Letters
I am pleased to hear that you have completed your research on the Dryden diaries. I was in hopes Dryden mentioned my relatives who lived near Metz, James M. Brown, wife Nancy, six children. She died 1880, he 1881, buried Pryor Creek.—Lois Snyder, 999 S. 900 £., Salt Lake City UT 84105, designiks-@gmail.com. [Unfortunately Dryden mentioned only a Frederick Brown, any kinship unknown.]
Dear Terry Ramsey - Did you ever discover the location of Lovers' Leap? [A picture postcard of a bluff in the Nevada area is called by this name.] It was my pleasure to visit the Historical Society and meet you and the other ladies who were so cordial and helpful. My gift of photographs was a gift and certainly never to be anything else. Should I discover other photos or artifacts of my McAninch family, I will be happy to donate them to you. Thank you again.—Elenore M. Stephens, P.O. Box 288, Potrero CA 91963.
Dear Bushwhacker Museum Staff- Enclosed is a check for SI 5.00 to secure a membership in the Vernon County Historical Society. I've been researching Nevada and Cottey College history for some time now, and currently manage a website about the latter (Cotteyphile.com). I owe a great deal to Patrick Brophy, Betty Sterett, and the other keepers of Nevada history. If there is anything I can ever do for the Society, please let me know. Sincerely - Brianne Hoppe, 12020 199th Ct. NE, Woodinville WA 98077.
Hello, Nevada Museum. I truly enjoy the Musings book. Glad I work down here and will come by on a Saturday. Your friend, Weldon Woodward, Levasy MO 64066 (a member).—A note slipped under the Museum door.
Our cosmopolitan cities are thronged with strangers. Our streets are crowded. The chaperone has now become an important figure in society. She accompanies the girl to the place of public amusement. She attends her at the social function in a private house. She goes driving with her in the park, and if the girl is quite young, she is not permitted to shop or to call unless she has the older woman with her. (1910)—Manners and Morals of Victorian America, by Wayne Erbsen, 2009.
The forces newly at work in America seemed to accept the inevitability and desirability of consolidation, whether in government, business, agriculture, or in human relations. In thus discarding Jeffersonian goals, the nation hastened after a society of giant cities, corporate agriculture, business goliaths, and an enormous government. Deeply disturbed by these developments, Missouri tried either to endure the changes or take refuge in skepticism and intransigence.—Missouri, by Paul C. Nagel. W. W, Norton, 1977.
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Terry - Every time I come to the Museum I am amazed at how wonderful it all is. You have done an outstanding job. Your many helpers should be recognized too. Thank you for giving our community a place to learn, remember and be proud of. Your idea of inviting clubs to hold a meeting at the Museum is a great way to draw people into the magical past. Thanks again. — Cindy Johnson
Dear Terry - Thank you again for making the event last Sunday such a grand success. Alice would have been so very happy that so many people came to the presentation. As I stated before, the presentation of Alice's rnemorabilia was absolutely fantastic, beyond my wildest dreams. We had such a lovely time during our all too short stay and thank you for lunch and dinner. I'm enclosing a copy of Robert Clary's book, as I know you expressed an interest in reading it. Take your time and return it with the other Alice items. I've also sent you a copy of The Trip to Bountiful, which you may keep. The story reminds me so very much of Eve, Mo., and what Alice would have seen if she had returned to see what was left of the town. Our best to all our new friends in Nevada, Mo. — John Graham.
On behalf of the eighth grade classes at Nevada Middle School I would like to thank you for sharing your knowledge about the Bushwhackers and Vernon County history with us, I know many of my students didn't realize or understand the wealth of resources we have here in our little town. I heard numerous students talk about the things they had learned and the parts of the tour that they enjoyed most. We are incredibly lucky to have such an outstanding museum and access to primary sources so close to home. Your tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable and cooperative with our students' thoughts and questions making the tour a unique experience for each group. Thank you again for all your time and effort in making Vernon County history come alive for the eighth grade!— Erin McCullough et al, 8th Grade Social Studies, Nevada Middle School.
I so enjoy reading your newsletter. (However, you have my address as Franklin TN.) It keeps me in touch with Nevada. I have had many relatives in the area for several generations, and visit there myself two or three times a year.— Kandye Lawler, PO Box 855, Frankton IN 46044.
