Ozarks’ History Library

Every so often, people ask me what materials I use in doing research on the Ozarks. There are some great sources that can be found on the internet, local historical societies & archives. Finding the right data base, newspaper, book, or map can sometimes turn a project around. It is amazing when I become focused on a subject, the Father in Heaven will bring the right source into my hands. It is also remarkable when I figure out the right question continually, it will yield results. 

This post will be on the books I sometimes use. I have quickly scanned my book shelf and made of a list of the books I use often. It is difficult to pick which is the most treasured source. Therefore, I have placed the following list by author’s name. Some of these sources are obscure and out of print. 

Author: Elmo Ingenthron (One of my favorite authors.)

Indians of theOzark Plateau.

The Land ofTaney: A History of an Ozark Commonwealth.

Borderland Rebellion: A History of the Civil War on the Missouri-Arkansas Border.

These three volumes are packed with excellent groundwork for understanding the original people, migration, politics, culture, and the Civil War in the Ozarks. These are essential books. Also, they're out of print.

Author: Silas Claiborne Turnbo (One of my favorite authors.)

White River Chronicles

The Turnbo Manuscripts by Silas Claiborne Turnbo 1844-1925: The Turnbo Manuscripts are made possible by the courtesy of the Springfield-Greene County Library & the White River Valley Historical Quarterly. An online database of his stories is here: Table of Contents.

Author: Earl Berry (One of my favorite authors.)

Pioneer Life and Pioneer Families of the Ozarks

This book is an excellent source for the historical & genealogical information for communities & families in Baxter, Boone & Marion Counties in Arkansas.

History of Marion County

This book contains great historical & genealogical information for communities & families in Marion County, Arkansas.

Authors: Duane Huddleston, Sammie Rose, Pat Wood (One of my favorite books.)

Steamboats and Ferries on the White River: A Heritage Revisited.

This book is a must have for getting a background on the White River that runs through the Ozarks. Many black-and-white maps, photographs, and illustrations are included in this book as it covers many events from the 1800s through the 1900s.

 

Author: Billy D. Higgins (One of my favorite books.)

A Stranger and a Sojourner: Peter Caulder, Free Black Frontiersman in Antebellum.

Excellent book for background information on the Arkansas Territory, Free Blacks in Antebellum Arkansas, Fort Smith region , Marion County, Arkansas, and Arkansas’1859 Expulsion Law. Additionally, this book chronicles the extraordinary life of Peter Caulder, a free African American settler in the Ozarks.

Author: H. Schoolcraft

Rude Pursuits and Rugged Peaks: Schoolcraft's Ozark Journal, 1818-1819.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Schoolcraft the “Christopher Columbus of the Ozarks.” Schoolcraft published this journal while making his Ozark exploration in 1818-1819. This is a very important book on the Ozarks. Milton D. Rafferty, Professor Emeritus of Geography, Geology, and Planning at Southwest Missouri State University, did an excellent job in in the introduction and tracing Schoolcraft on maps.

Author: Brooks Blevins (One of my favorite authors.)

 
Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol' Boys Defined a State.

Hill Folks: A History of Arkansas Ozarkers and Their Image.

These two books are is one of the best introductions to the Ozarks’ frame of mind within the context of Arkansas/Arkansaw. They are an excellent treatise of the Ozarks’ history, and gives the reader the bases for understanding the Ozark stereotype and misconceptions. These books are what I recommend to people passing through the region who want to know more about the Ozarks & Arkansas.

  
Ghost of the Ozarks

 Dr. Blevins has also written a true crime book that is an absolute gem that takes place in 1929.  It is an Ozarks’ Murder Mystery that would be a great movie. By the way, have you ever seen a man testify at his own murder trial?

  

Author: William Monks (One of my favorite books.)

A History Of Southern Missouri And Northern Arkansas: Being An Account Of The Early Settlements, The Civil War, The Ku-Klux, And Times Of Peace.

William Monks ran a mail route in Ozark & Howell County, Missouri, and down into Fulton County, Arkansas. Once the Civil War began, he was a stanch supporter of the Union and one of its feared officers. His memoir was published in 1907, and its title gives a great explanation of the book’s contents.

Author: John Quincy Wolf (One of my favorite books.)

Life in the Leatherwoods. 

This book contains John Quincy Wolf's childhood memoirs. He truly has the gift of wit & flowing narrative.  I still remember the story about burying a lady that was still soft & perspiring.

 Author: Robert K. Gilmore

Ozark Baptizings, Hangings, and Other Diversions: Theatrical Folkways of Rural Missouri, 1885-1910.

As the title states, this book gives great sketches & background to Ozark baptizings, hangings, and other diversions. Beside the information in the title, one can also learn about "literaries," debates, mock trials, school programs, suppers, picnics, brush-arbor revivals. Time scope: 1885 to 1910.

Author: Goodspeed Publishing Company

Goodspeeds’Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region.

This manuscript covers the Ozark Region of Arkansas & Missouri. Some biographies are flamboyant because the subject had a hand in writing them. There is also a database contains 668 Family Biographies in 12 Arkansas & 16 Missouri Counties. This database is here: Table of Contents.

