Progress Notes

Recently, we were visited at the museum by James Atkisson who lives on D Route near Lake Ozark (photo 01).

01 James Atkisson

James, who was one of the first members of the Miller County Historical Society, contributed much to the organization when it was being organized back in the 1970’s. He is a relative of Peggy Hake and the two of them recorded quite a lot of history regarding some of our earliest families. I told Peggy about Jim’s visit and this is what she wrote me:

One of the most interesting aspects of James’ contribution to Miller County history has to do with a cave on his farm which overlooks the Osage River just two or three miles down stream from Bagnell Dam. Originally, the cave had the name “Big Mouth Cave.” Over the years James found many Indian artifacts in the cave.  Dwight Weaver, who is a member of our museum committee, has written six books about Missouri Caves. Dwight was kind enough to send me a copy of two pages from his book, Missouri The Cave State 1980, where he discusses in some detail James’ cave now known as Indian Burial Cave (The photos accompanying the narrative also were from Dwight’s book.):

“Indian Burial Cave was found in the early 1800’s by a government survey team. Discovering two adjacent openings on a steep hillside, they christened the larger of the two entrances “Big Mouth Cave,” and the smaller one “Little Mouth Cave.” In essence, they are but one cave since a passage connects the two openings inside the hill. In 1960 the cave was officially opened to the public by James F. Atkisson and the system given one name…Indian Burial Cave.

The property, upon which the cave is located, was settled just prior to the Civil War by J.A. Atkisson. When the hostilities of war erupted, he hid in the cave to avoid conscription. He remained there until a guerrilla band terrorizing the community chose his cave for a rendezvous point. For a time, Atkisson found it healthier to hide elsewhere.

Around the activities of this marauding band a tale of buried treasure is woven. The treasure, consisting of $15,000, is said to have been unearthed near the cave in 1894 but no documentation has been found to support either the treasure story or the treasure find.

In 1959, James F. Atkisson, the great grandson of J.A. Atkisson, discovered Indian relics and burials within the cave entrance. During the following year he created and acquired jeeps to transport visitors to the cave.

The primary entrance to Indian Burial Cave is 35 feet wide and 7 feet high. “The entrance chamber is roughly circular in outline, with two passages leading from it. The left passage leads to a second entrance a short distance along the cliff to the northwest. To make this area available to the public, a trench was dug through the archaeologically fertile cave fill. Near this trench, as it leaves the entrance room, two complete skeletons were found buried side by side.

Atkisson also trenched into the main cave passage for a distance of about 150 feet for public use. All Indian artifacts and burials were displayed in cases.

Atkisson operated the cave for several seasons and then leased the cave to Lee Mace and Al Lechner of Lake Ozark. The new operators installed an inclined cable car down the hillside to the cave opening, removing much of the fill in the cave’s entrance chambers to allow the cave stream to form a small lake, housed in the cave entrance to protect the artifact site and enhance its commercial presentation, and provided a boat ride on the underground lake. Many additional Indian artifacts representative of the types created by Indians of this region in pre historic times are on display at the cave.

The following photos are taken from Dwight’s book:

First is a map of the area showing the location of the cave (photo 04):

04 Map location of Indian Burial Cave

One can see a partial view of Bagnell Dam from the top of the hill above the cave entrance.

The next photo is of the small ticket office and souvenir store on the top of the hill above the cave. The cave entrance is about one half way down the hill (photo 05).

05 Indian Burial Cave

The Volkswagon convertible on the left of the photo belonged to my father, Harold Pryor. He lent it to me to drive to the cave when I was a cave guide there in the early 1960’s.

Lee Mace and Al Lechnir, who were partners in the lease to operate the cave, placed many unique signs in the shape of arrows all over the state of Missouri to advertise the cave. Once in a while you will see the remains of one of these signs along highway right of ways (photo 06).

06 Indian Burial Cave Sign

Here is a photo of the tram which carried visitors down the steep hillside to the mouth of the cave (photo 07):

07 Tram leading to Cave half way down Hill

A small building was placed near the mouth of the cave (photo 08).

08 Partailly enclosed opening to Cave on Left

Next are a couple of photos of the Indian burial where the skeletal remains of two native Americans were found by anthropologists and archaeologists from the University of Missouri under the direction of professor Carl Chapman, a very well known anthropologist (photos 09 and 10).

