History of Hickory County, Missouri
Year by Year Timeline, 1830-1950
This timeline was prepared and published by the Hickory County Historical Society.
Permission to publish here received June 2005.
1830 |
John Stark on Stark's Creek (Wilson p. 153); Sam Judy at Judy's Gap; J. C. Montgomery north of Wheatland. |
1832 |
Zumwalts and Ingleses settled on Lindley Creek. (Goodspeed p. 215) |
1833 |
Antioch Primitive Baptist church organized. James Richardson and Elijah Williams, ministers. (Lay p. 62) |
1834 |
Wax sealed letter from John West to Wm. Montgomery, Little Niangua, Missouri. (Wilson p. 139) |
1835 |
Boonville to Springfield "old road" cut out. (Lay p. 10) Land west of Pomme de Terre River opened to whites. (Lay p. 12) |
1836 |
Emigration and cheap money. |
1837 |
Financial panic. Alfred Lindsey settled south of Hermitage. |
1838 |
First land entered by twelve parties. (Goodspeed p. 221) |
1839 |
Land entered by Runyan, Malock, Kerchival, Vestal, Taylor, McCarroll, Owings, Mitchell, Farmer, Bryans, Henderson, McCracken, Arbuckle, Bradley, Blue, Ball, Whitehead, Chessur, Clardy families. |
1840 |
Slicker War began at Judy's Gap. (Lay p. 39) |
1841 |
Land entries by I. M. Cruce, Nathan Boswell, S. W. Harris, Aaron Yarnell. |
1842 |
Land entries by Eliza Ingles, Jonas Brown, Ephraim Jamison, A. C. Nowell, Joseph Edde. |
1843 |
Antioch Christian Church organized. M. Y. Pitts, Minister. |
1844 |
Mastodon skeleton (20,000 years old) discovered near Avery (1839) sold to British Museum. W. S. Pickett settled near Cross Timbers. |
1845 |
Hickory County formed from parts of Benton and Polk counties. First meeting of County Court met in a newly erected crib or stable at Judge Joel B. Halbert's. Members: Amos Lindsey, Joel Halbert and Thomas Davis. County taxes for the year $383.65. |
1846 |
Second meeting of the county court met at Heard's spring one half mile north of Wheatland at the John Heard residence. |
1847 |
Hermitage platted. Jacob A. Romans, County Seat Commissioner. |
1848 |
Court house built at Hermitage. Quincy platted. |
1849 |
Gold rush to California. First probate court in the county. Aaron Triplett first probate judge. |
1850 |
W. F. Bradley, presiding judge of county court. County population 2,329. W. B. Estes settled near Wheatland. Little Niangua Baptist church organized. |
1851 |
Land entries by Josiah Brown, H. C. Butler, J. W. Huffman. |
1852 |
Elkton Baptist church organized. Total county taxes $515.98. Court house burned. (Goodspeed p. 238) |
1853 |
Micajah Turner and Martha Brookshire married Dec. 26 by Asa Johnson, Justice of the Peace. |
1854 |
Dry year in Missouri. J. C. Bernard settled at Quincy. |
1855 |
Jonathan Chaney and Elizabeth Starkey married September 4, by minister Wm. Henderson. E. D. Blair settled at Hermitage. |
1856 |
William C. Pitts and Martha E. Richards married February 28 by Rev. Thomas Pitts. |
1857 |
Financial panic. Preston platted. |
1858 |
Great Comet. W. E. Dorman built a two story hotel at Hermitage and put up a dinner bell. |
1859 |
Wm. Pippin and Margaret Bybee married April 28 by Joel Harlow, J.P. |
1860 |
Wooden bridge built across Pomme de Terre River but destroyed by high water before it was finished. New court house built. County population 4510. (Goodspeed p. 233) |
1861 |
Civil War Co. D, Osage Regiment, Missouri Home Guards, raised. |
1862 |
Attack on invalid Iowa soldiers at Quincy, under the noted Capt. Rafter. (Goodspeed p. 243) |
1863 |
John Lawrence commissioned as judge. Served six years. Prevented railroad bonds. J. K. Parks settled at Goose Neck. |
1864 |
"Nearly 1000 men connected with the armies--about equally divided." (Goodspeed p. 242) |
1865 |
Civil War ended. Veterans return. |
1866 |
Hermitage Lodge A. F. and A. M. No. 288 chartered. Woolen mill established at Quincy. |
1867 |
First county attorney, Charles Kroff. |
1868 |
Capt. W. H. Liggett, School Commissioner. (Goodspeed p. 597) |
1869 |
Pittsburg Baptist Church organized. Wheatland platted. Hermitage Enterprise first published; also Hickory County Mirror by Wm. Moore. |
1870 |
Stone jail at Hermitage and Wheatland flour mill built. |
1871 |
Pittsburg Baptist Church house built. Cross Timbers platted. |
1872 |
First store at Weaubleau. Weaubleau Christian Institute organized by John Whitaker, founder. |
1873 |
Weaubleau Christian College building completed. |
1874 |