Author: Thomas Jerome Estes

Early days and war times in Northern Arkansas.

This is a small book of stories of early life before, during, and after the Civil War in Northern Arkansas. A special focus is on Yellville and Marion County, Arkansas. Estes covers the customs of the area, hardships and deprivations, also pleasant times, sport and enjoyment.

Author: William A. Yates

Ozark County, Missouri, records and pioneer families.

This book is out of print. Try looking at yard, garage, and estate sales. The Ozark County Historium also has a copy.

Author: Tom Shiras

Walking Editor of the Ozarks.

This book was out of print, but no longer! It is on sale at the Baxter County Heritage Center.

Author: Mary Ann Messick

History of Baxter County: Centennial Edition1873-1973.

Author: James A. Holmes

History of Ozark County, Missouri, to 1865.

This book is out of print, but it can be found here.

Editor: Bill Wayne Blevins

EarlyBackwoods of White River Valley: From the Memoirs of J.J. Sams, written in 1896.
 

This book is out of print. Try looking at yard, garage, and estate sales.

Author: Phyllis Rossiter 

A Living History of the Ozarks

 

A great Source & guide to the Ozark region. The author, Phyllis Rossiter, reconnoiters the major areas of the Ozarks including the following regions: the Buffalo National River, The Lake of the Ozarks, Ozark / Boston Mountains, White River Hills, Big Spring, and the Springfield Plateau. A detailed appendix is included.

Author: Lair, Jim

The Mountain Meadows Massacre: An Outlander's View.

An Outlander's History of Carroll County, Arkansas,1830-1983, Sesquicentennial Edition

Author: Vance Randolph (One of my favorite authors.)

Mr. Randolph was, and still is, an Ozark treasure as he traveled around collecting Ozark anecdotes, folksongs, jokes, poems, and folktales. Warning…some collections are rather graphic and language can be offensive to some.

Blow the Candle Out: Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore

The Devil's pretty daughter: and other Ozark folk tales.

Down in the holler: a gallery of Ozark folk speech.

Hot springs and hell: and other folk jests and anecdotes from the Ozarks.

Ozark Folksongs       all 4 volumes in 1 set.

Ozark Folksongs: Vol. I: British Ballads and Songs.

Ozark Folksongs: Vol. II: Songs of the South and West.

Ozark Folksongs, Vol. III: Humorous and Play-Party Songs.

Ozark Folksongs: Vol. IV, Religious Songs and Other Items.

Ozark magic and folklore.

Ozark Mountain folks.

Ozark outdoors: hunting and fishing stories of the Ozarks.

Ozark superstitions.

The Ozarks: an American survival of primitive society.

Pissing in the snow and other Ozark folktales.

Roll Me in Your Arms Vol. 1: Folksongs and Music (Unprintable Ozark Folksongs and Folklore)

Sticks in the knapsack: and other Ozark folk tales.

Stiff as a poker, and other Ozark folk tales.

The Talking turtle: and other Ozark folk tales.

We always lie to strangers: tall tales from the Ozarks.

Who blowed up the church house?: and other Ozark folk tales.

Ozark County Bear Cave Scare

Ozark County, 1896

             
     The following story comes from the front page of the Ozark County News on the 9^th of April, 1896. What caught my attention in this story was some of the main characters of the article were my great grandfather, Crawford Anderson, and his two youngest daughters, Abbie Gail Anderson Foster, age 2,  and Orlena Anderson Graves, age 8.Though this incident occurred in my family, I have never heard this story until I came across this old newspaper edition. After reading this following article in its entirety, I can't help but wonder what the conversation was like with my great grandmother, Dula Sims Anderson, was like at the supper table that evening. This story could have ended tragedy, but it leaves the reader with a with a sigh of relief and a chance to grin at the end. 

I hope you enjoy.

My Great Grandfather & Grandmother, Crawford & Dula Sims Anderson.

 

-  A large number of Gainesvillites enjoyed the day last Sunday exploring the big cave known as “The Bear Cave,” six miles southwest of town. Everybody went prepared for the occasion, taking with them torches, oil, matches and a good supply of twine as a guide. A very tempting repast was prepared by the ladies for the noon-day meal. Among those who went from Gainesville and upper Lick creek, we note the following: Charley Harlin, W. P Janney, T. Conklin, N. A. Beach, Luther Daniels, Wm. Wood and Thomas Hogard; Misses Ida Wood, Maggie Wood, Delphia Henegar, of this place, and Mr. Samuel Miller and family, Crawf Anderson and his two little girls, Misses Lubie Miller and Rillia Coffey, and Messrs Bert Miller and Pleasant Sanders of Lick creek. 

