The band made its own way with little local financing except playing for Saturday night concerts and furnishing music for the Old Soldiers and Settlers Reunion here each August when the committee was most liberal in the payment. The money paid was largely spent for music, uniforms and incidentals.

The late Dr. Otto H. Thiele, a highly educated musician who came here from Germany and after graduating from dental college came here to practice his profession, was the leader without pay for his efforts. Of the members of the band shown above all but four have passed to the great beyond. The living are Cliff H. Burton of Tulsa, William W. Hutchens living southwest of Cassville, DeVere Joslin, now living at Rolla serving Phelps County in the Missouri Legislature, and Otto Bower, employed by the Missouri Conversation Commission and stationed at Van Buren.

Members of the band on front row from left to right are: John P. Ray, DeVere Joslin, Horace M. Allen, Otto Bower, Oliver V. Manley, Charles C. Chandler and Charles Hutchens.

Second Row: Claud Hessee, Enoch H. Trolinger, Cliff H. Burton, Dr. Otto H. Thiele, Roe Bower, William W. Hutchens and Gus G. LeCompte.

Third Row: Samuel M. Trolinger, Charles H. Witt, William D. Steele, William Shepherd, James Henley and Jack W. Hisey.

The photo was taken in 1905 and the newspaper item was published in 1955.

Submitted by: Suzane Galliart