09 Indian Burial Cave Burial Site

10 Skeletal remains of Indian Burial

One of the most enjoyable features of the cave for tourists was the excursion on the cave lake in a pontoon boat (photo 11).

11 Navigating Cave Lake

Indian Burial Cave has been closed for quite a few years now.  Many of the archaeological findings were donated to the anthropology department of the University of Missouri.

The burials found in the cave were of the Woodland Period which has been dated as extending from 500 B.C. to about 900 A.D. You can read more about the anthropology and history of these Native Americans at this very interesting website.

Here is a photo of Anthropologist Carl Chapman (standing on left) with other anthropologists at a cave burial in South Missouri (photo 12):

12 Carl Chapman on left at a Burial Site

Peggy Hake mentioned in her note to me that James Atkisson accompanied her the day she obtained the very interesting interview with Iberia native Hite Boren at his home near Hawkeye, Missouri, near the county line. I have copied the article Peggy wrote about that interview from our own website which you can read below:

THE HITE BOREN STORY (photo 13)

13 Hite Boren

In 1983, I had the privilege of interviewing one of the area's oldest citizens, Hite Boren, of Hawkeye in Pulaski County. At the time he was in his 100th year and he lived for another 2 years after my interview. I had such a pleasure visiting and speaking with Uncle Hite Boren of Hawkeye. He is a marvelous old gentleman who celebrated his 100th birthday in February of this year (1983). He lives alone in his little home in Hawkeye and gets around remarkably well. His eyesight is nearly gone, but his other senses are so keen! His memory is like a computer that has stored facts and dates in a memory bank that can be tapped with just a little persuasion. Let me tell you his wonderful family history as he told it to me and his 100 years of life.

James Hite Boren was born just a short distance from where he now lives in February, 1883. He was one of 13 children born to James and Catherine (Setser) Boren. His brothers and sisters were: Manuel, Joseph/Joe, John, Scott, Charley, Adam, Jane, Sarah/Sally, Martha, Eva, Hattie, and Lillie. In 1904, at age 21 years, Hite married Zelphia E. McDowell, daughter of Wm. and Sarah (Legion) McDowell. The brothers and sisters of Zilphia were: Calvin, John, Monroe, Frank, Sadie (Wall), Margaret (Woods), Mary Jane (Shelton), and twins, Victoria (Lemmons) and Alice (Brumley).

The parents of both Hite and Zelphia came to Miller County in the mid 19th century from Georgia. Jim Boren, Hite's father, was born and reared to manhood in Macon, Georgia. Hite's mother, Catherine Setser, daughter of Manuel and Judy Setser, was born and reared in North Carolina. Jim, who was 26 years old, born in 1838, married Catherine, age 15, just before they started their trek to Missouri c/1860. Jim and Catherine were among a large group of immigrants who journeyed here together from Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. The Borens and McDowells were accompanied by other families including the Setsers, Steens, Legions, and Russells. They came in a group of 45 wagons which they called a 'wagon pack' and all settled in the same area of northern Pulaski and southern Miller counties.

Hite and Zelphia were parents of 3 children: Orville, who is deceased; Frank lives near his father and cares for him daily, and Pearl (Mrs. Homer Cochran). Zelphia passed on at the age of 82 in 1968. This wonderful couple celebrated 64 years of marriage before her death and they shared many years of happiness as they welcomed new Boren generations. Today, Hite has 6 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and 4 great, great grandchildren. NOTE: Since 1983, I am sure that number has increased (PSH).

I taped our conversation that evening when I visited Hite. He told me he only attended school for about 2 years as a child because the times were 'rough' and the children were needed on the farm. After marriage, he learned to read and write, taught by his wife whom he called a ‘good scholar.’ His first job away from home was when he reached the age of 16. He worked 99 days for Charley Condra doing farm chores and field labor. As the years rolled along, he was a man of many trades--a farmer in Pulaski County, a harvest hand in Kansas, an employee of Hunter's Mill in Wellington, KS, a rural mail carrier, a state prison employee in MO, and a laborer when Ft. Leonard Wood was being constructed. His job as rural mail carrier (1915-1919) during World War I, must have been an interesting one. He carried the mail by team and wagon from Hawkeye to Crocker (Pulaski Co.). He and Ben McDowell were co-partners on this mail route. One week Hite would carry the mail and Ben would farm; the next week, vice-versa.

