Bates County Museum Minute : Second Week of January in the Year: Walton Opera House, Orphan Train, Gen. Shelby

Bates County Museum Minute
Jan 7, 2021

Museum Minute presents This Week in History (According to Eddie Herrman Archives)

Second Week of January in the Year: Walton Opera House, Orphan Train, Gen. Shelby

1882 - Butler financier, William E. Walton announces he will build a $25,000 opera house in Butler. 

1929 – Bates Co Sheriff Hartley and a deputy go to Kansas City and return with Dr. Howertz, thought to be the head of the gang that has been robbing Bates Co homes, stores, and the Ballard Bank. 

1902 - The Butler City Council moves to get a railroad car of cinders from Rich Hill to be used in construction of the cemetery road. 

1874 – Mr. Rose moves his mill from on the Miami Creek to the Marais des Cygnes River two miles south of Bells Mill. 

1886 – 29 boys and 8 girls, orphans from New York, arrive in Butler, to be given to different applicants in the County. The train was 2 hours late because of the blizzard in Bates County. Their ages varied from 4 to 18 and they were accompanied by Reverend Maltiere. 

1886 – Manager Sanders of the Rich Hill Opera House announces the opening day will be the 23rd with The Hoyt Comedy Troupe. The Opera House had burned on October 14, 1895. 

1875 – All six Butler ice dealers have been putting up ice this past week from surrounding creeks. 

1882 – Financier and railroad magnate Jay Gould passes through Butler at 1:30 pm on his special train of five coaches. He’s one of the owners of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. 1918 – Fish are reportedly dying by the thousands in the Walnut Creek near Hume, which feeds into the Marais des Cygnes river. 

1906 – The first house in Butler, heated by a hot water heater, is the residence of Mrs. M. S. Powers, on South Delaware St. 1875 – Flynn & Slater’s distillery is dismantled by government officials near Coleville. 1889 – Former Confederate General J. O. Shelby is arrested by his son, Bates County Sheriff’s Deputy J. M. Shelby, on a subpoena which states J. O. hadn’t paid fines from the trail of Frank James in Gallatin on August 30, 

1883 - J. O. has his receipts and when they get to Butler there is an urgent telegraph message saying there was a mistake. He had paid. /// J. O. later hired all of Butler’s attorneys, sued, and received more than his fines and lawyer fees. 

1918 – The school wagons have arrived and with the mercury at 10 degrees below zero, and the roads blanketed with snow, the oil stoves in the wagons keep the kiddies warm, going to and from the Hume School.

From the Bates County Health Center

WHEN CAN I GET VACCINATED?

At this time, the supply of COVID-19 vaccine is limited and is being allocated to front-line healthcare workers and long-term care facilities. This first phase (phase 1A) is likely to take a few months and once the State feels that those in phase 1A have been adequately vaccinated they will then allow vaccinators to go to phase 1B, etc. 

We expect that all adults wanting the vaccine should be able to be vaccinated in 2021 as the state moves from phase to phase but it will take some time.

We will pass information out once we know more.

Obituary - Glen Byron Merryfield

Graveside services for Glen B. Merryfield of Butler, Missouri will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Butler under direction of the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel (660-679-6555) of Butler. No visitation. Contributions to the Butler Public Library or Children's Mercy Hospital. Online condolences www.showengerdtchapel.com.

Glen Byron Merryfield, age 95 of Butler, Missouri died Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Missouri. He was born November 11, 1925 to Caryll L. and Jessie Inis Smith Merryfield in Appleton City, Missouri.

Glen is survived by a son, David Merryfield and wife MaryAnn of Butler, Missouri; two daughters, Diana Rich and Robin Lesmeister and husband Francis all of Butler, Missouri; a sister, Shirley Simmons and husband Bo of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; 6 grandchildren, Jesse Merryfield and wife Bridget, Lacy Glass, Jeffrey Merryfield and wife Lara, Denver Lesmeister and wife Jessica, Dakota Lesmeister and wife Rachel and Cheyenne Reinke and husband Tyler; 14 great-grandchildren, Macy, Mabry and McCoy Merryfield, Mya, Rowan and Cruze Glass, Bria and Bobbi JoAnn Merryfield, Grayson and Onnalea Lesmeister, Oakleigh and Walker Lesmeister and Dyxon and Eastyn Reinke; and a host of nephews and nieces. Glen was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ila Ann Wilt Merryfield in 2015; and infant grandson, William Brandon Rich.

Obituary - David K. Brown

David K. Brown, age 41, of Clinton, MO, passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital due to a stroke.

