Christian County Soil and Water Conservation District

Historical Accounts of the Watershed

Information taken directly from "The State of Missouri an Autobiography" 1904 by Walter Williams. 

Pictures courtesy of the Pegram Collection Drury University

   "Christian County is situated in the Ozark mountains of southwest Missouri ten miles south of Springfield.  Its surface in the north and west comprise considerable plateau land, high and level, and elsewhere in the county is characterized by deep mountain gorges and corresponding cliffs. 

   Farms of the county are estimated to be worth, according to present market price, $3,112,266, and number 2,648 with an average size of 97.5 acres.  The county contains 556 square miles or 355,840 acres of which 149,140 acres are in cultivation and past years surplus products amounted to $1,000 for each farm.

   Tobacco, strawberries, and tomatoes of the fancy, as distinguished from staple, production but all grains, vegetables, and fruits of this latitude are raised.  Railroad ties have long supplied ready money to farmers who choose to employ otherwise idle time." 

    FINANCE: - County tax, 40 cents; school tax average, 64 cents; total assessed valuation, $3,315,010; assessed valuation percent of actual valuation, 66 and 2/3; county debt, $28,450; no township debt.

    TIMBER: - Originally there was an unbroken forest of white oak, black oak, post oak, black-jack, and a few other species, but easily accessible commercial growth has been remove.  Acreage timbered is 206,700, most of which is second, small growth.  In the eastern and southern sections, however, are white oak and black oak marketable size.  Creek bluffs are often crowned with cedar thickets, timers of fence-post size.

     MINERALS: - One-fifth if the county shows mineral prospects, but a comparatively small portion has been developed.  Lead and zinc are mined at Ozark.  one mine output for the past year was 180 tons of lead.  Iron evidence are abundant; no active mines.  Fire and pottery clay are found; limestone is everywhere.

      LANDS: - Most of the soils consist of a clay loam of varying depths under laid by a bright red clay subsoil.  Creek and river bottom lands are of deep, sandy loam soil, rich in organic matter and will support annual grain crops for years without the use of fertilizers.  Uplands are fertile according to the depth of the soil.  In the west end there is land very valuable for general agricultural purposes, as is in between the vicinity of Nixa and Highlandville.  Southern and extreme eastern parts are more broken and some level or undulating land is found in the east central part.  All upland soils are gravel-laden and in places very stony.  Grain and grass thrive.  Large areas of upland soils seem well adapted to tobacco growing.  Price of lands range from $5 to $50 an acre.  maximum price is paid for the best bottoms, which range from $30 to $50, depending upon situation with reference to the market.  Table lands in the west end between Ozark and Sparta, in the central district, and the prairie near Nixa are priced at $25 to $35.  Best ridge lands, improved, are selling at $20 to $25.  Hill lands, improved, $5 to $15.  Unimproved land sells at $3 to 415, depending upon timber growth or soil.

      TRANSPORTATION: - St. Louis and San Francisco main line crosses the northwest corner.  The Chadwick branch opens the center of the county.

     MINERAL SPRINGS: - There are springs at Reno and Eaudevie, in the southern part of the county.  These waters possess medicinal properties and the towns are popular local resorts.  Fishing and hunting are additional attractions of these vicinities. 

     TOWNS: - Ozark, county seat, population 830, has two flouring mills, a canning factory, and mineral reduction works.  Billings, population 702, has a flouring mill, grain elevator, canning factory, creamery, and iron foundry; center for fruit and dairy region.  Sparta, population 300, has a flouring mill, and a farming center.  There is also; Nixa, Chadwick, Kenton, Riverdale, Griffin, Highlandville, McCracken, and Clever.

     NEWSPAPERS: - Ozark Democrat, Christian County Republican; Sparta Leader, Billings Times. Post, Nixa News.

 Douglas Co. 1904

    "Douglas County is in the second tier of counties north of the Arkansas line and is fifth east of Indian Territory (Oklahoma).  The county embraces 792 square miles or 506,880 acres.  Of this total, 126,885 acres are under cultivation.  the remaining vast acreage is under hardwood timber of first growth. 

    The forest is comparatively untouched.  Half the footage in trees is white oak and black oak, trees often two or three feet through, and the land may be bought for about $1.50 an acre.  A comparatively small area mineral bearing and nearest the railroad may be had at $3 to $5 an acre.  The land is mountainous.  What is perhaps the highest and most rugged ridge of the Ozark mountains marks the north edge of Douglas county.  Many streams have their rise here. 