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Enclosed are museum dues for 2009. My mother, Blanche Leonard Teyssier, was born and raised in Deerfield and went to high school in Nevada. Peggy Pyle is our cousin. We enjoy the newsletter. After we read it we give it to our local museum, the Bonita Historical Museum. Bonita is an incorporated area of San Diego.—Paul and Marilyn Pluss, 3617 Valley Vista Road, Bonita CA 91902.
Dear Pat - Thank you for sending a copy of Fire and Sword: A Missouri County in the Civil War. I’ve skimmed through it, and I like the way you’ve included primary sources among your essays. We will place the volume in our collection after we’ve prepared a Book Note entry for a forthcoming volume of the Missouri Historical Review. I hope all is well with you. Please give my regards to Terry.—Lynn Wolfe Gentzler, State Historical Society of Missouri, 1020 Lowry St., Columbia MO 65201-7298.
Dean and I regret that we did not get to attend the Nov. 9 dedication of the Balltown Cemetery where several of my Dodge relatives and one Austin relative are buried. Since I do not have the address for Mr. Robert Seater, I would hope that you might express to him my great appreciation for his faithful work at the cemetery when you have opportunity. Thank you very much for all you do in Missouri. Happy New Year to you and your great staff of the VCHS and Bushwhacker Musings.—Shirley Harris Park, 2425 South 14th Sreet, Rogers Arkansas 72758-8507.
If the old saying “Time flies when you’re having fun” is true, we must be having a ball, for “fly by” is putting it mildly. We’ve kept busy with the usual —Eastern Star for both of us and United Daughters of the Confederacy for Nan. As to travel, it has not been much or far. We did take a quick trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota to see family and friends. We were so sorry to not have the time to see many of our friends but other commitments had previously been made.—Wan and Ed Nelson, Big Bear City CA.
I signed up online. I have your Cemetery Directory that has helped my research. My family is from Schell City.—Linda A. Long, 36086 IvyAve., Yucaipa CA 92399, 909-797-2079.
Mr. Brophy, I just read your fine book Fire and Sword. I believe John Brown was born in Connecticut. His tannery is not far from where I live. I have some nice photos I will send you in the spring, after the holidays. There is a very nice museum and the remains of the tannery are still there. His wife and some children are buried here at Guy Mills PA on this tannery site. Their tombstones are still there for all to see.—B. J
VISITOR COMMENTS - We have seen a lot of museums but yours is quite extraordinary.-Extremely interesting and well displayed artifacts. ‘Very well informed decent.
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Dear Terry - Just a quick word to express my thanks for arranging such a wonderful visit to your museum sites. The group really enjoyed their entire experience in Nevada, including Linda's beautiful voice and the not-so-beautiful [old] Vernon County jail. You are a real pro and I am grateful that we could benefit from your attention. - A. Wilson Green, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pamplin Historical Park, awgreen@pamplinpark.org.
Dear Pat - Hats off for pulling together all the stuff on the Weltmers and Stanhope! I'm a little behind the 8-bail in letting you know how much I appreciate your kindness. The material is very helpful in my book revisions and inspires me to look more deeply into magnetic healing as a separate research project. If anything interesting turns up I'll send it your way and hope you might consider doing the same. Hats off to you also on The Saber and the Ring. I'm presenting a paper at the Communal Studies Association annual meeting on the "alternative cosmologies" of the Koreshan Unity (Cyrus Teed, "hollow earth,' 1890s) and Zion City, Illinois (Wilbur Glenn Voliva, "flat earth," 1930s). I've got my own ambitions for writing a novel, but that will have to wait a few years.—Holly Folk, Western Washington University, 516 High St., Bellingham WA 98225, Holly.Folk@wwu.edu.
I want to thank you again for the time you spent with our Social Problems class. Your discussion went very well and the demonstration really made the visit memorable. As classes go I knew that once they opened up everyone would have a story to share taking the topic beyond the scope of the time allowed. I also want to thank you for the tour of the jail; it was an education like no classroom experience could provide.—Janet E. Johnson, Sociology Instructor, Crowder Community College, Nevada Campus.
Sept. 12, 2008, Office of the Governor. Dear Terry - It is my distinct pleasure to have appointed you as a member of the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. In our thorough and aggressive search for candidates, your characteristics and professional qualifications were exceptional among the nominees who expressed interest in serving.