Hite registered for the draft during World War I but was never called. By this time he was almost 35 years old and the draft caught the younger men. When Hite was a child, everyone called their elders either uncle, aunt, grandma, or grandpa. He quipped to me that he didn't realize his neighbors had other names until he was grown! That is a custom which has disappeared over the years, although when you speak with him, it seems only natural to call him "Uncle Hite" or perhaps "Grandpa Hite". His family raised sugar cane each year to make a large supply of molasses for themselves and their neighbors. In the gardens, they raised most of their year's food. One of the methods used to preserve food for the oncoming months was to use mother earth for storage. Cabbages were turned upside down; the potatoes and turnips were kept in deep holes dug in the earth, and covered with straw and old sacks. They also raised pinto and white northern beans and black-eyed peas. The vegetables they picked were lain out in the sun to dry and when the shells broke, the beaus and peas were ready to store in sacks.

Hite remembered Hawkeye as a busy little village over the many years that have passed by. There were several general stores and mercantiles in the town. Some of the storekeepers were Anderson Keeth, Joe Whittle (my great grandfather), Fred Ferguson, Elijah Strutton, 'Black' Jim Wall, Elbert Pemberton, and Jack Brumley. A blacksmith shop was owned by Fred and Jim Slone. Upstairs over one of the stores was a Modern Woodmen of America hall, a civic organization of which Hite was a member. He could remember several post offices operated by his area neighbors in various locations. The churches of Hawkeye have been the Christian Church (Campbellite) built c/1880, a Baptist Church built on a hill about a half-mile from Hawkeye and later another Baptist Church was constructed in town. It is in use today, remodeled and renovated.

As a child, Hite could remember hearing fantastic eye-witness stories of the Civil War as experienced by the old soldiers who would gather at his father's house. On many Friday nights, these old veterans would get together and talk for hours of their experiences through the war years. He named these men who would share their memories at his father's house and they included: Squire John Ferguson, Willis Lively, 'Preacher' Rutter, George Steen, Smith Holden, Tom Thornsberry, Will Pemberton, Thomas Day, Abner Long, Henry Carroll, John Carroll, John Lowery, Jim Smith, Bill Madden, Nicholas Long, Jack Long, Peter Whittle, Solomon Keeth, 'Preacher' Jack Thompson, Thomas Owen Workman, 'old man' Hill, and Bill McDowell. See what I mean when I speak of his remarkable memory!

G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) encampments were held every year at Richland, Crocker, Brumley, and Iberia. For 4 days, excitement would overflow at these encampments. Many families would come into the towns in wagons and camp out during the 4 days of activities. Hite told me the first encampment held at Iberia was located on the "Irwin and Farnham farms" outside of town. I had always assumed all encampments and picnics had been held at old Hardy Park on the western edge of Iberia. He related so many other marvelous stories, but space does not permit me to write them all.

I asked him for whom he voted for President the first time, but at the time he could not remember. He said, "It was in 1904 and he was a Republican 'cause I've always voted the Republican ticket". Well, folks, the first President he voted for was none other than old Teddy Roosevelt who was elected in the November general election of 1904!

Hite has owned only one car in his lifetime and he refused to drive it on the highways! He preferred his trusted horse and would today if he could ride again. He also informed me he has never ridden in a boat or an airplane and what's more, he never will! Trains were a different story; he has ridden many and even tried "hoboing" the tracks to the Kansas wheat harvests as a young man.

Needless to say, my visit and interview with Uncle Hite Boren was a wonderful experience. As this grand, old man begins his second one hundred years of life, I can only envy him all those glorious memories of his first one hundred years. He has lived through the most exciting time of world history...he began life on a frontier farm in the 1880s; saw the horseless carriage arrive; then he witnessed the airplane soar across the skies; he saw electricity invented for our modern conveniences; and onward to a computerized age of space technology and man's first visit to the moon.

I, too, have seen all these so-called 'modern day miracles', but do you know what? I wish I could have sat around an open fireplace or campfire and heard all those tales told of the Civil War by old soldiers as they gathered together at the home of Jim Boren all those countless years ago!!!

Thanks Peggy!

After James Atkisson left the museum the other day I retrieved from our library bookcase his scrap book which he had donated more thirty than years ago. It was especially interesting to me because he included many items having to do with the early organization of our historical society. When you visit the museum you might enjoy perusing James’ scrapbook.

