Ozarks History Journal

Tag: Missouri (Page 1 of 3)

Springfield’s First Police Matron – Susan McIntire

Springfield Republican, 20 November 1902

Police matron work at this time, at least in Springfield, was primarily social work. A police matron would be responsible for, among other duties, searching female prisoners and visiting the jail each morning to check on underage prisoners who needed her assistance.

It wasn’t until about October of 1902 that city council agreed to create the position of police matron. The first woman to hold the job was Mrs. McIntire, who had first pointed out the need. Unfortunately, the position was unpaid. The WCTU provided a stipend; otherwise, McIntire had to solicit donations to do her daily work.

The Springfield Republican reported that “Mrs. McIntire is one of the busiest women in town and she is continually besieged by people looking for help.” McIntire visited prisoners, helped the indigent with food and medical care, and attended court with juveniles.

McIntire’s monthly reports, published in local newspapers, were disheartening, filled with news of hungry or abused children and people out of work with no food or shelter. According to her first report, she spent the month convincing several “fallen” young women to go home and raised money to help them do so; visited prisoners in jail; helped a woman and her sick children; and helped several destitute citizens find food, clothes, and housing.

Finally, in early 1903, McIntire is granted a salary. Just over a year later, in April 1904, the ordinance creating the office of police matron was repealed. Susan McIntire was out of a job.

Despite the efforts of McIntire, local police officers, and the WCTU, Springfield did not have another police matron until late 1910.

The Ozarks in World War I – William Ellis Clingan

William Ellis Clingan

Did you know there is a World War I memorial in Springfield? The memorial was placed in Grant Beach Park in 1924 and contains the names of 66 local soldiers who died during the war. It was dedicated on November 11, on the sixth anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I. This is the first in a series about the Ozarks in World War I, particularly the men and women who served. We’ll meet the men on the monument, Red Cross Nurses, and much more. Let’s begin with William Clingan.

World War I began on July 28, 1914, when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The United States entered the war on April 6, 1917. Hundreds of men from the Ozarks enlisted in the armed forces, including William Ellis Clingan of Springfield.

Ellis, as he was known, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, though the family lived in Springfield by 1903, in a house that once stood at the northwest corner of Kansas Avenue Nichols Street. One of four children of Adonijah and Sue, he was a tall, slender man, with gray eyes and dark hair. He had a brother, Eugene, a sister, Iva, and a twin sister, Ella. The family was active in the community and often held parties at their home that were noted in local newspapers. Iva and Ella were teachers; Eugene was a fireman. Ellis worked as a blacksmith.

Just over one month after the US entered the war, the Selective Service Act was passed, requiring all males between 21-30 to register. Ellis registered on June 5th; it wasn’t until April 1918 that he enlisted and was sent to Camp Funston for training. He was eventually assigned to Company M, 354th Infantry, and left for Europe out of Montreal, Canada, aboard the transport ship Ascamus.

In a letter to his mother the following October, he reported having spent several days in “the front trenches,” and had “made several trips across No Man’s Land…in the midst of heavy firing.” Ellis died November 1, 1918 after being struck in the head by a machine gun bullet. (Military records show his death as November 1st, not November 5th as is shown in the above image.)

Originally buried in the American Cemetery at Barricourt, in June 1919, Ellis was disinterred and reburied at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery.

 

The Ford/Wear House

This may be one of the oldest houses in Springfield. The real estate listing dates it from 1866, which I have not yet verified. In any case, it is certainly over 100 years old.

Michael Ford and his wife Catherine, both Irish immigrants, lived in the house by 1890. Ford was a grocer and had a store at 302 W. College near Patton Alley, although the location is, not surprisingly, now a parking lot.

In 1892, the Ford’s youngest child, Mary Ellen “Ella,” married Vincent Stillwagen, a local attorney. In less than a year, Ella was a widow; some two months later she gave birth to their daughter, Elizabeth.

Ambrose Hunter Wear, known as Hunter, married for the first time in 1879 to Mary Ona McConnell in Cassville. Cassville was their home for a number of years while Hunter served as prosecuting attorney for Barry County. The family was living in Springfield by 1896, when Mary Ona died, leaving him with the care of three children.

In 1900, Ella Ford Stillwagen married Hunter, likely at the house on Nichols. The blended Ford and Wear family lived together in the 5200 square foot house until Hunter died in November 1910. The Springfield Republican reported that the “Well Known Democratic Attorney Pass[ed] Away Surrounded by His Family.” The funeral service was held in the family home.

The following October, Michael Ford died, leaving Ella without her father and husband. The Springfield New-Leader referred to him as “one of the pioneer citizens of Springfield.” His wife Catherine died in 1917, leaving the large house to Ella and two of the Wear daughters, Olive and Madeline. Ella continued to live in the family home until her death in 1937.

The home must have seemed quiet without the Ford and Wear families. I imagine that it still misses them.

The interior of the house has undergone extensive renovations. More pictures are available here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/641-W-Nichols-St-Springfield-MO-65802/50253514_zpid/

 

The Huff Sisters of Cedar County

Cedar County Republican, 21 May 1903

In the category of famous Missouri photographers you’ve probably never heard of, meet the Huff Sisters. On April 11, 1892, sisters Linnie and Nettie Huff opened their photography studio in the John E. Hartley building on the Stockton public square. They remained there in the photography business for over 50 years.

The Huff family was in Stockton by 1868 when Nettie was born. Her older sister, Linnie (Mary), was born in Indiana in 1861. Their parents, Ferdinand and Maria, were farmers. They had seven children, Nettie being the youngest.

Nettie was involved in civic affairs throughout her life. She was elected superintendent of the Junior Epworth League, a Methodist young adult association, in 1902. She was also a member of the Dorcas Society and was a Sunday school teacher.

Nettie made a trip to Kansas City hospital in 1913 to “remove a cancer.” The type of cancer was unspecified and Nettie was still ill in 1914. She was well enough by 1915 to return to Kansas City, this time to attend a photographer’s convention.

The sister were lifelong learners and attended an Eastman School for Instruction for Photography in 1923. In 1928, the Southwest Missouri Club of the Master Photo Finishers of America held their fall meeting in Eldorado Springs. Nettie and Linnie, or course, attended.

Cedar County Republican, 23 April 1942

After more than 60 years in business, the Huff sisters retired. Linnie died at their home, 309 East Street, in Stockton. She was 96 years old. Her obituary said the “sisters had been photographers in Stockton for 53 years, and had been in business there for more than 60 years.”

Nettie died in a nursing home in El Dorado Springfield in 1968. She was 100 years old.

« Older posts

© 2025 Connie Yen's

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