David was born March 3, 1979 to Darlene Quint in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2008 he married Stacy Brown and together they have brought up 3 amazing children, Malaki D. Brown, Faith M Simmons-Brown, and Serenity H. Simmons-Brown.

David was a fun loving family man. He had his demons that he struggled with, but if you had the privilege to be a part of his life you were extremely loved. David thoroughly enjoyed debating and arguing with anyone that would let him, but he was always willing to listen. His love for his family, friends, and co-workers was strong and it always surrounded us all. David has left a piece of himself in all of us, and that fact would make him laugh.

David loved to scream at the tv and anyone who disagreed with him when it came to his team the Kansas City Chiefs. He enjoyed smoking meat, watching birds, his dogs (his other babies), and hanging out with his friends and family.

David is survived by his spouse, Stacy; three children, Malaki, Faith, and Serenity; his mother Darlene Quint; one sister Darlene Elizabeth Brown and her children Emilee, Alex, and Madeline and her grand-child Zayne; his in-laws Cary & Danielle Dills and all of their children, grand-children, and great grand-children; plus many friends; and not to forget his other babies Remmy, Niko, Alea, and Zeus.

David was cremated. A funeral will be held for his family and friends at Consalus Funeral Home in Clinton, MO on Friday January 8, 2021 @ 2 PM. A gathering will proceed after the funeral at the K-BLE Building located at 1311 N. Washington St. Clinton, MO 64735.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Consalus Funeral Home located at 209 S. 2nd St in Clinton, MO 64735. The family is also setting up a college fund for David’s children and any donations may be sent to Consalus Funeral Home.

Drexel Fire Department seeking answers!

We are sad, angry, and more that someone would be so careless and cowardess. Over the holidays our station was damaged in a hit and run. 

If you're the owner of the Dodge truck who did this, or know who did this, please contact Chief Greene or the Drexel PD and own up to what you did.

Thanks,
Drexel Fire Chief Sheryl Greene

Cloudy and Cool This Weekend

We've got good news! For folks that like cloudy, cold conditions, this is the perfect forecast. For the rest of, well, we just need to get through this.

Updated Obituary - John Lester Wolfe

John Lester Wolfe was born on October 1, 1955 in Butler, Missouri. He was the eldest son of Joseph Vernon and Isabelle Gressett Wolfe. He had one sister, Debbie Frazier and husband Richard, and one brother, Vernie and wife Lisa. His daughter, Shauna Mae Sterner, was his only child.

John grew up in Adrian, Missouri. He was very active in scouts, starting with Cub Scouts and working his way up to accomplishing the rank of Eagle Scout. He always enjoyed going to H. Roe Bartle Scout camp in the summers with his dad (a scout leader), his friends, and his brother. He even loved going back to camp for Call Night when his nephews were in scouts.

He was a member of the Adrian United Methodist Church and was baptized at a young age. He was involved in UMYF all through middle and high school.

He graduated from Adrian R-III High School in 1974, and always enjoyed going to class reunions to reminisce with his classmates.

John held several jobs throughout his career, such as working at Don Trinkle’s station, Western Electric, Midwest Lumber, a laborer for construction, the City of Adrian Water Department, and a house painter.

He loved fishing, listening to classic rock music, playing the lottery, and watching the Royals and Chiefs. One of his favorite days was when his daughter, Shauna, took him to a Royal’s game for Father’s Day.

John was a member of the Elk’s Lodge in Harrisonville, Missouri and helped with their Bingo games every Wednesday. He was also a member of the Adrian Lion’s Club for a while.

He loved The Three Stooges and Who’s Line is it Anyway, and could be heard laughing throughout the whole house when he was watching them. He had an infectious laugh that would make you want to join in. He liked playing cards on Saturday nights with his mother, “favorite” sister, and brother-in-law. He loved spending time with his nieces and nephews as they were growing up and as they became adults. John had a gruff exterior, but underneath it all, he loved his mother, daughter, and family fiercely! He would also do anything for a friend!

John was preceded in death by his father, Joseph, and his nephew, Aaron. He is survived by his mother, Isabelle, daughter, Shauna, sister, brother-in-law, brother, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great nieces. He will be missed!

 

Adrian R-3 School District Staff Shoutout

Congratulations to Adrian R-3 School District staff members Lynn DeMar Lindsey and Jennifer Marie Kagarice on your Staff Shoutout recognition! 

These two ladies have gone above and beyond during a very challenging period of time. 

We appreciate your extreme efforts and are proud of the Blackhawk Pride you continue to demonstrate!