Also, you might be interested in reading more about Omer Robinett at this previous Progress Notes:

We were saddened last week to learn that Gladys Slone had passed away. Gladys was one of the early supporters of our Miller County Historical Society. Here is her obituary copied from the Rekus Funeral home website:

Gladys Nancy (Whitaker) Slone
Oct. 10, 1919 ~ Aug. 17, 2012

Gladys Slone, age 92, of Tuscumbia, died Friday, August 17, 2012, at Strafford Care Center. She was born in Iberia on October 10, 1919, a daughter of the late Thomas and O’Dessa (Humphrey) Whitaker (photo 13a).

13a Gladys Nancy (Whitaker) Slone

On May 19, 1937 she was married to Denzle Carl Slone, who preceded her in death.

Gladys was a licensed cosmetologist and had her own beauty shop for years. She and Denzle had a grocery store and locker plant in Tuscumbia. They also had a poultry processing plant for many years. Gladys was a member of the Victoria Chapter #14 Order of the Eastern Star, Eastern Star Eugene Chapter 386 and Rebecca Lodge Eldon Chapter 324. She was an active board member of the Miller County Historical Society for several years and served on a committee and extension board at various times for the Willmore Lodge in Lake Ozark. She was Vice President of the Miller County Association for Family and Community Education and helped to organize and became the first President for the Happy Homemakers Extension Club. She was Treasurer for the Tuscumbia School Alumni from 1996-1997 and 1998-1999, was a member and served as secretary for the Eldon Senior Citizens Center and was a member of the Tuscumbia Town Board for several years. Gladys was also a member of Tuscumbia Christian Church and was a deaconess and in charge of many delicious meals there at the church.

Those who survive her include: one son, Don Slone and significant other Angel Huang of Kirbyville; one daughter, Nancy Kays and husband Darrell of Springfield; 11 grandchildren, Darren and Damon Slone, Dana Ilgenfritz, Debra Rogers, Steven Slone, Sherri Slone, Ashley McClanahan, Drew and Zachary Slone, Greg Kays and Terri Griffith; 18 great grandchildren; 8 great-great granchildren; one sister, Edith Duckworth of Liberty and one brother, Archie Whitaker of Dixon.

One son, Danny Slone and five brothers and sisters, also preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. – Noon on Wednesday, August 22, with services immediately following at Noon at the Tuscumbia Christian Church. Gene Edwards will officiate. Interment will be in Tuscumbia Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Masonic Home of Missouri or Tuscumbia Christian Church.

The severe drought this year has ruined pastures and gardens. I called a couple of people to see if anyone had any sugar cane which survived for making molasses and the ones I called said the heat and drought had ruined their crop. Near Tuscumbia Tom Graves and John Pendleton usually make molasses but last week both told me that they didn’t think the sugar cane was going to make it through the drought. However, Carolyn and Max Pryor sent me some old photos of some of Carolyn’s family and nearby neighbors making molasses back in the early 1960’s (photos 14, 15 and 16).

14 Frank Horton, Fred Pryor, Jim Patterson and Jesse Phillips

15 Jim, Bob and Wendell Patterson

16 Willard Boyd with Team - Maurice Patterson on Ground

Earl Brown visited the Patterson farm one day when molasses was being made. He wrote an article for his newspaper, the New Iberian, which very well described the process of molasses making in the old days:

Iberia Sentinel
October 25, 1973

It Was Like Going to The Fair

Jim and Ruth try their hand once again at making sorghum molasses

Last Saturday and Sunday the atmosphere around Jim Patterson’s farm was like that of the State Fair at Sedalia. Word got out across the country that Jim and Ruth and the boys were going to make molasses. Now it has been a long time since anyone in these here parts has seen the making of Ozark hills sorghum molasses. It’s almost a long lost art. There’s lots of hard work involved in it, too. It begins early in the spring and lasts up into the fall. From the sowing of the seed to the stripping of the cane stalk of its leaves and the evaporation of the juice in the boiling pan, one puts in long hours, a lot of hard work and not a little cash.

Well, people these days want to go back to old fashioned things. So when it was learned that the Pattersons were ready to run the cane stalks through the rolling pressure mill and claw off ready to eat molasses from the evaporator pan, people went by the car loads, truck loads and even on foot to witness this thing once again.

