Cedar County Historical Society meets

by Connie Maupin

The Cedar County Historical Society held its monthly meeting Monday, March 26, at the museum in Stockton. Those present were President Judy Nichols, Vice President Judith Cain, Secretary Connie Maupin, Treasurer Shirley Potts, Anna Laura Hopkins, Marci Haralson, Kenneth Potts, Ellis Benham, Chris Barber and Bob Phillips.

Bob Phillips gave some history on several mills that once existed around Bear Creek and Spring Creek. His father’s uncle, John Clemmons Phillips, built one of those mills on Bear Creek that was later moved to Spring Creek. He also described how that mill was built.

Judy Nichols reported that Bob Estes has almost completed the location guide to Cedar County cemeteries and hopes to present it to Society in April.

Anna Laura Hopkins has gone through all of the Hembree family material, donated by Judith Hembree, and identified all that she could.

The Society’s Spring White Elephant sale is scheduled for April 21 at the museum in Stockton. The sale hours will be 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If there are any more donations for the sale, please make them soon. No shoes will be accepted and clothing will only be accepted if it is still in original packaging or with original tags. Contact Judy Nichols at 417/276-7092.

Glenda Pate is working on the next newsletter for members which will be out soon.

The Society is still in need of 13 gallon, tall kitchen trash bags. The Society is still in search of a display case and a mannequin in good condition.

A donation was made by the Society to the American Legion in memory of long time member Dale Goodman who passed away March 9, 2018.

Judy Nichols is working to complete the Bovell exhibit. She has purchased a frame to highlight Myrtle Bovell’s cooking advertisement leaflets which will be ready to display soon.

The Society is happy to welcome new member Ginger Spurgeon Chance this month. Ginger is a descendant of the Mayse and Curl families of Bear Creek. She also donated photos and historical data on the Curl family to the museum.

Anna Laura Hopkins donated items for the museum kitchen. Chris Barber donated picture frames and easels.

The Society Monthly Book Review: “1908 Atlas of Cedar County, Missouri.” The original reprint was undertaken by the Greene County Archives and Records Center in Springfield. This popular, 11 x 17 inch reprint includes a plat book of the townships, ranges and sections, towns and villages of the county. It also includes a local “Patrons Reference Directory,” photographs of some of the patrons, their homes and their businesses, a map with all Missouri counties, the U.S. Land Survey System and an index of all landowners, indexed by township, section and range. The book may be purchased for $20 at the museum or $26 (that includes $6 shipping and handling) by contacting the Society.

Beginning in April the museum will be open the first and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and as always, during meetings on the last Monday of the month from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission to the museum is free, however the Historical Society and museum are not tax funded and operate on donations from the public. The next meeting will begin at 1 p.m. April 30, in the museum at 106 West Davis Street in Stockton. Meetings are open to the public and free coffee is provided. For information, appointments or to purchase any publications, call Judy at 417/276-7092 or Shirley at 417/276-3337. Contact the Society by email at cedarcomohistsoc@gmail.com. On Facebook at “Cedar County MO Historical Society” or by mail at P.O. Box 111, Stockton, MO 65785.