All Creations, Great and Small

by James F. “Jim” Barrett ©2001-2002

The original book title was, “All CREATURES, Great and Small,” but we’re going to look at creations, not creatures, in our chat this month. First I must give you a bit of historical background so that you’ll not only understand what I’m talking about and what’s been happening since the first of the year, but also appreciate the reasoning behind it all. If you’ve heard all this Wilderness Road build-up before, please bear with me; you might learn some new and interesting tidbits of historical and current happenings that are exciting and worth knowing.

The roads you dear readers drive on so blithely today are but the current distillation of the efforts of man and animal, extending back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years into the past of our part of the Ozarks. “Oh,” I hear you saying, “MoDot isn’t THAT old, is it?” Well, yes, a “sort of version” of MoDot (The Missouri Department of Transportation) started out over a hundred and fifty years ago, right here in our Ozarks. Prior to the ravages of the Civil War in this part of America, W. W. Kimberling’s father was far sighted enough to visualize a coming need for useable roads to and from the markets in the growing town of Springfield. People had been settling into SW Missouri and NW Arkansas for nearly thirty years at that time. Farming and stock raising were expanding pretty rapidly on the plains of the Ozark Plateau and along the many fertile river-bottom lands and stream banks. Rumors of a railroad line coming to Springfield really whetted old Kimberling’s appetite. He knew that there would be countless tons of merchandise coming to town by rail, and that the demand for crops and animals for food across the nation would grow wildly when the railroad was actually in place. A suitable, workable freight wagon road would be invaluable.

He and his hired help had barely started joining old game and Indian trails together to form his dream when the Civil War burst upon the nation. Armies, both gray and blue, raged up and down Kimberling’s primitive road/trail for four years, pillaging, raping, burning and killing one another, as well as countless civilians, while destroying their property, seemingly without end. The South raced up the road/trail to the battle of Wilson’s Creek. The North raced down the road/trail to the battle of Pea Ridge. And many and many another Ozark battle saw the armies use Kimberling’s partially completed dream road to bring death and destruction to the Central Ozarks Region.

After the war, Kimberling’s son, W. W. Kimberling, joined forces with another potent farmer/rancher on the White River, Joseph Philibert, to work for completion of the elder Kimberling’s ambitious intentions. They hired returning Civil War veterans of both blue and gray, those whose families were scattered or dead, and whose farms and homes were ravaged and in ashes. The crews worked from first light to last, day after day after day, for many months. They cut down great trees, grubbed out stumps, rolled huge rocks off into ravines, filled in low spots and graded off high spots. Their tools were of the most primitive sort, axes, two-man-saws, grub-hoes, wagons and the ubiquitous “slip” or “tumblebug.”

A slip or tumblebug looked a lot like an odd wheelbarrow without a wheel. It had a wheelbarrow-like body with heavy wooden handles. It was hooked behind a well-trained plow or workhorse. The workman would hold the handles down until the slip was traveling over the ground to be excavated. Then he would skillfully raise the handles, just enough to begin letting the nose of the slip dig into the earth. When the slip was full of dirt and rock the workman would press down on the handles to raise the nose out of the dig. Then the skilled horse would carry the load on to the place where the fill was required. Then the workman would raise the handles once more to dig the nose into the ground. This time he would raise the handles up as the horse dragged the slip forward. Between the two of them they would upend the slip (or tumblebug) and dump the rocks and dirt into the fill area. Then the workman would right the slip once more and the horse would pull it around the working circle for another dig. And this would go on, time after time, endlessly, as long as the day’s light lasted.

I assume the use of black powder to blast out stumps and fracture rocks was well known to the war veterans and farmers. I can see and sense the hot acrid smell of black powder smoke drifting often through the trees along the new road, but this time it was coming from a beneficial work, rather than from the flame and death issuing from the mouth of a war cannon. Eventually the road, now called The Wilderness Road by the working crews, was completed from Berryville to Campbell Street in Springfield. This organized group of workmen and competent supervision was the “early form” of MoDot, which I mentioned earlier.

Long before the road was done, streams of wagons, horses, livestock and produce began thumping and thudding along its rugged and rough route. After its completion, and for the next fifty or more years, it was not unusual to see at lease one hundred wagons each day pass any given spot on The Wilderness Road. Countless gigs, pedestrians and driven animals followed the wagon trains, going both to and from Springfield and Berryville. Soon little towns began to spring up all along its route. Blue Eye, Lampe, Radical, Linchpin, Tauria, Stutts, Dutch Store, and many others grew from tents, to shelters, to cabins, to stores, to established towns along the way.