Jim put out about a quarter of an acre of cane last spring. He complained it was not the good old kind of seed he was used to but had to take what he could find in three states. The summer was rather dry for a good cane production. He watered the growing crop from a large, near by pond.

Last week the tall stalks were ready and with machete type knives made of wood Jim and his boys entered the cane patch and began stripping off the many leaves on each stalk. Then they cut the stalks and then beheaded them. Then they loaded the stalks onto a pickup truck bed or the loader on the front of a tractor and hauled the large piles of cane to the mill ready to crush between the heavy rollers of the cane mill and extract the sugar laden juice.

On Saturday they made up about half the cane crop. About 200 gallons of juice was extracted, or squeezed, from the cane stalks. The squeezed cane stalk we call “Cane plummies” and eventually they build into quite a pile, depending upon how much cane is processed. The juice out of the smashed stalk runs down a tin trough into a juice barel. Within time it is carried by bucketfuls across the way to the hot evaporator pan. It is poured into the front end of the pan and as it heats and boils and evaporates more and more into a sweet sugary state, it is moved through a series of fins into the farther end of the pan. Here within minutes over terrific fires it completes boiling and evaporating and is drawn through at the bottom of the pan and container containing a strainer through which the hot and thick molasses pass thus removing all bits of foreign substances.

Now is the time to take a small piece of the un squeezed stalk, stick it into the sorghum for a good coating of sweetness and lift it to the mouth for a wonderful taste.

About 20 gallons of juice are required to produce on gallon of finished molasses, so say Jim and the boys.

Long ago when this writer was acquainted with the art of molasses making, an old bay horse was used to pull the swing to crush cane. Old Nero was his name and he was ten years old. All day long he walked around in a circle pulling the sweep which operated the crushing rollers guided by halter rein fastened to a small sweep in front of him. Being blind he couldn’t see that he was going round in circles, so never got dizzy headed. He thought he was going straight all the time.

Over at Jim’s last Saturday and Sunday they used a team of horses part of the time and a brand new diesel Ford tractor another part of the time to pull the swing.

So old time molasses was made that day the original way except for the occasional use of the tractor to give the horses a rest. Time is passing as we go along in life; I wonder how much longer people will be around like Jim Patterson who know how to do things the old time way?

Here are some of the photos Earl took of the Pattersons’ while they were making molasses the day Earl visited (photos 16a - 16f).

16a Carolyn, Ruth, Jim, Wendell and Maruice Patterson

16b Frank Horton, Earl Brown, James W. Patterson and Jesse Phillips

16c Marvin, Kenny, Dean, John Patterson and Tom Hooks

16d Marvin, Kenny, Dean, John Patterson and Tom Hooks

16e Jim, Marvin and John Patterson
Click image for larger view

16f James, Maurice and Jean Patterson

Regarding those in the photos above, you can read more about them at these previous Progress Notes:

James Patterson
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/090727.html
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/080317.html

Willard Boyd
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/071002.html
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/090309.html
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/120409.html

Fred Pryor
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/071008.html
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/081215.html

Frank Horton
http://www.millercountymuseum.org/archives/100405.html

Jesse Phillips
You can trace Jesse’s ancestors all the way back to North Carolina at these Find A Grave website links:
- Glennis Chloe (Shelton) Phillips
- Jesse Elishia Phillips
- Lazarus (Lace) G "Gravilly Lace" Phillips
- Irvin Phillips

More information about Jim Patterson, Carolyn Patterson Pryor’s father, is contained in his obituary:

Birth:  Nov. 20, 1890
Death:  Feb. 7, 1983

Obituary: Jefferson City News Tribune, February 1983

James Willard Patterson, 92, of Ulman, died Monday, Feb. 7, 1983, at Lake of the Ozarks General Hospital in Osage Beach. Mr. Patterson was a lifelong resident of the Ulman community. He was born Nov. 20, 1890 at Ulman, son of William Bead and Camilla Nixdorf Patterson. On July 8, 1920, he was married at Bagnell to Ruth D. Graves, who died June 13, 1981.

A retired farmer, Mr. Patterson was a charter member of the Missouri Farmers Association and was a member of the Miller County Fox Hunters Association.