    The farming districts adjoin Fox, Beaver, Bryant's and Spring creeks, and White river.  There are 2,738 farms of an average size of 127.1 acres, of an actual value, according to present market prices, $4,450,826." 

    POPULATION: - Total population, 16,802.  Farm homes owned, 2,205; rented, 579; other homes owned, 218; rented, 173; total families, 3,175. 

    FINANCE: - County tax, 50 cents on one hundred dollars valuation; school tax from 10 cents to $1.50; average, 65 cents; total assessed valuation, $2,042,548; farms assessed on 40 percent of value basis; town lots, 50 percent and personal property, 40 percent.  

    TIMBER: - On an average year timber product shipments approximate as follows: Railroad ties, 3,000; fence and mine posts, 4,800; hardwood lumber, 1,200,000 feet; piling, 680 pieces.  Along the south border of Douglas county is a pine growth, in extent about one percent of the timber.  This is being removed at the rate of about two and a half million feet annually.  White oak abounds in the central part of the county and there is also a large body in the west end and on north hill sides throughout the county; estimated to embrace 20 percent of timber.  Twenty-four percent is black oak, largest growth found near Ava and Squires.  Black-jack grows everywhere to the extent of ten percent.  Post oak, five percent; hickory, two percent; walnut, one percent.

   MINERALS: - Twenty-five percent of the county bears mineral indication.  Lead, zinc, copper, and iron are found.  Lack of railroad transportation leaves the prospects for minerals undeveloped.  Limestone and sandstone are found along all streams.

    LAND: - Soil is gravelly and often stone-bearing, but possesses considerable fertility.  By proper rotation, profitable cereal growing is followed.  Clover and grasses grow luxuriantly, even where to rough or stony for wheat or corn.  Stock raising most nearly accords with the county's natural adaptability.  Of the land in cultivation, bottoms sell for $15 an acre; best ridge or upland valleys, $10; less level ridge land, $5.  Wild timbered lands range from $1.25 an acre to $5.  It is estimated that $1.50 an acre would buy nearly all wild acreage.  There are 6,745 acres owned by the United States government, which holds them subject to homestead at $1.25 an acre.

    FRUIT LANDS: - Soil, subsoil, climate and one half of the topography are favorable to fruit growing.  Douglas borders the west side of Howell county, which grows more peaches than any other Missouri county.

    MANUFACTURING: - Are of local size and importance.  Flouring mills, saw mills, tannery, planing mills, shingle factories, and wool carding machines.

    CAVES AND SCENIC POINTS: - Brown's Cave, near Rippey, fifteen miles east of Ava, possesses interest for geologists and sightseers.  Between Ava and Veracruz, are the highest mountains in the county.

    TOWNS: - Ava, county seat, has good flouring mill, feed mill and tannery.  Freight comes from wagon via Mansfield, in Wright county, nearest railroad point fifteen miles away.  Rome, Topaz, Squires, Denlow, Bryant, Pansy, Winfield, Larissa, Veracruz, and Loftin are farming centers, having custom flouring and feed mills.

    NEWSPAPERS: - Ava; Douglas County Republican, Douglas County Herald. 

Greene Co.1904

    "Fruit, agriculture, live stock, wholesale, interests, manufacturing, railroads and schools are found in the category of Greene's chief interests.  The County has what some neighbors await ---- development.  It is situated in southwest Missouri, two hundred and thirty miles southwest of St. Louis, upon a plateau of the Ozark mountains.  Thus climate and land lay are conducive to successful horticulture, agriculture, and live stock engagement. 

     Next came the railroads which made Springfield, county seat, a transportation center, lent impetus to industries in immediate connection with the land, and were forerunners to wholesaling, manufacturing, and to the establishment at Springfield of one of the best colleges in the west --- Drury College. 

Ozark border soil is red limestone clay, moderately flinty, and adapted eminently to wheat.  This called for the establishment of flouring mills, for which the county is known.  At Republic is located a mill with a daily flouring capacity of 2,000 barrels.  It has a storage capacity of 500,000 bushels and its exports reach Europe and South America.  The flour and feed exportation of Greene county amounts to 5,000 cars annually.  Post office department operates ten rural free delivery routes in Greene county." 

    POPULATION: - Total population, 52,713.  Farm homes owned, 6,020; rented 1,318; other homes owned, 3,003; rented, 3,937; total families, 14,273.

    FINANCE: - County tax, 40 cents on the one hundred dollars; school tax, average, 52 cents; total, assessed valuation, $14,917,275; assessed valuation is two-third actual valuation.  County debt, $200,000.

