Episode OS17 - 2nd Qtr 1881 - Life in Oak Springs and more

Second Anniversary of the opening of Parks Wagon and Implement Sales Office began on Friday, April 1. They conducted a drawing, again this year, from the names of persons registered in the Office on Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2. Each person was entitled to one chit in the drawing, plus one additional chit for each purchase of $1 or more on each of those days. Winners were published in the Wednesday, April 6, issue of the Oak Springs Enterprise as well as in the store on Monday morning, April 4. The winner of a $5 store credit was Oscar Street. Junior Die won a $3 store credit. Peter Riley, Henry Medley and Jourdan Sullivan each won a $1 store credit.

Campbell Dry Goods Store celebrated their 13th Anniversary in business in Oak Springs on Friday, April 15. Each person, male or female, of 14 years and older who registered in the store during the week preceding (Saturday, April 9th through 4 p.m. on Friday, April 15) was entered in a drawing for 5 prizes. Winners were posted in the store the following Monday morning, and listed in the Wednesday, April 29, issue of the Oak Springs Enterprise. Shorty Cox was the winner of the First Prize: A store credit of $5. His nephew, Bernie Cox, won a $3 store credit. Winning $1 store credits were: Karl King, Elwin Johnson, and Norma Nixon.

Simeon Bishop, President of the Oak Creek Valley Fair Association, published in the April 29 issue of the Oak Springs Enterprise the details for entering the competitions at the annual Fair normally held the first Saturday in August; this year on Saturday, August 6. With only a few new categories of competition, it appeared that the Fair would follow a similar schedule to the one that was so successful the prior year.

The Second Anniversary of the opening of Ward Confectionary and Bakery was on May 1, a Sunday. Therefore the Wards held their Anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 30. Customers that day received a 10% discount on any purchase or paid order of over $1. Also, each purchase of over $.50 earned a free cupcake of their choice from among those available at the time.

A Graduation Exercise for the Oak Springs High School Class of 1881 was held in the Community Building on Saturday, May 21. Dora Garrett, Edwin Williams and Peter Wingfield were the graduates recognized in the exercise this year. Quinton Chambers recognized Dora Garrett as the top student in this class. Dora gave a short oration.

Memorial Day was recognized on Monday, May 30, the day of national recognition of fallen veterans. The local Patton Post of the GAR led a recognition ceremony, with color guard, in the Town Park, near the Patton Memorial.

Lewis Truesdale, local GAR Commandant, announced the 4th of July celebration activities schedule at the Memorial Day ceremony. He said that Centennial Square would be the site of the celebrations again this year. The DAR would provide the color guard. The lead speaker this year would be Augustus Ward. He added that the 4th of July was a Monday this year and according to the Chamber of Commerce, all businesses would be closed on that Monday in honor of the day.

The Methodist Annual Conference announced appointment of Reverend Willis Bailey to the church in Lexington, Missouri. In addition, the Conference announced the appointment of Reverend Arthur Boyd to the Oak Springs church for the coming year. Reverend Boyd was expected to preach at the Methodist Church on Sunday, June 19. He and his wife, Claudia, will be guests at the Duncan Boarding House until a parsonage can be made available.

Russell Nixon reported the arrival of three new ‘bundles of joy’ to families across the valley recently. Theodore and Ida Stark welcomed a son, Theodore, Jr., to be called Teddie, in March, to join sisters, Rachel, 14, and Marian, 11. In April and May, Samuel and Cordelia Street, and Willis and Isabel Garrett, each became grandparent in each month. Oscar and Sharon (Garrett) Street welcomed their first child, a son, Joseph, in late April. Two weeks later, in May, Jason and Penelope (Street) Garrett, had their first child, as well, a girl, that they named Julia.

It was learned that three local gentlemen Gilbert Gower, David Derryberry, and Calvin Williams had sent a letter to the Missouri headquarters of the Presbyterian Church organization requesting a preacher be sent to Oak Springs for the purpose of establishing a Presbyterian Church in the community. The gentlemen were heard to say they could not abide by the decision of the Methodist Church to change preachers without input from the local congregation. All three declared they were baptized as Presbyterian, and desired to be able to worship in that faith, in the local community. They declared they were weary of having to stand silent, in Methodist services, during portions of the ritual each week. They simply could not say some of those words, as much as they wanted to worship their Lord. They added that they did appreciate the opportunity of being welcomed to the Methodist services. It was just time, if possible, to have a church of their own denomination in town.

In his first sermon at the Methodist Church, Reverend Arthur Boyd said he welcomed each and every community member at the weekly worship service in the Church. He said he also welcomed the possibility of a future Presbyterian or other denomination of church in the community if and when it received sufficient local support. Each person should have the opportunity to worship, or not, as they choose, he added.

The Methodist Church Building Committee determined that rather than building a new parsonage for the minister it was more feasible to arrange a purchase of the rental house across the street to the west of church and do some remodeling to meet their needs. Abner Wingfield and Joseph Cox, owners of the house and lot, along with Ralph Campbell at the bank, were willing to work with the church on the project. Within a week, pledges were secured to back up the purchase and renovations necessary. They estimated the parsonage would be available by the end of July.

This is the seventeenth episode of this short story (OSx) series, Life in Oak Springs. The stories are set in the Ozarks Mountains setting of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga historical fiction. This episode is for the Second Quarter of the calendar year 1881, following the 40 episodes of “The Kings of Oak Springs” stories. That series had followed the time period of the “American Centennial at the Homeplace: The Founding (1833-1876)” collection of short stories. Some of these earlier stories are published on The Homeplace Saga blog, found at the link, below. These OSx episodes move the story forward for the entire "Saga" series.

The first 20 episodes of the King Family series have now been compiled into an eBook, titled: "The Kings of Oak Springs: The Arrival Months in 1876 Vol 1." The second 20 episodes will become Vol 2. See the link, below, to get yours.

“The Homeplace Saga” historical fiction family saga stories are the creation of the author, William Leverne Smith, also known as “Dr. Bill.”