Ralls County Historical

Volume 2- Issue 5                                                                                  August 2003

RALLS COUNTY MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY

P.O. BOX 182

CENTER MISSOURI 63436

http://www.rootsweb.com/~morchs/

 

Dear Members of the Ralls County Missouri Historical Society:

 

Society Annual Picnic

The September meeting of the Ralls County Historical Society will be the annual picnic at the Perry City park shelter on Saturday, September 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. . The  10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. time will be open for members and visitors to visit and to view the displays and discuss future and present projects of the Society. The regular meeting will be from 11:00 till noon . At noon there will a free BBQ for members prepared by Fred and Ralph Omer. After the meal there will be a special display by the "Ralls, Marion and Northeast Missouri Archaeological Society.” Members of the archaeological society will be available to discuss their displays and to look at members and visitors’ artifacts. This would a great time to find out about your artifacts from experts. There will also be the displays from the unveiling of the “Short Line Railroad Spur Historic Trail" on August 23, repairs needed on the Ralls County House and member’s personal projects. Because of this day time meeting it is hoped that members who are unable to attend our night meeting because work or distance will be able to attend and give use the input on our many projects. Many of the people are our most active members in the background, but for some reason or the other is unable to attend our night meeting.          

 The public is invited to attend especially the archaeological display from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. .

 

Short Line sign and depot;

 

The unveiling of the "Short Line Railroad Spur Historic Trail" New London was a large success and well attended by both railroad and history buffs. Between 85 and 90 railroad buffs and people who are interested in history were in attendance. There was a large display of Short Line photos and artifacts and was well received. For those who could not attend, it was announced that we have been able to lease the Center, MO Short Line depot and plan to start restoring it soon. If you would be interested in helping fiscally or financially, please let we know. We can use carpenters, painters and labor to get the old building back in shape. At a later date we will have a meeting with those interested helping with the restoration at the depot to determine what is needed and make plans on how to complete the restorations. If you would like to donate money toward the project remember, we are 501c3. A group called the “Friends of the Short Line” is being formed to get rest of the Short Line recognized with signs and restore the remaining depots alone the line. If you are interested in joining and helping to organize such a group contact me.

 

 

Back to School In November

 

Our November 20 meeting will be at Oak Hill School northeast of New London . A Group headed by Ray Crane, former student of the school, has restored this school which parts of date back to 1892. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and meetings beginning at 7:00 p.m. Directions will be in the November “Newsletter.”  This will a great time for your kids or grandchildren to see how it was to go to a rural school house.

 

Area Events

September 8; Landmarks of Northeast Missouri Inc. meeting 7:00 p.m. at Palmyra State Bank basement, 400 S. Main.  The public is encouraged to attend.

 

September 27, “Time Was Days” Perry MO

 

September 28, “Old Perry High Reunion ” Perry MO

 

October 17, 18, & 19; Porter’s Raid at Palmyra MO sponsored by the Landmarks of Northeast Missouri Inc.

 

Ralls County Courthouse Restoration

 

            I plan to meet with the county commissioners before the next meeting and find out where they are on the Courthouse restoration. It has been almost two years since talks with the County began about the restoration of the New London Courthouse and the 150 year anniversary in 2008 will be here before we know it.  This is one of the items we can discuss at the picnic meeting this month.

 

Ralls County Library and/or Museum

 

            Almost weekly we get ether books, atlases, files, family trees, articles and other items given to us or someone wants to give us such items. We need to have a library and/or museum to be able to preserve and share these items with the public. I have turned down large collections because we have no place to display or preserve such items. Most people have said they would keep them till we could get a location or place to store them. Some have gone to other groups who have a museum now. The new Ralls County library being planned has no plans to include a history or genealogy room. Even if they did make a room available, they could only use the books.  There are many problems in having and keeping a museum or library. Some of these are; 1. Finding a location for us to house it, 2. Money to Rent or buy it, 3. Personnel and manpower to operate it, 4. Security for the items and building, 5. Funding to maintain utilities, insurance and the other expenses, 6. Cataloging, indexing and filing items.  The most important thing is that we can guarantee that the items would go to another group like the State Historical Society in case our group couldn’t maintain a location or should be disbanded. I would like to have your input on that is via mail, e-mail, telephone and at the meeting on the 20^th.

            The “Shortline” depot is too small and does not have utilities, it will be able to use to display small railroad items and a display of photos of both the “Shortline” and Ralls county history during the summer or good weather.

 

Madisonville Cemetery Clean Up   

 

Members Maxine Moore and Benny Akers are planning to clean up of the Madisonville cemetery later this fall. If you would like to help with this project or loan tools to be used, please contact them or me. This is a large cemetery and they will need all the help they can get even if they are able to use community service people.

 

 Memberships; 

 

            If you haven’t renewed your 2003 membership please send your check to Ralls County Historical Society, Box #182 , Center MO. 63436 . The dues remain $10.00 for an individual and $15.00 for family memberships.

 

New Book by Member

 

Closed, Do Not Enter with book II of the same novel being Red Flows the River.   Set near Jefferson City , MO , in 1856. The young heir to a farm is very lonely in the closed community of Farwell , MO. He takes a sixteen year old Irish boy from the orphan train. The young boy has left his twin sister in New York City . The second portion of the book enters the Civil War with the younger man joining the Union Army and marching into Texas and then he is with the Union army as it attempts to take the Red River in Louisiana and so secure Texas for the Union . One of his army buddies is from Madisonville , MO , and is a character from a previous but yet unpublished novel. General Sterling Price's march across Missouri is included as well.  

            The book is considered Historical/Inspirational Fiction.

            Mary King Hayden, from Lebanon , MO , is the cover illustrator. She is a retired art teacher at Vandalia and Versailles .