It is important to me that we nominate the 1x1951 qualified and dedicated Missourians to serve on our boards and commissions. Your participation is certain to have a positive impact on the Missouri Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission, and I thank you for your willingness to serve this administration. I have great confidence in your abilities and the contributions you will make to the state of Missouri. I look forward to working with you as a member of the MCWSC. Sincerely, Malt Blunt.
Dear Pat - Enjoyed your book immensely. Yours was a project long overdue. Soon I hope to send the Museum some data on my Vernon County relatives for their records. As I understand it county/city records of death/marriage are recorded locally.
If you can control the tornados and floods next spring, summer, and fall I plan to visit
Nevada, and look forward to getting together with you. Respectfully, Dick Coffman, 2508 Dickinson St., Miles City MT 59301
Dear Mr. Agee - You probably don't get many letters of appreciation from tourists. I thought you'd perhaps get a kick out of reading that part of my trip journal pertaining to Nevada and my curiosity about Weltmer.
Tell the young woman working the library desk that I appreciate her help, as well as the rest of your historical staff. Nevada is a nice place. Should that book currently being researched and written about Weltmer ever become a published work, I'd be interested in it. Thanks for your hospitality. —Ray Ashley, POBox 430, Saint Jo TX 76265.
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Terry - Thank you so much for your willingness to help my students with their NHD Bushwhacker Project. I really appreciated the book donation and the other information you gave my mom. I am sorry we didn't utilize your services more but it did not fit into our tight schedule, and the boys were very reluctant to contact you; maybe next year. The students who did the Bushwhacker Documentary made it to finals but not the state competition.—Christy Witt.
Dear Terry & Jean - Thank you for taking your valuable time to answer my questions and satisfy my quest to know your organization better. I'm very optimistic that we can develop a wonderfully fulfilling partnership at a future date. Until then, I say thank you.—Linda Plait.
Dear Terry - Our relatives from New York and Michigan were amazed and impressed at the size and scope of our Museum. Thank you so much for your excellent assistance with their visit.—LaVerne and Harold Harris.
Terry—Many thanks once again for talking with me about Nevada and Brickyard Hill earlier this week. The info you gave me has been very helpful. I thought you might like to see this obituary article, part of which I read to you over the phone, and the other story about H. Hamilton Howell, who was my great-grandfather. Sounds like his life and Nevada history will be forever linked.—Barbara King, 1178 Chillem Dr., Batavia IL 60510-3309. [Ed. Note: By sheer coincidence we published the material about Hamilton Howell, obtained from another source, in our April 1 issue.]
Dear Pat & Cohorts - Hope the bad storms have bypassed you all! The April Musings was good. You do a great job collecting all the bits & pieces! Does anyone have a photo of the old mill? It was on West Allison St., 400 or 500 block, in 1935 era. It was on north side of street, had a waterwheel. I would love info & photo if anyone can help, please. Is Betty Pokorney still living? Does she have lots of old photos of our town left?
Also would like to know the street and location of Marguerite McSpad-den's old grocery store? Was it on West Hickory? Ashland? It was on south side of street. Who knows? About 1941 four young girls took art lessons from Mrs. McSpadden in the old store.
And question No. 3, does anyone remember Alvin McBratney who was chief of police about 1942, and/or his sweet wife? I think her name was Veda.—Wanda Walker Yoast, Box 1078, Lytle TX 78052.
[The Museum has two small photos of the Allison Street mill, which was operated by the Eddlemons, Jean Edwards' family. The McSpadden store was right at the junction of Hickory and Clay streets.]
Dear Mr. Brophy: I want to thank you for the tear sheet and your time and effort expended in reviewing and writing about my book Buried Treasure of the Nazi Warlords. It was superbly done, in fact my son-in-law Robert Martell asked me if I paid you to write the review. He said it was an excellent review coupled with an advertisement of the book with all the details where the book could be purchased. I must say that I agree with him wholeheartedly. Enclosed please find two complimentary books for your library.—F/oyd Grooms, 639 St. Andrews Blvd., Naples FL 34113, www.-floydgrooms.com. [Mr. Grooms' two complimentary books are Global Warming: A Different Approach and Roulette at its Best.]
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Dear Terry - Just a note to thank you for the opportunity you gave Traub Design Associates to be of service to the Bushwhacker Museum. I understand you are pleased with the panels we produced for you. You were a great client and we hope we have the opportunity to work with you again.— Susan Traub, 20973 W. 226th Ct., Spring Hill KS 66083-3149.