Soon, the Wilderness Road was extended from Berryville to Harrison. Then the Boston Ridge Route was built where 248 is today. Thus the old Springfield to Harrison Road was joined to The Wilderness Road to form a loop of major roads serving all of the Central Ozarks and connecting everything to the new railroad yard in north Springfield.

After that, many more little towns began to spring up along these roads and become home to businesses, trades and settlers. But in all cases, in all places, everyone and everything depended upon The Wilderness Road and its connecting routes to survive and to prosper. Just as do the towns, businesses, trades folk, residents and tourists of today! For today’s highways are almost right on the routes started as game trails, then Indian trails, then freight wagon roads, hundreds of years ago. Game and Indian trails were turned into passable and useable trade roads by people of great imagination and unstoppable energy, such as W. W. Kimberling, Joe Philibert, Mr. Boston and many others, then and at various times to follow.

So, what has all of this to do with “All Creations, Great and Small?” Just this: If you’ve been reading my articles of late and joining me in our “History of Here” chats, you’ll know how I’ve been reminiscing over the sad disappearance of familiar landmarks, as well as the dying away of old friends and great people, and the loss of both natives and “lake people” and their wonderful services to the community. I have also been deploring the fact that their memories, mementoes, photos, documents, artifacts and other treasures are often misplaced, lost, sent away to distant lands, or just outright dumped into the trash bins and backyard fires after the passing away of the owners.

Over a year ago, some dear devoted friends and I formed a not for profit corporation to begin laying ground wherein advocates of The Old Wilderness Road of the Ozarks, as well as all the Central Ozarks folks, both native and newcomer, could find a professional, permanent repository for the care, preservation and display of these invaluable and wondrous things. We formed The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Association, Inc., which as I said, is a not for profit corporation to serve as an organization and vehicle for this historic preservation work.

Our ultimate goal is the foundation, creation, building and maintaining of a Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Museum, a living, breathing display at a central, busy, well-traveled place along the route between Berryville, Harrison, Branson and Springfield. We have selected the old campground site of Linchpin as the proper, central place. We are working to obtain suitable ground and facilities upon which to, one day, build this unique and valuable museum. And miracle of miracles, it seems ideal ground will someday be made available to The Road Gang. Interest in the Museum has already started to spread, for we have begun to receive donations of cash and artifacts. And these donations are what I am anxious to tell you about, for they are our “Creations, Both Great and Small,” given to us by folks, whom I guess you could also call “Great and Small.” It’s an exciting, wonderful and colorful tale.

When the word about a local living history museum got out to our friends and to some of the public in general, a gift immediately arrived from a source we had never expected to contribute. It was the first donation, and one of the “small creations,” of which we speak. I have it now at my side as I write and still get a little choked up as I read the inscription inside. “To Jim Barrett. 5-27-01. Su-Ye-Ta. Richard Moore.” It’s a traditional berry basket, beautifully made entirely of bark, including the long, woven bail that goes over the berry-picker’s shoulder. It was the first contribution to the Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Living Museum.

You see, Su-Ye-Ta, Mr. Richard Moore, is one of the last of the long line of Cherokee Indians driven to the Ozarks, and beyond, by our government way back in the 1800’s, when someone wanted their land on the East Coast. Su-Ye-Ta is a White River Cherokee, and very proud of the fact. If you don’t know the story of the Cherokee’s Trail of Tears, you should take the time to read of it. I believe The History Channel made an epic of it some years back, as well.

His people have been given a tract of land on OO Highway, which was settled by a white family and has been in that family’s name in an unbroken chain of title for over 150 years. I was privileged to attend the dedication ceremony when the White River Cherokee Medicine Man presided. It was very mystic, very impressive and wonderfully touching to see these Indian descendants accept and dedicate the land to be preserved in its natural, pristine state forever and forever. I certainly didn’t expect this precious, precisely native-made berry basket. But I treasure it and it has become the first donation, a genuine native Indian artifact, to the living history museum.

The next “small creation” which was dedicated was also unexpected. A native lady, of many Ozark generations back, sent for me and gave me a wonderful sounding-horn, hand carved from a large cow horn. She also handed me a long, ominous looking, black leather bullwhip, studded in the handle with brass bits from old shell casings. “These,” she informed me with a reminiscent smile, “belonged to my grandfather, who was a freight wagon-train master on the Wilderness Road for many, many years. My children think I’m senile and want to control all of the family’s properties and possessions. But these would be lost in the grabbing shuffle. I’d rather they go where Grandpa’s work would be remembered, respected and appreciated. Please keep me anonymous, ‘cause I don’t want a family feud over these little things.” And so I shall not reveal her name until she passes on.