            Closed, Do Not Enter will be $9.95. Shipping and handling will be added to that figure, but I haven't gotten that amount. I need to package and take to the post office for their input. 

Contact:  Anita L. Allee, 13216 Church Road , Versailles , MO 65084      e-mail: anviallee@earthlink.net

 

Ralls County Cemetery

 

A Rev. William J. Gammon Presbyterian preacher at Perry around 1939 recorded many of the old cemeteries of Ralls County . His record of this cemetery is the only one I have ever seen, so this cemetery maybe gone. Many times he would copy only the oldest stones in the cemetery, so it is possible that there are more burials here. 

 

Longwell;         Robert N., died June 11, 1872 , age 68 years

Longwell;         Isabella, died January 17, 1886 , wife of Robert

 

From “ Spalding Springs ” by Mr. & Mrs. Walter Roland, Mr. & Mrs. Hurley Hagood, Mrs. Dorothy Eichenberger and Goldena Howard. Robert Longwell was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, which differs with above. The book also states that Isabella was born in 1814 and that this family settled in Ralls County near Spalding in 1856 on the place known as the Sam Roland Place . He later purchased a farm in south part of Sec. 26 (twp. 56N-R6W) where he built a two-story log cabin and was known as the Longwell place, which is south of Spalding Lake. Robert was wool carder who worked at the Ogle Mill near Spalding.  More on this family can be found in “ Spalding Spring ” above.

 

Presidents View;

 

We now have memberships from 12 different states and memberships continue to grow weekly. At the last count we had 85 memberships and with 25 of those being family memberships we now have more than 110 members. A little over half of our members live outside the county, but many of us live close enough to attend most meetings. I think with a little work we can increase the local membership. I plan to have a speaker or special display at all of our meetings or have them at a place of interest. Many older local people have expressed interest in coming to our meetings, but because of like of transportation or health problems that don’t allow them to drive are unable to attend. If you have a van or car with some extra room ask a member or older person, who may be interested in attending a meeting to ride with you. Also, ask a friend or neighbor to attend a meeting with you. In the future I would like to have joint meetings with other historical or genealogical societies in northeast Missouri .

            What is more important is that we have had better be member participation in projects and with all the major projects we have planned member participation will be greatly needed to complete them.

 

Bit of Ralls County History

 

Charles Hoyle, Believe Ralls County Was Original (from unknown newspaper)

            Center MO, March 25; Maintaining almost to his last breath that he was the originator of the idea for air breaks now used by railroads, Charles Hoyle, believed to have been 100 years old, died at the Ralls County infirmary, south of here, early Saturday, Hoyle had been a patient of county farms 70 years a period that is beloved to be a record.

            He was buried Saturday afternoon in the cemetery adjoining the county farm. The Rev. H. P. Anglen, pastor of the Center Methodist church delivered the sermon and hymns were sung by patients of the infirmary.

            When the grave was filled, Joe Abbey, an aged Negro who is now the oldest inmate of the infirmary, said some someone should “write something for Charley.’ Abbey cannot write, but he placed his “X” in a paper and attached it to a temporary board headstone.

            Hoyle had been a resident of the county farm so long he had become almost a legend in Ralls County . He insisted that he was the first person to work on railroad air breaks and prominent Ralls countains he has a valid claim for his statements.

Smith Concurs

            H. P. Gottman, superintendent of the infirmary says Richard Smith, of near Rensselaer , who died years ago, used to visit the aged Hoyle and they would talk of the days when they both worked for the Hannibal and St. Joe railroad when it was in its infancy.

            Smith told Gottman that Hoyle was a fireman on the road and devoted his spare time to working on a model for air brakes.

            A Legend here is that Hoyle had dreamed of wealth and fame from the invention of the brakes and when he saw an invention other than his own had been perfected he became dazed and lost interest in working for an employer.

            So far as Ralls County historians have been able to learn he had no living relatives. The names of his parents are not known, but it has been established that he was born in Saline Township .

            From the time he entered the infirmary he had been a constant worker, until 1932, when he became feeble. His death was caused by influenza, which it is believed he contacted one night about a month ago when the infirmary roof caught fire and the patients had to leave the building for about two hours.

Had seen changes

            During his life the infirmary had been moved at least once. He had seen superintendents come and go. When the county farm was moved in 1875 from what is now the Joseph Elliott farm on Salt River to its present location near Center, Hoyle was an inmate. William Roland, superintend at that time, said Hoyle was about middle-aged in 1875.

            Ike Liter, superintend ate in 1882, used to say that Hoyle worked constantly. At one time he helped to clear 60 acres of virgin timber land and became so absorbed in work he had to be remained shapely to come to meals.

            He delighted in repairing machinery, a trait that strengthened many persons belief that he was capable of inventing air brakes. Even so simple a device as a grindstone interested him.

            Succeeding superintendents have attempted to locate his relative. Superintendent Gottman tried recently to no avail.

            Joshua E, Briggs, an esteemed citizen of Center, himself nearly 94 years old, says that must have been at lease 100. He says he remembers of seeing Hoyle have blueprints of an air brake and has talked with him concerning his intention

Relatives Unknown

            Belief that Mr. Hoyle had reached the century mark is held also by William Ely, of Center, who is thoroughly versed on Ralls county history. Bit neither Briggs nor Ely can remember anything of Hoyle’s relatives. This is true also of Attorney             Benton Megown, of New London , who has made considerable research into the history of Ralls County .

            Throughout his life Mr. Hoyle was a fluent talker and regardless of the subject he always brought the trend of the conversation around to air brakes.

            His reasons for not trying to perfect other inventions no one ever learned. He carried that secret with him to his simple grave near the infirmary.