 Luther Daniels, Crawf Anderson and N. A. Beach, with Mr. Anderson’s little girls ventured too far without a guide and with only a limited amount of oil in their torch and were lost. They wandered about for hours in the cave seeking their way out. The oil in their torch was almost exhausted, and the men began to realize their situation; they were frightened! They knew not what they said. One of the little girls says she heard Luther say: “Oh my God, I wish some good friend would come hunt for us.” About that time loud shouts reached their ears. It was the shouts of a search party, who, growing tired of waiting out-side, became alarmed at their absence and started in search. When the little party found their way out they were all satisfied with their day’s experience, and were ready for their home journey. It was late when the Gainesville party arrived, all looking more or less dilapidated, and Luther still looking scared. 

 End of Article

 1965 USGS Map showing location of the Bear Caves.
Click to expand map.

Ozark Cave Lessons

Exploring caves in the region has always held a fascination for me while growing up in the Ozarks.  My uncle, Berman Anderson, once owned a house & land off Walker Road in Baxter County, Arkansas. On this piece of property was a small cave with an iron grate door. I remember playing around the entrance and venturing in to see how far we could advance without a light. Every so often, a flashlight would be secured, and we would delve further into its recesses. It was near this cave I saw my first phenomenon of foxfire.

        Over the years, the unknown situations & possibilities that could arise in going into caves seemed to be worth the risk. There was an adrenaline rush that kicked in when bats were flitting near one’s head. It's also a moment of realization of knowing how deep the exploration has gone when looking at a well casing & pump submerged in the small river I wading/swimming in. Many times I marveled at the spacious vaulted ceiling that points heavenward, and I stood in viewing the ripples & sheets of limestone formations cascading downward. Within a few yards of this majestic beauty, I could feel my breath constricted by wedging through narrow corridors & shoots as I inched my way to the next chamber.

Every time I had a chance to go into a cave, I would briefly extinguished my lamp and quietly sit in the remote darkness. As the light seemed to drown in the darkness of an Ozark cavern, it was times like these when I could truly acknowledge the scripture:

            Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14

As I reached for the switch of the light, there was always an anticipation and hope to even see the smallest glow from the light. There were times when the cave’s remote darkness would seem to sink to the very quick of my mind and fear arose. It was in these times I was reminded that there is One who still knows where I am.

      If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Psalm 139:8

I was once told in the Air Force that if I trained with my whole heart, it would prepare me for the mission ahead. Even after training, though the adrenaline rush would still be there, there was a phrase that would spur me on.

 “Feel the fear, but do it anyway.”

This phrase has nothing about being stupid or misinformed; ignorance is not bliss. It all had to do about achievement of a goal, to explore the unknown.

It seems lately I have been reminded of the delicate balance of life. Life is filled with unknowns. Life is fragile, temporary, and dangerous. Many times we convince ourselves that we are in our control. Yet all the while, we deceive ourselves with the possessions we amass & horde in believing it builds a monument to our endurance. As this deception grows, it leads us in believing in our infallibility and ultimately to our destruction. Monuments may hold historical value. Even in rugged or polished stone, they are temporary. I am truly convinced that real wealth is in relationships. The greatest relationship is with our Father in Heaven; and secondly, our relationship with others is a resource He has provided.

As I look around me today, I feel sadness for the current and future generations because I see some roaming in dark chasms. Some are trapped in their narrow world of technology, staring at a device in their hand. If they could only look around and see people, true wealth, placed in front of them. The wisdom, advice, and inspiration are amazing when it can be gleaned by face-to-face, personal interaction.  What have we missed in our lives? How many times have we refused wisdom because it did not come in a package that fits in our paradigm? It reminds me of a famous Mark Twain quote:

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

One of the main reasons I have come to love my native region of the Ozarks is the treasure of wisdom that was, and still is, in its people. The Ozarks has been somewhat geographically remote and isolated. This remoteness required families and communities to invest in each other. Even in the years with the struggles of feuds, war, leanness, and tragedy, I am amazed there were those who gave themselves to stand for what was right. Moreover, there were people who were willing to mend fences. These pioneers undoubtedly felt the fear and did it anyway.


So I challenge you, Dear Reader, take the time to listen or share your experiences with those you know & meet your life. Many of our Ozark pioneers rehearsed their experiences in the ears of the next generation on front porches, campfires, and the banks of cool springs. Amongst these personal chronicles, there are stories of hope, comical antidotes, and pillars of faith that still have the potential to inspire future generations of our Ozarks’ History.

Sources:
Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 July, 2014), memorial page for, Abbie Gail "Anderson" Foster. Find A Grave Memorial no. 39281334.



Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 July, 2014), memorial page for, Berman Anderson. Find A Grave Memorial no. 36686347.

Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 July, 2014), memorial page for, Crawford Anderson. Find A Grave Memorial no. 39281287.

Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 July, 2014), memorial page for, Dula "Sims" Anderson. Find A Grave Memorial no. 39189599.

Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 3 July, 2014), memorial page for , Orlena "Anderson: Graves. Find A Grave Memorial no. 39281338.

Gainesville Quadrangle. Missouri-Ozark, 7.5 Minute Series.United States Geological Survey, 1965.

“Town and Country: Local News Items.” Ozark County News [Gainesville, MO.] 09 April, 1896.