The rise and growth of temperance

McDonald County Historical Society

by Alberta Anders

McDonald County is and has, apparently, always been a very unique part of this country. A drive from Pineville to Lanagan via EE can only confirm what a beautiful area this is. The Queen Ann's Lace, or is it Yarrow?, the daisies, brown eyed Susan, flowering clover, so beautiful to behold (please don't pick, leave for future generations to enjoy) A check in the "Illustrated History of McDonald County, Missouri From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, edited and compiled by J. A. Sturges Attorney at Law, Pineville, Mo. 1897." confirms that our current problems with alcohol (currently on our rivers) are not a new problem (Thanks to our very competent local Law Enforcement this problem is under control.) Mrs.
Lora S. LaMance reported in this publication, "The Temperance Work in McDonald County" as follows:

"The rise and growth of temperance sentiment in McDonald county has been somewhat out of the ordinary. To fully understand it, we must go back to the early days of its settlement. At the first, the county was largely settled by people from the Southern and Western states. The most genial, hospitable people on earth, their very qualities of BON HOMIE and good fellowship inclined them to convivialtity. There had been no temperance agitation, and none were troubled with scruples as to dram drinking or social treating. Most of the stores sold whisky, and sold it with as little concealment as they did their calicoes; every farmer brought his jug with him when he came to town to trade; every horse swapping or sale of land was confirmed by treats all around; every house and barn raising was dedicated by the passing of the whisky jug from hand to hand; the guests at every wedding grew hilarious with exhilarating corn-juice, while all too often the mourners of the funeral, drowned their sorrows the same day in the oblivion of drunkenness. Picnics, elections, and holidays were days of "a general good time," which expression covered everything from being gentlemanly foxy to lying dead drunk in the fence corner. Thus were sown the seeds for a bitter harvest of dissipation.......All this turbulent time two and three saloons were doing a flourishing business at the county seat, then a hamlet of less than two hundred inhabitants, but from its position the center of all this turmoil. Undoubtedly much of the incitement to strife came from the same iniquitous saloons, the breeders of mischief everywhere. Then again, there came back from the war a loose, wreckless class of persons, who drift as naturally to places where the law is weak and moral force at a low ebb, as the waters run down the hill. The period of 1865-70 was a shameful one that all of McDonald's Citizens would be glad to forget. It was a current saying that Pineville was the worst drinking hole in the state, and this fact furnishes the only reasonable explanation of how such an apalling list of crimes and misdemeanors could be committed in the midst of what had been before, and is at the present time, a most peaceful people....." There is much more, very interesting, and the rest of the story can be read at the McDonald County Historical Museum at 302 Harmon (formerly Health Department, next door to the U. S. Post Office in Pineville) - You are cordially invited to drop in, the hours are Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Copies of Judge Sturges fascinating and informative book are available for a donation of $25, or can be mailed to you for $30, just write to P. O. Box 372, Pineville, Missouri, 64856.

Shake-Down Tour

McDonald County Historical Society

by Alberta Anders

If you missed the "shake-down" tour on Saturday you missed a very interesting, informative and entertaining day. Thanks to Frankie Meyer there was much information and scenery shared. This was a small tour, just a taste of what is possible. Having started at the Anderson Train Depot (now city hall) and driving by Beaver Street and home of Dabbs Greer and the Dabbs Greer Old Town Swimming Hole and Old Bell Drug Store they stopped by the Mustang statue at the high school, representing courage, strength, and high ideals of the students of McDonald County. On Mud Springs Road they visited Judy Rickett's museum, they toured the old church in Southwest City, Al Dixon's barber shop and the landscaped yard at the historic Sanders House in Southwest City. The day was beautiful, made to order, as they drove along the historic Jefferson Highway and Ozark Trail and visited Lynn and William Mosby's amazing Ginger Blue Bed and Breakfast. They ended at the Shelt Noel Cemetery east of Noel. Frankie had provided information to surprise, delight and inform and six packed cars journeyed these area with
so much more to be traveled. We had people come all the way from Kansas
City to join and are looking forward to the rest of the tour laid out by Frankie that includes: Pineville, Craig O'Lea, Mack's Big Rock, State Conservation Park, Camp Tilden, Cyclone, Powell and the iron trestle bridge, Powell store and Brumley museum, bee bluff, Beantown, Success Schoolhouse, Longview store, Bethpage, Williams School, Old Stagecoach road. Watch this column and this paper for more information as we complete the tour of the south part of McDonald County and ....the rest of the story.......

We can no longer offer the 2009 calendars, both 2008 and 2009 are sold out and we are working on 2010. We still have copies, however, of "Illustrated History of McDonald County Missouri, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present time." originally printed in 1897, and reprinted for your enjoyment, we have this book Edited and compiled by J. A. Sturges, Attorney at Law, Pineville, Missouri 1897" available for a donation of $25, or $30 if you
want it mailed, as well as several other historical publications. Proceeds

support the Historical Society's preservation projects. Our museum is next

to the U. S. Post Office in Pineville on Harmon Street, and it is open Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Museum curator is David Sparlin and with volunteers Dorothy Beauchamp and Roger Crosswhite they make every effort to answer your questions and show you around. Check out our web page at info@mcdonaldcohistory.org and do stop by and see us.