ brochure published in 1979. You can read through it here (photos 30 - 39):

30-39 MCHS Brochure
Click image to view entire document in PDF format

She preserved in her files the first publication by the society which announced the museum dedication at its original location at the old Jail next to the old courthouse (photos 40 and 41).

40 Old Miller County Jail - First Home of MCHS - Dedicated June 14, 1980
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41 Old Miller County Jail - First Home of MCHS - Dedicated June 14, 1980

She also had in her files the first newsletter published by the society (photo 42).

42 MCHS Newsletter - 1980
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In addition to her dedication to the historical society and support of the creation of a museum, Betty also was a strong supporter of the Tuscumbia High School Alumni Association having kept files of its records annually until she moved to Colorado in 1979. These have been delivered to Larry Flaugher, current Alumni President.

Betty’s son, John Michael Smith, who now is a resident of Colorado, continues to carry out her mission of preserving and presenting the history of Miller County and its people. Through the years John often has sent me photos or narratives of interest regarding the history of our county for which I have been very grateful!

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

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