    LAND: - County contains 688 square miles of land. Equal to 440,320 acres, of which 287,721 acres are included in improved farms.  There are 4,320 farms of an average size of 85.4 acres, valued, according to present selling prices, at $8,277,325. Total products in agriculture, horticulture, and value of live stock amount to three-fourths of the worth of the land where grown.  Excepting along the streams the land is practically a broad stretch of undulating surface. Best improved farms sell at $25 to $40, situated upon the table lands.  Ridge farms of equal fertility are always slightly less salable, and bring from $3 to $5 less an acre.  Some improved lands may be had at $15 to $25 an acre.  In the creek bottoms land may be had at $25 to $35an acre.  Adjoining Springfield farm land reaches $75 to $90 an acre. 

    FRUIT: - Strawberries, apples, peaches, and grapes are grown in greatest quantities.  At Springfield is the headquarters of the Ozark Fruit growers’ Association, organized to further the interests of fruit growing in southern Missouri. 

    COLLEGES: - Drury College, Springfield, member of College Union, which is to say that it is one of the strongest institutions of education in Missouri.  Lorretto Academy and St. Joseph's school are Catholic institutions of strength, having local patronage.  Springfield Normal School and Business College, and two other business schools.  Springfield High school is articulated with the state University. 

    TRANSPORTATION: - Frisco, five divisions, and the Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield center at Springfield.  Division offices and shops are also located here. 

    TOWNS: - Springfield, 23,267; Ash Grove, 1,039; Republic, 856; are the incorporated towns.  All derive large business from horticulture, live stock and agricultural interests.  Ash Grove has the additional feature of lime kilns, and Republic is the location of flouring mills.

     NEWSPAPERS: - Springfield: Daily and Weekly Leader-Democrat; Daily and Weekly Republican, Express, Sunday Tradesman, Practical Fruit Grower, Sunny South, The Triple Link, The Policy Holder, Opportunity, Baptist News.  Ash Grove: Commonwealth, Advance.  Republic Monitor. Walnut Grove Eagle. 

 Stone co. 1904

    "Natural resources of Stone county include; timber, both hardwood and yellow pine, minerals, mineral waters from numerous springs, picturesque scenery and fruit and live stock pasture lands.  Stone is three counties east of Indian Territory and borders Arkansas on the south. 

    Land is mountainous, especially in the southern part adjacent to the White river and its principal tributary, James Fork.  Along these streams are caves known to embrace large acreages.  They are usually filled with stalactitic and stalagmitic formations of matter resembling onxy.

    The county is 516 square miles, 330,240 acres, of which 257,113 acres are timbered.  Pine timber is estimated at three percent, worth approximately fifty thousands dollars.  The various oaks are chief, aggregating a value several times that of the pine and largely augmented by recent construction of the Missouri Pacific main line railroad from Kansas City to Memphis which runs across Stone county from northwest to southeast. 

    Sulphur springs include the famous Ponce de Leon spring where many parties camp in the warm summer months.  Well known Marble Cave, sixteen miles southeast of Galena is a wonderfully attractive cavern in which scientists have taken much interest because of its onyx deposits. 

    Agricultural is confined to the valleys of the White River and its tributary creeks.  Seventy-three thousand, one hundred and twenty-seven acres are in cultivation.  The farms number 1,627, averaging 104.8 acres each of tillable, pasture, and timber lands.  Estimated worth $1,174,170.  Government land subject to homestead at $1.25 and acre, 13,044 acres." 

    POPULATION: - Total population, 9,892.  Farm homes owned, 1,282; rented, 376; other homes owned, 165; rented, 168; total families, 1,991. 

    FINANCE: - County tax, 65 cents on one hundred dollars valuation; school tax, 40 cents to $1.00, average, 65 cents; assessed valuation percent of real valuation, 50 cents; assessed valuation, $1,432,310; county debt, $22,500; no township debt. 

    TIMBER: - Railroad ties and cedar posts have for many years been wagon hauled and floated to market, and recent railroad has lent impetus to the industry.  The entire county is timbered except in the extreme north end and along the stream bottom lands, where lie the farms.  Estimated that white oak represents twenty-seven percent; black oak, twenty percent; black-jack, twelve percent; post oak, ten percent; pine, hickory, walnut, sycamore, maple, elm, ash, and linden the balance. 

    MINERALS: - Marble, onyx, lead, zinc, tripoli, iron, clays are found.  Lead is found all over the county, but not as yet in paying quantities.  Most favorable indications found are ten miles east of Galena.  Marble and onyx are found in caves along river sides.  Limestone is abundant.  No mineral development of consequence. 