Now to the astounding “creations,” on the “great” side. Kelby Ayres, the president of our board of directors, called me into his office some weeks back and laid an exciting situation on me to consider. A little background is in order here, if you are to fully understand and appreciate the implications.

For many years, Mr. Jerry Cushman, of Branson, was my electrician when I owned, a lot of subdivisions and a great expanse of property around the lake in Kimberling City, and thought I was God’s Gift to the Ozarks. Jerry wired a lot of houses and buildings for me over the years during my rise to glory. He was also one of the many good friends who stood by me and tried to help as I fell to misfortune. He and his wife are, and have always been, excellent local Christian folk, serving their community and doing good for all they came in contact with over the years.

The Cushman family built, owned and operated the lovely little rustic development down in Mutton Hollow, as well as a ton of other properties along and around 76 Highway where it approached the old parts of Branson, on the west side. Jerry was a prosperous electrical contractor and was always looking for things and opportunities to help Mutton Hollow grow into a fun, historical, interesting and colorful place. In that regard he acquired a lot of items that never found a home there. Through no fault of the elder Cushmans, Mutton Hollow fell upon hard times and sadly ceased operations.

After many years of caring for the items he had bought for Mutton Hollow, Jerry heard of The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Living History Museum and discovered that his friend Kelby was deeply involved. He called Kelby and they met to discuss the situation. Kelby then called me to see if I, on behalf of the future museum, wanted to accept the elder Cushman’s wonderful offer to donate all of these valuable and treasured items. Of course, I was overwhelmed and could hardly believe our great good fortune. Naturally, I immediately called Jerry and his good wife, Amanda, to thank them profusely and to accept the donations.

Kelby took his sign boom-truck over to the Cushman house to gather up the first of the items. It’s now in storage at his sign shop. I went to look at it the afternoon it arrived. It’s almost as tall as I am and must weigh a ton! It’s a wonderful old gristmill from back in the mid 1800’s. After a good deal of study, Kelby and I made out the item’s name, painted in very faded letters on all four sides of the huge iron main casting. “Star of the South,” is what we determined it was called. It is set up to be driven by a wide leather belt from a water wheel. Jerry told Kelby that it was made in France and shipped here about 150 years ago. I hope to discover a good deal more about the old mill as time permits.

But the gristmill is only for openers. Jerry and Amanda have a semi-trailer in storage at the moment. They have agreed to give it and its contents to the living history museum, as well. Jerry informs me the trailer contains a complete broom factory, a complete wagon-works and some other things. All of these are from the 1800’s, and all are very applicable to the work and happenings along the Wilderness Road of the Ozarks in that historic time frame. I can hardly wait to see these amazing gifts. Right now Kelby and his sister are arranging a place to safely store and preserve the semi-trailer until the time for the contents to be displayed.

Wow, are those “creations both great and small,” or what? I’m also working on getting a “slip” or “tumble-bug,” which I told you about in our last chat. I’ve found an excellent one, in amazingly good repair. I’m hoping the owners will donate it to our excellent cause in return for having their names applied to the appropriate display card. If not, I’ll have to buy the darn thing, because I can’t let this local tumblebug slip by our museum’s future use.

Of course, one of the huge donations upcoming will be the tract of ground for the museum. I wish I could tell you all about this exciting development, but I’m pledged to secrecy until the proper moment arrives. If it comes off as we’ve been told it will, this very valuable tract will be ideally suited to the purpose, with existing amenities that will vastly enhance the living museum’s service to the community far into the future. Someday I’ll tell you all about it, when I’m permitted to do so. Also, I must not overlook another of our museum’s donations. Though it’s not a “creation” exactly, it’s receipt and our appreciation for it needs to be noted here. One of our dear friends and enthusiastic supporters from Springfield, Mr. David Harrison, President of Glen Block, has twice made cash contributions to help defray the Road Gang’s expenses.

Gosh, isn’t history just great?! If you’d like to become involved in this exciting adventure into the area’s past – you have but to let me know. Any help, assistance, encouragement, donation or the like will be welcomed with open arms and most humbly appreciated. I should also mention here that our friends at the Stone County Gazette are making one of the important contributions to The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Living History Museum. They generously let us tell our story and relate current and past developments right there in that column. Editor Pam also sits on our board of directors, by the way, a fact we’re quite proud of.