Surviving him are nine sons, Babe, Bob, Maurice and Marvin Patterson, all of Ulman, James, Warren, William and Harold, all of Tuscumbia, and Donald Patterson of Oak Harbor, Wash.; two daughters, Mrs. Elsie Woolf of Osage Beach and Mrs. Carolyn Pryor of Tuscumbia; two sisters, Mrs. Gertie Brumley of Ceres, Calif., and Mrs. Junia Groff of Waldenberg, Ark.; and 32 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Stevinson-Mossman Funeral Home in Iberia with the Rev. Gene Edwards officiating. Burial was in Jackson Cemetery near Ulman.

Sadly, one of Jim Patterson’s sons, Maurice Patterson, passed away just a couple of weeks ago. Here is his obituary:

Maurice Patterson funeral

Joe Maurice Patterson, age 74, of Ulman, passed away on Friday, August 10, 2012, at his home. He was born in Ulman on March 16, 1938, son of the late James Willard and Ruth Elizabeth (Graves) Patterson. On June 4, 1957, in Camdenton, Maurice married Hazel Jean Jeffries, who survives at the home.

Maurice worked in Kansas City and later returned to Miller County to work at Pryor Novelty. He also worked construction in the surrounding Miller County area and raised turkeys on his farm.

He is also survived by four sons, Kenneth Patterson and wife Donna, Ronald Patterson and wife Chris, John Patterson and wife Tammy, Paul Patterson and wife Allison all of Ulman; two daughters, Linda Wood and husband Gary of Eldon and Brenda Haley and husband David of Ulman; 21 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and seven siblings, Elsie Yates of Osage Beach, Warren Patterson of Tuscumbia, Wendy Patterson of Lebanon, Donald Patterson of Ulman, Marvin Patterson of Ulman, Harold “Pede” Patterson of Caulfield, and Carolyn Pryor of Wildwood.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Babe Patterson, Bob Patterson, and James Patterson.

Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 14, at Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. Bro. Bill Vernon and Bro. Gene Edwards will officiate. Interment will be in Jackson Cemetery in Ulman.

I want to thank Carolyn Patterson for supplying me with all the photos and the Earl Brown article for the story of molasses making.

Update: March 19, 2015:

Tammi (West) Jarrett, a relative of John Pendleton, sent me a note today with additional information about molasses making and had written the following article for the Lake Expo online paper several years ago:

Molasses by Tammi West Jarrett

As the holidays approach it is a time for most people to think of gatherings centered on a turkey, Christmas tree, or perhaps a child born in Bethlehem. Whatever the reasons to gather, memories are made and cherished throughout the New Year. However, for the family and friends of one Miller County man, John Pendleton, gatherings are not always centered on a holiday but rather a pole barn and a cane crop. Pendleton, who is also known as Catfish John, gathers with his family, friends, and neighbors for his annual cooking of molasses.

To get to this event takes a drive through long, twisted country roads and past pastures of beef cattle and barns that have seen better days. Colors of fall orange, yellow, and John Deere green are signs that you are headed in the right direction. Once you are in the Osage River bottoms and see a pole barn nestled in a field of harvested soybeans, you are there. Time literally seems to pause here in the heart of Miller County and, if only for a brief moment, you may feel as though you have gotten a glimpse into the past and of a much happier and simpler life, all from making molasses.

Generations of Miller County families show up for this time-consuming process. Usually the younger generation has the task of manual labor-stripping, cutting the cane, and working the cane press, while the job of skimming the pulp from the cooking molasses is usually reserved for the older generation. And there are some who are there to help serve food and drinks. Whatever your job or task that day most everyone enjoys the fellowship and lending an ear or tidbit to the stories of past molasses making days (photo 16g).

16g John Pendleton and Family making Molasses

“In the full bloom of the spring season, a patch of molasses cane is planted,” said Pendleton. “Come June or July when it is hot and humid we fire up our tractors and work our patch (cultivate) and then we wait. Come about September, late September, when there is a little heat in the air, we strip the cane and wait a week or so, and then early October we cut the cane and haul it to the press. We use tractors and propane now but there was a time that we didn’t. When I was a child my dad would plant a cane patch but our neighbor Mr. Burks owned the molasses pan and press. He would use a team of horses to move the equipment to our farm. A horse would then be used to turn the press; lots of folks used wood to fire the cooking pan…the old timers would take turns at the pan skimming and waiting for the molasses to cook. People would come early and stay late (photo 16h).”