Dry year. Macedonia Baptist Church organized. |
1875 |
Baptist annual meeting--W. W. Palmer, moderator; J. H. Stonecipher, preacher. |
1876 |
Cross Timbers school house built. Swedes come to county. Election returns for Governor: Phelps (D) 403; Finklenburg (R) 627. |
1877 |
Swedish Baptist Church begun near Almon. |
1878 |
First Democratic Court since 1860. Vote for Congress, A. M. Lay (D) 308; A. Underwood (R) 439; James Boyd (Greenback) 393. (State Almanac 1879 p. 94) |
1879 |
Cyclone unroofed jail and court house. Alexander Murphy began ten years service as county school commissioner. (Goodspeed p. 602) |
1880 |
Weaubleau surveyed. Election for Congress: Philips (D) 464; Rice (Greenback R) 754. (Official Directory of MO, 1881 p. 47) County population 7387. |
1881 |
Second court house burned. Hermitage Brick Church house built (M. E. South) |
1882 |
Weaubleau Baptist Church organized. Democrats elect George S. Selvidge as State Representative. Hill (R) elected Superintendent of Schools. (Official Directory of MO, 1882 p. 62) |
1883 |
Pittsburg Annual Baptist Meeting--J. M. Russell, Moderator; L. J.Tatum, Clerk. |
1884 |
First Issue of The Index. Election results: (R) 1963; (D) 626. |
1885 |
Cross Timbers M. E. Church built. Two story frame school house built in Wheatland. |
1886 |
Seven hotels in Wheatland. G. A. R. organized at Hermitage. (Hickory County Democrat, 4-23-86) |
1887 |
Hermitage School House built. Galmey post office established. Wheatland I.O.O.F. organized. |
1888 |
Wheatland Union Church house built. Elkton Baptist Church built. Clark School House. Ten doctors in the county. |
1889 |
Twelve members of the Bar in Hickory County (Goodspeed p. 239). Four advertised at Hermitage (Index). Hickory County Bank organized at Hermitage with W. H. Liggett, President, and James Vaughan, Cashier; capitalized at $5,000. |
1890 |
Judge Ben L. Mallonee re-elected. Durnell Chapel Baptist church organized. County population 9453. |
1891 |
Iron Bridge at Hermitage constructed at cost of $5,699. Preston steam flour mill built. |
1892 |
Nemo Baptist Church house built. Wheatland Baptist church organized. Seven Christian churches reported in county. |
1893 |
New College building at Weaubleau. Cross Timbers Bank organized (capitalized at $10,000). Financial panic. |
1894 |
Zinc mining boom near Pittsburg. Republican Primary cast 1198 votes. |
1895 |
Optimistic prediction: "Hickory County will double in population and Hermitage will have 1,000 inhabitants in next three years." (Index, Aug. 15, 1895) |
1896 |
Present court house built by subscription ($5,350). Wire suspension bridge constructed ($2100). |
1897 |
More mining of zinc and lead. |
1898 |
Hermitage Camp Modern Woodsmen of American organized. Seven miles of railroad in the county; station at Weaubleau. Elkton Christian Church organized. |
1899 |
Hermitage Baptist Church and Preston M. P. Church built. Weaubleau Bank organized (capitalized at $5,000). |
1900 |
Zenith reached in population, 9985. Election: (R) 1281; (D) 773. J. H. Jones in Wheatland revival. |
1901 |
Dry year. Dr. B. F. Cox reported trip to Indian Territory and Oklahoma (Index 8-5-01). First telephones in county. |
1902 |
Hermitage reunion July 25-26. Weaubleau Christian Church house built. Teachers' Institute at Hermitage, Holly Morton, principal. |
1903 |
Wheatland item, "Roads are muddy as usual; passable as unusual" (Index 5-21-03). First Hickory County fair held. |
1904 |
Hermitage Lodge I.O.O.F. No. 670 organized. Jordan steam flour mill built. |
1905 |
Weaubleau flour mill erected. Hermitage Christian Church organized. |
1906 |
$15,000 fire at Hermitage. Citizens Bank organized, W. F. Coon, President. |
1907 |
Hickory County Fair held August 27-30. Wilson's History of Hickory County published. |
1908 |
Pittsburg mines re-opened. |
1909 |
M. N. Neihardt wrote from Winona, Mo. "Keep sending your paper to Weaubleau and I'll pay for it when I get ready even if it is not worth a darn. Wife says it is all right." Walter Coon's auto visits Hermitage Fair and steals the show. First automobile many had seen. |
1910 |
Index sponsored Piano Contest. Election: (R) 689. |
1911 |
Center Baptist Church organized, Dallas Erickson, Pastor. |
1912 |
Demonstration of Majestic Ranges for sale at Knight and Sons, Weaubleau. Election: (R) 730; (D) 421; Progressive 375; Socialist 57. |
1913 |