    LAND: - The northern one-third is rough as a whole, but contains many gentle slopes and table lands and valleys.  In a general way the southern portion is very broken, the most mountainous being along the rivers.  Along White and James rivers are valleys of alluvial soil, fertile enough to grow the best of crops.  Hill sides are generally too rough for cultivation but are clothed in a blue stem grass.  In the extreme southwestern corner and also a section northwest of Galena land is suitable for general farming purposes.  Soil the county over, excepting bottoms, is limestone with a heavy admixture of flint fragments and a red limestone subsoil also containing flint gravel.  Improved bottom lands are bringing $15 to $25 and acre; unimproved $8 to $12.  Uplands may be had for $5 to $10 where under improvement and $1.25 to $7.50 unimproved, depending mostly upon individual size and quantity of timber. 

    MANUFACTURING: - The county boasts flouring mills run by water, canning factories, broom factories, distilleries and saw mills. 

    TRANSPORTATION: - Missouri Pacific railroad, Kansas City to Memphis, just completed.  White river is used for timber transportation. 

    PONCE DE LEON SPRING: - There are numerous springs welling from the mountain sides.  Limestone and sulphur waters are found.  A spring of the latter is located at Galena.  The larges is at Ponce de Leon.  River scenery and mountain air, fishing, hunting, and spring water attract many camping parties in the summer. 

    TOWN: - Galena, county seat; Crane, Ruth, are trading centers of respective farming districts. 

 Webster co. 1904

    “Webster is one of the foremost of those counties which won for the south Missouri the significant title “Land of the Big Red Apple.”  Two hundred miles southwest of St. Louis, on the Frisco railroad, it embraces a vast acreage of table lands of the Ozark mountains.  Apples afford the chief income.  The Winans apple orchard, near Marshfield, contains 86,000 apple trees, 40,000 peach trees, and 10,000 pear trees.  Numerous orchards of eighty to three hundred acres are found.  Estimated total number of trees, 800,000." 

    TIMBER: - Originally ninety percent of the land was timbered, consisting of white oak, black oak, and hickory.  Thirty-five percent is cleared and thirty percent of the balance has been relieved of commercial size trees.  A dozen portable saw mills operate, selling native hardwood lumber at $1 to $1.25 per hundred feet.  Cedar, elm, and sycamore timber borders creeks.  Cordwood sells at $1.50; railroad ties are sold at 25 to 30 cents. 

    MINERALS: - Limestone, sandstone, tiff and lead exist, but no active mines operate.

    POPULATION: - Total population, 16,640.  Farm homes owned, 1,881; rented, 656; town homes owned, 425; rented, 357; total number of families, 3,328.  Bohemian settlement three miles southwest of Marshfield.

    LAND: - There are 630 square miles or 403,200 acres of land, of which 143,960 acres are included in improved farms.  These farms number 2,500 and have an average size of 105.3 acres, and an estimated value of $3,280,194.  Next to apples the leading products are corn, cattle, horses, wheat, hogs, and butter, in order.  Webster county occupies the highest average elevation of any county un Missouri.  There extremes are 1,690 and 1,092 feet above sea level.  It contains many acres of undulating, tillable, tableland, unimproved.  One-half of the county is tableland.  Soil here is dark, vegetable loam, from one to three feet in depth, over a red gravelly clay.  it grows clover, timothy, oats, wheat, corn, vegetables, and especially fruits and grasses, when sown, easily crowds out all others.  On half of these lands are under cultivation; worth $10 to $15, occasionally $20.  A large percent of the unimproved tableland is held by local agents who are disposing of it to home seekers upon time payments.   Ten percent is bottom land, of creeks and rivers, worth $15 to $20.  Here the soil is black loam of inexhaustible depth.  Remaining forty percent is mountainous, located mainly south of the Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis railroad, and in the north east parts of the county, along the streams.  Hills are in instances 700 feet above adjacent valleys.  Government land, 268 acres, is herein situated.  Rough land sells up to $5 and acre.  It is generally too rough for grain, but it is favorable to apple trees.  Surface of rough land bears small rocks.  Tablelands are generally free from rocks.  Estimated acreage of land owned by foreign corporations and non-residents, seventy-five thousand. 

    DAIRIES: - Four large dairies and several farmers sell $100,000 to $125,000 worth of butter and milk annually.  The larges establishment maintains 80 to 100 cows.  Butter, brick, and flour are the leading factory products. 

    TRANSPORTATION: - Frisco main line, St. Louis to Springfield, 25.20; Kansas City, Fort Scott, and Memphis (Frisco Lease), 23.71 miles within the county. 