16h John Pendleton on Tractor

“Molasses making had always been a community project for John and his neighbors,” explained Donald Jarrett, my father-in-law and Pendleton‘s son-in-law. “But John did not want his grandchildren and great grandchildren to lose the art of making molasses, so he began the annual family tradition.”

“I can remember a time when I was just a li’l shaver and my father and his neighbors used a team of horses to make molasses,” said Jarrett. “But for the first half of the twentieth century, most farmers had a small cane patch as molasses was cheaper than sugar. However, after the depression and the industrial boom in America, sugar became cheaper to produce and buy; so many people stopped growing cane and began buying processed sugar in the store.” For some of us old timers,” said Jarrett, “coming together as a community was not only considered neighborly but a necessity. Most people could not afford tractors or the price of fuel back in those days when molasses was made prevalently around the Miller County area.”

I had heard the term ‘old timers’ used quite often while living on a farm and I asked Jarrett what or rather who was an old timer since it has been my experience that the term ‘old timers’ is not a word of disgrace or insult but rather a word or name used with pride and affection. “Anyone older than you,” Jarrett smiled as he pulled off his baseball cap and ruffled a white head of hair. “Gosh, some of the people just seem like they are old all their life,” Jarrett laughed and went back to his duty of tedious scraping the film off the cooking molasses and waiting for the water to evaporate.

I turned my attention to a precious and sharp elderly woman, Ms. Flossie Clark, a friend and neighbor of Catfish. I sat captivated as she told stories of days that were simpler. Crisp clear eyes and a voice that was gentle and easy, Ms. Clark had a presence about her that made you feel at home. When you looked at her you couldn’t help but think of sweet tea and apple pie.

Once the molasses was cooked and poured into Mason jars, the molasses pan was cleaned and stored for yet another year. A deep silence fell easily upon the people; the realization that their task was almost complete. It was evident by a mere ten gallons of molasses, little in comparison to the hard work and labor put into this project, that the people at the molasses making were there not by need but rather a desire for fellowship (photo 16i).

16i Jars of Molasses

As the sun began to hide behind the horizon and a cool breeze descended upon us, it was obvious that this memory in time would soon fade. As Catfish bid his friends and family goodbye his voice, although gruff and with a hint of twang, softened when he bid them safe travel and warm wishes of good health. As people said their goodbyes, Catfish made sure that no one left empty handed; cakes, pies, and sometimes an occasional puppy where given with his warm goodbye and thank you.

I wish I could have bottled that feeling of family and community I felt that afternoon along the Osage River bottom. I will never forget the laughter, good humored kidding, and tales that were shared. I had been a part of something very special. I had been allowed into their world of fellowship and family, a world that is slow and easy and yet productive and satisfying.

On September 8 the town of Tuscumbia will celebrate its Septaquintaquinquecentennial. What is that you might ask?  Well, 2012 is the 175th year since Miller County was officially recognized in 1837 by the state of Missouri designating Tuscumbia as the county seat. So that certainly is a good enough reason to have a party don’t you think? Larry Flaugher, president of the Tuscumbia Alumni Association, is heading up the committee to have a grand celebration as described here in one of the promotional brochures:

Tuscumbia’s  “175 Year Celebration”
And Miller County Special Olympics Fundraiser

Saturday, September 8, 2012 the Tuscumbia Alumni will host a “175 Year Celebration” for Tuscumbia to be held @ the Tuscumbia Riverside Park from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

This Special Event is in conjunction with the Pig-N-Pickle Fest which raises funds primarily for the Miller County Special Olympics.

Activities planned for the day include live music, antique car and tractor show, parade, cake cutting ceremony, pulled pork dinner, battle of the Fire Dept.’s BBQ, pig petting zoo, old fashioned sack race, raffles, etc.

Here is the advertising flier Larry soon will be circulating throughout the county (photo 17):

17 Pig and Pickle Festival 2012 Flyer
Click image to view larger in PDF format

Those of you who were present at last year’s Pig and Pickle Fest will remember the delicious bar be cue pork and side dishes served as well as the great musical entertainment and games for kids held throughout the day. All proceeds will go to the Miller County Special Olympics fund. So come for fun and games as well as for supporting our Miller County Special Olympics.

That’s all for this week.

Joe Pryor

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