By Judy Nichols
The Cedar County Historical Society met at the museum in Stockton on Monday, May 18, 2026. Members present were: President Judy Nichols, Vice President Chris Barber, Treasurer Sheila Griggs, Anna Hopkins, Heather Smith, Sharyl Henry, Frank Stranimier, Joe Phillips, Bob Phillips, Carl Reeves, Ellis Benham and guest, Linda Betlock.
Society member, Heather Smith, explained the details of the Fall Cemetery Walking Tour planned for Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24 at the Stockton Cemetery. The hours would likely be 5:30 to 7 p.m. and include short stories about historical people interred there. Heather gave an interesting, short narrative of one Cedar County founder as an example of what the tour would include. Stockton Cemetery Board President, Linda Betlock, discussed the coordination between the society, the cemetery board and the Stockton City Council. President Nichols appointed a committee with Heather Smith as chairperson to manage the project.
Members discussed the Black Walnut Festival in September and whether or not to have a booth in the park. Chris and Virginia Barber will not be able to manage a booth this year, so other options are being weighed. The society will still hold their annual White Elephant Sale and tours in the museum during the festival.
President Nichols gave an update and a historical correction about the Hoff House, 309 East. St. in Stockton, that had been repeated incorrectly many times over the years. It was discovered that the property was deeded to the Sherrill family in 1846 as a land patent and the house was built circa 1856. Abel Bacon purchased the house and land from the Sherrills in 1867 and sold it to Mary E. Hoff in 1870. The deed went back and forth to different Hoff family members over the years who were raised in that house. The property then sold to the Bernard Mitchell family in 1979 and the house was remodeled and remained in that family until it was purchased by Kendra Jones Morris in 2025.
Nichols noted that Cedar County founders, Dr. William Blake and Russell Lilburn had actually owned the home and property just north of the Sherrill’s land. So, Russell Lilburn, commander of the Stockton Grays during the Civil War, was not killed in that house as had been noted for years.
Kendra Jones Morris has spent the past year repairing the home in anticipation for her new venture,“A Historic Venue and Gathering Place at Stockton Lake.” The project is moving forward and the old historic home is getting a new lease on life.
The Research Library project, inventorying maps, labeling them and storing them on the new map rack is a slow process due to the age of the paper, but is moving forward. Interesting history is being revisited with each item as they are being unrolled from being in storage for many years.
The used ink cartridges have been wrapped and are ready to mail to be recycled. Donations of used ink cartridges are still being collected by the society as a fund raiser.
President Nichols again, discussed reprinting the 1961 Cedar County Atlas book to sell. Judy Nichols will check with printers to see if it needs to be reformatted to be spiral bound.
Barbara Baird, who has a travel blog, “The Accidental Ozarkian,” and a book about mills in Missouri, will be visiting the museum at the next meeting on June 29. She plans to write a second book that will include the water mills in Cedar County. You can view her blog about Caplinger Mills at https://www.ozarkian.com/a-visit-to-the-caplinger-mills-bridge/
The museum will be open on Saturday, June 6 and 20, from Noon to 4 p.m. and Monday, June 29, during the monthly meeting, from 1 to 4 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and visiting the museum is always free.
The Cedar County Museum and Research Library are located at 106 Davis Street in Stockton. For information, appointments or to purchase publications, call 417-276-1142, 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.
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