    SPRINGS: - By actual count, Webster county has more than 2,400 living springs of clear water.  Marshfield is 1,487 feet above sea-level, upon a level plain, yet there are six within a half mile of the court house.  Dug wells are twelve to twenty-five feet deep.

    Towns: - Marshfield, county seat; Seymour, Fordland, Rogersville, and Niangua are the chief towns, supported wholly by horticultural and agricultural interests.  There are 31 post offices 17 of which receive daily mail, and 14 receive mail three times a week.  The atmosphere in this section of Missouri is most exhilarating ---- a seductive factor.

    FINANCE: - County tax, 40 cents on the one hundred dollars; school tax, average, 38 cents; total assessed valuation, $2,000,000; assessed valuation percent of real valuation, 40; no county debt, no township debt.

    NEWSPAPERS: - Marshfield Chronicles, Mail; Seymour Flashlight; Fordland Monitor.

 WRIGHT co. 1904

    "Wright county is in the heart of Missouri's "Land of the Big Red Apple."  The county is situated one hundred miles east of the Kansas line and forty miles north of Arkansas.  All the advantages of soil, subsoil, and climate is has.  A large acreage adjoining the Frisco railroad is horticulturally improved.  The extreme northern side of the county awaits transportation facilities.  Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station is located at Mountain Grove.  Apples, peaches, strawberries, and pears are particularly sure crops. 

    Minerally, too, the county is wealthy.  Onyx is found in caves.  Lead, zinc, iron, and limestone are deposited.  More than three hundred thousand acres bear remarkable timber and bluestem grass is everywhere and if value to stock raising.  The county contains 700 square miles, equal to 448,000 acres of surface; 139,272 acres are under cultivation.  There are 2,726 farms, averaging 119.8 acres each, estimated to be worth a market price of $2,858,518."

    POPULATION: - Total population 17,519.  Farm homes owned, 2,058; rented, 716; other homes owned, 336; rented, 348; total families, 3,458.

    FINANCE: - County Tax, 50 cents on one hundred dollars; school tax, average, 50 cents; total assessed valuation, $2,985,196; assessed valuation percent of actual valuation, 50; no county nor township debt. 

    TIMBER: - Originally covered with white oak, black oak, post oak, black-jack, elm, maple, ash, sycamore, redbud, linden, hickory, and walnut along streams.  Commercial white oak now remains in western part and along the Gasconade river bluffs.  Black oak is even more plentiful.

    MINERALS: - Lead, zinc, copper, onyx, limestone, and sandstone are the minerals found.  Mining is only in a small way developed in the southwest corner of the county, at Lead Hill, and its vicinity, where lead and zinc are taken from the earth.  Onyx has been found in the southern part and probably exists in unexplored caves elsewhere.  Limestone and sandstone are found practically everywhere. 

    LAND: - The county contains a lot of good farming land.  Soil is deep, gravelly, and of a clay loam that is more fertile than ordinary.  Subsoil is usually red clay with ordinarily a generous admixture of gravel, thus rendering is porous and giving excellent drainage to plant roots.  Aside from the bottoms, the best agriculture lands are to be found in the center of the county, near Hartville; in the western and in the southwestern localities, and in the vicinity if Mountain Grove.  Bottoms are valued at $15 to $20 per acre, and improved ridge and tablelands, $5 to $10.  The unimproved lands may be bought for $2 to $5.  Government lands embrace 2,540 acres, which are subject to homestead at $1.25 an acre.  This acreage is  scattered over the county in small tracts.  Wright county is congenial to the growth of apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and all of the berries.  Best of fruit lands may be bought in the northern part at $3 to $5, and in the south end, close to the railroad, for $5 to $10. 

    TRANSPORTATION: - Memphis route of St. Louis and San Francisco railroad passes through the southern side.

    WATER: - The Gasconade river flows through the county from south to north.  Secondary streams are Beaver, Elk, Whetstone, Steens, and Bryant's.  Perhaps the most impressive mountain scenery in Missouri is at Cedar Gap.

    TOWNS: - Mountain Grove, population 1,004, farming and live stock center; has a flouring mill, planing mill, and canning factory; location of the State Fruit Experimentation Station; usually good schools.  Mansfield, population 494, railroad, mail, and shipping point of importance.  Hartville, population 445, county seat.  Norwood, Odin, and Grove Spring each have flouring mills.  Cedar Gap, Lead Hill, Astoria, Whetstone, and Macomb are supported by farming and timber interests. 

    NEWSPAPERS: - Hartville Democrat, Progress; Mansfield Mail; Mountain Grove Journal, Advertiser; Glenn's Sunday Clipper.