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Keep up the good work. Almost all of it, as we do know from experience the many hours involved and that must be invested to work.
One suggestion: Lay off the continued reference to PC ("political correctness") in the text. This can be interpreted as bigotry and a sense of "tooting your own horn." Otherwise, we really appreciate your effort!—Paul and Haynes, 1410 S. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor Ml 48103.
The Editor respectfully replies: Any commentary from members and readers is always welcome. But I regret to report that I don't understand what you say. I've invited you, and again invite you, to be clearer.
Can it be denied that "political correctness" is a divisive issue, about which people disagree bitterly? This writer isn't the only one who sees it as doing grievous harm to history as a discipline, and so threatening the wellbeing of historical museums and groups like ours by discouraging attendance. It would be a dereliction of duty not to report and comment on this. Rather than calling for silence or censorship, why not consider critically these reports and point out any errors of fact in them?
Members, make your wishes known! Shall the Editor "lay off or go on listening to his Muse and his conscience?—PatBrophy.
Hope you have happy holidays! Thanks for your help this past couple of years with the coverlet and chair of my grandmother Nora Robinson.— Jane Warford, 3409 Kemptown Church Rd., Monrovia MD 21770-8707.
Dear Ms. Ramsey - Thank you for letting me borrow the outfit to use as ] portrayed Clara Barton. It really helped me create my character. I would also like to thank the Bushwhacker Museum for letting me borrow the items. I wouldn't have been able to do this withour your help.—Alexa Cubbage.
A note to thank you for your thoughtfulness in sending information on RFD mail carrier etc. Yes, J. E. Schollars is my grandfather and he and my dad Aaron, born 1898, are written up in the 2nd volume of Vernon County History. Please take a peek. Dad's older siblings were mentioned in the 1897 enumeration note you sent. Hopefully we will get back to the Museum this year and take a photo with a digital camera and maybe talk another grandchild into a visit "to see the new acquisitions." I've been a KC museum guide and decent here and know what pleasure it brings. Have fun with your visitors.—Mary Blincoe, 4000 N. Kansas Ave., KCMo 64117-1639.
Dear Terry, Stafford, Peggy, Vicky, Joe, Suzanne, Patrick, and Frank and members of the Historical Society:
Enclosed is a financial donation to the Society. As you know the hours of preparation for the annual "Meet Me in Missouri" programs are a much more substantial donation. One reason 1 do that is because I want to give something back to my hometown, my parents' hometown. I want to thank the people of Nevada for their love and encouragement while I was growing up and for the same love and support they gave to my son Elijah when he was growing up. As in the often heard adage "It takes a village to raise a child," Nevada has been that village for us and I am grateful.
Another reason 1 thank you for the opportunity to do these programs is that it is a way to recall and hopefully to perpetuate the values that I feel are important but which don't always seem to be at the fore in our world today. The songs we sing are about friendship, wedding anniversaries and other longterm commitments, pride in everyday jobs, old-fashioned fun, love of our state and our hometown, etc. I love providing a venue where friends and neighbors can sing and laugh together.
I want you each to know how much I appreciate your sharing my vision and being willing to take on the burden of another project involving the Society. Your interest, your time, your encouragement, your help with publicity, your financial support, your words of appreciation—all of that means a lot to me. So please accept my heartfelt thank you. Yes, I have started working on next summer's program, including a Nevada piece belonging to Joe and Dorothy Kraft.— Marsha Martin, 178 GreatRd., MaynardMA 07154.
Hope to visit the Museum next spring. You all have done very fine work. I am really looking forward to my visit. Tell Pat B., for info., that my maternal grandfather, Joseph Harrison Smith (Coal, Henry County), was a four-year veteran of the CSA, Co A 50th Regiment, 3rd Virginia Army.—Dick Coffman, 2508 Dickinson St., Miles City MT 59301.
COLEMAN CEMETERY - The thank you I made for Charlie and Alien
Cress may show a little better the contrasts in the cemetery. It was great
seeing Carey and Terry when we were back. Terry, tell Patrick Brophy that
I have really enjoyed With Plow and Pen and In the Devil's Dominions. It is
wonderful that the Bushwhacker Museum has made these works available.
1 will be using information from each book to revise the screen play.—Ros-
lyn B. Coleman, billrozcoleman@comcast.net.
