Now available and selling fast:

The Illustrated History of McDonald County

by Alberta Anders

Don't ever tell me I didn't warn you! The "Illustrated History of McDonald County, Missouri..." is going like hotcakes. If you would like to receive your copy of J. A. Sturges' memories from the earliest Settlement to the Present Time, published in Pineville in 1897, they are still available but they are selling fast. We are receiving orders from California and several other states, if you get a chance to see this historical book, you will want one for your library.

From the pages of this historical book:

"Dan Harmon, son of Mark and Elizabeth Harmon, was born in Green county, Tenn. July 22, 1833. His parents came to McDonald County in 1847, and from that time until the present the Harmons have been among the leading people of this county. Dan remained with his parents five years after their arrival here, during which time he went to school three months, Moses Pollard being the teacher. In 1852 he went to California to seek his fortune in the gold diggings. He drove an ox team and was six months and one day on the road. It is useless to remark that Mr. Harmon did not die on the road, but he passed through the desert where for miles the trail was lined with the carcasses of dead cattle and horses and the bones of many human beings were bleaching in the sun where they had perished from heat and thirst. He remained west of the Rocky mountains thirteen years, returning in 1865. On his return he brought with him $5,500 and spent $1,000 on his way home. In December 1866 he and Miss Nancy J. Walker, daughter of Hon. Claudius B. Walker of this county, were married. They have had eight children, five of whom are living. Mr. Harmon was public administrator a few years after the war. He has served as Justice of the Peace and post master. For some years he was in the mercantile business at Erie, where he enjoyed a good trade until burnt out. He owns a fine farm on Indian creek where he lives in good comfortable style, and where he and Mrs. Harmon dispense hospitality to their numerous friends in a truly royal manner...."

Names, too many to mention here, are found in this biographical index, Cowan, Carnell, Christensen, Clay, Doty, Dabbs, Elliff, Horner, Marrs, Meador, Noel....so much to share with you, but we will continue another time. For now, do plan to join us at our next meeting to be held in Pineville, at the "new" court house, 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 18 at which time Gene Hall and his father, Fred Hall will be presenting their memories relating to McDonald County, you won't want to miss this interesting program.

The Illustrated History of McDonald County, Missouri, from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time 1897, is edited and compiled by J. A. Sturges, Attorney at Law, Pineville Missouri. The publication is available for a minimum donation of $25 (proceeds of these sales will support other McDonald County Historical Society's Preservation Projects) is now available at the Pineville-Jane Chamber of Commerce/McDonald County Historical Museum at 302 Harmon Street, next to the post office. Books are also available at Cornerstone Bank in Southwest City, ask for Nancy Brown. We would be happy to mail a copy to you, $25 plus $6 for shipping, send your check to McDonald County Historical Society, P. O. Box 572, Pineville, Missouri 64856 or contact Dorothy Beauchamp at 417-364-7662, Carol Klein at 417-226-4540, or Alberta Anders.

For more information about the Historical Society and Museum, visit us online at www.mcdonaldcohistory.org/.