Weaubleau Christian College approved by State normals; Fred Cooper, President. Spring School at Preston with Irl R. Chrisope, Principal. First High School building at Wheatland built. |
1914 |
Young's High Flyer will fly at Hickory County Fair, August 25-28. |
1915 |
Queen Incubators advertised (Index 5-6-15). County Fair buildings burned. |
1916 |
Rural Mail Carrier's Examination held at Wheatland. Many California letters to Paul Murphy, publisher of the Index (10-12-16). |
1917 |
533 names registered in the county for the War Department (Index 7-12-17). |
1918 |
United War Work Campaign. Influenza epidemic. |
1919 |
County Conference of Sunday School workers at Wheatland, H. E. Shumate, President. Big fire at Wheatland. |
1920 |
The Index purchased from Paul Murphy by U. Elmer Wilson. Republican Primary tallies 1150 votes. |
1921 |
Enclosed car, Ford Coupe, $595. Don Harryman, Wheatland, and Ashcroft Motor Co., Weaubleau, agents. |
1922 |
Articles on Consolidated Schools published. New high school building at Hermitage. Primary election: (R) 2307; (D) 305. Wheatland Christian Church dedicated; Dr. A. L. Fisher, Dr. A. S. Johnston, H. H. Rogers, leading donors. |
1923 |
New Ford touring car advertised for $295, F.O.B. Detroit, by Parker Motor Co., Wheatland. The Index is the only newspaper in the county. |
1924 |
$2,000 fire at Hermitage. County to have 56 miles of graded graveled roads; 34.6 miles already built. |
1925 |
Lead mines at Seed Tick Prospect near Cross Timbers. Mill Creek Co. selling shares for $10 each. |
1926 |
Mining machinery still coming. Several hundred acres of land leased by Westerman Brothers. Election: (R) 1895; (D) 722. |
1927 |
Extension work to start, O. V. Singleton, District Extension Agent. High School at Pittsburg. Hickory County Fair at Weaubleau. |
1928 |
Hickory County farmers motor 150 miles to market. Radio programs advertised in Index. |
1929 |
Clover and Prosperity Days held July 30-31. Two summer resorts near Hermitage--Gum Spring and Dorman Springs. |
1930 |
4H Baby Beef Calf Show. A. T. Mahanay began 16 year county pastorate. Highway 54 designated across county. R. W. Hoffman closed six year county pastorate. |
1931 |
Bus transportation for pupils at Hermitage; H. H. Bybee, Supt. O. B. Whitaker serving tenth term in State Legislature. |
1932 |
W. H. Coulter, first Vocational Agriculture Teacher in the county, at Wheatland. Election: Hoover-1585; Roosevelt-878. |
1933 |
Wet and Dry election: 260 Wet, 1088 Dry (Index 8-24-33). |
1934 |
CWA Women's Work, Dorothy Boiler, Director. |
1935 |
Pave U.S. 54 Association formed. George H. Miller admitted to the Bar. |
1936 |
Election: Landon-2310, Roosevelt-904. |
1937 |
Permanents $1 to $5 at Ruth's Beauty Shoppe, Hermitage. Thirteen children from County at free Warsaw clinic. |
1938 |
Summer camp for Baptist girls at Gum Spring, June 14-16. Election: Caulfield (R) 1449; Clark (D) 610. |
1939 |
U. S. 54 paved. Terraces built on R. E. Tull farm. County Sunday School Convention at Hermitage July 2. |
1940 |
U. S. 54 open through county. History of Draft Order numbers 637 (Index 11-14-40). County population 6506. |
1941 |
World War II began. |
1942 |
War Relief Fund for Red Cross collects $473.78. AAA dinner at Brick Church (Hermitage). 9th anniversary of AAA. |
1943 |
New marriage law explained. Ration Book 3 applications. War Fund Campaign collects $1500. |
1944 |
Soybeans for Hickory County recommended by County Agent L. W. Doran. Gerald Parsons awarded the Purple Heart. |
1945 |
20,000 fish planted in Hickory County waters. Achievement Day Program for Extension clubs held September 29th. |
1946 |
New Empire substation built east of Hermitage. |
1947 |
Old age assistance totals $98,290 for county. Monthly average $25.34. School lunch program. |
1948 |
Balanced Farming Field Day at Floyd Pearson farm; 200 present. New buildings for County Fair. Owsley Pie Supper Proceeds--$163.60. Donald Shull, teacher. |
1949 |
$75,000 fire at Hermitage. Loss of Lightfoot, Troxel, Pope, Dorman and Day buildings. County assessed valuation $4,706,286. Weaubleau Baptist and St. Bridget Catholic churches at Hermitage dedicated. World War I and II Memorial dedicated at Hermitage. |
1950 |
County population 5377. County Historical Society organized; Ralph Nevins, president. |
Page created by Ginny Sharp, July 2005.
Please report any errors to Ginny.