Now, let me thank those of you who have already responded to my articles in the Gazette concerning The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Museum. Folks have written to me (some to the Gazette) wishing to help in some way to get the museum launched. (No one has as yet sent large checks or bundles of cash, but that will come someday.) Thank you, folks and dear reader friends. I will be in contact with you all, personally, one at a time, as soon as I can. We need all the help we can get regarding your new Ozarks museum, financial help, encouragement and all the rest.

I also wish here to thank one of our founding contributors, Mr. Bob Wiley, the well-known historical attorney of Crane. Bob has written books about his beloved mentor Dewey Short, the senator who battled to have Table Rock Dam built to end the White River’s killer rampages and to bring stable wealth to the mid Ozarks. Bob contributed pro-bono the expertise to make The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Association into a state recognized not-for-profit corporation. Now he is guiding us toward 501-C-3 status so that contributors may write their contribution off as charitable donations. This will happen soon. Thanks, Mr. Wiley!

I also wish to thank Mr. John Arnold, of Springfield, who contributed the right to use reproductions of all of his wonderful historical paintings to forward the works of the Wilderness Road Gang. You will know his work if you’ve read Elmo Engenthron’s historical books. John did most of his illustrations. And thanks to our own Mr. John Anderson, who has contributed tons of video expertise to create our video productions for sale. Also, Cathy Anderson, who painted the marvelous reproduction of the Wilderness Road logo which now hangs in the lobby of Claybough Plaza, where one day the Road Gang’s booth will be in action to inform folks about the museum, etc.

Then there are all the engineers at MoDot, and those at the USGS, who have given us tons of their valuable time and reproductions of all their historical road documents and antique maps of our local roads. Those are just fabulously interesting and informative! Also, I must thank Ed and Ann Crabtree, who have given much time and expertise to building and carrying on the electronic magazine, The Message Tree, which can be found at http://www.geocities.com/themessagetree/ , and the website for The Wilderness Road, which can be found at http://www.geocities.com/towr150/ . We ask you to tell your friends and contacts about these two sites. As you surely know by now, they’re very locally historical, and have lots of stories and pictures about the Ozarks, all the way from Harrison to Springfield, the route of the old Wilderness Road, The Springfield/Harrison Road, The Boston Ridge Road, and the current route of 13, 160 and several other important, high usage highways.

Then there’s Cathy and Colleen, up at Claybough Plaza, who has donated the booth there that we will be using. The main library at Springfield has agreed to allow us to put a large display there when we have it ready, in order that Springfield will be more universally aware of the Wilderness Road and what it meant to that city’s early growth and continued prosperity. We of the Road Gang fume and fuss over the slow growth of our work’s rewards toward building the Museum of the Ozarks, when we should be gloating over the tons of help we’ve gotten and the help that has been committed to us by substantial organizations and people such as these and others. Yes, it’s all uphill work, but to paraphrase an old quotation, “The Wilderness Road wasn’t built in a day!”

Yet another thank-you is in order here. The elders of the famous Powell family approached us the other day with a big surprise for the Road Gang. Walker Powell and his good wife, Johanna, want to give the Wilderness Road of the Ozarks Living Museum a substantial part of the historical accumulation belonging to that most notable native family. Perhaps you’ll recall that Walker’s grandfather was a friend of the famous Harold Bell Wright, and that he is the very man upon whom Wright based the leading character in his world-famous, Ozarks changing novel, The Shepherd of the Hills. Walker and Johanna have accumulated a great deal of the Powell memorabilia, including tons of honors and special awards given to Walker over the years. They also wish to pay for the wall area and the display devices needed to properly display the Powell history.

I’ve got ten vacation days off from Wal-Mart, so maybe I’ll get a day or two to go interview some of the really great, fascinating old folks here in our hills. I wish I had time to do a lot of that. They’re slipping away at an alarming rate. It seems that I’m constantly having someone tell me, “Gosh, you should have met my (aunt, mother, cousin, grandmother, etc.). She was in her nineties, but she was really sharp and could tell the most fascinating stories about her childhood here. They came here in a covered wagon, down The Old Wilderness Road. But she up and died just the other day.” Do you know, dear reader friends, how that upsets me? I crave information, old information, colorful information, and historic information! And it’s dying off all around me every day. I don’t have the time, leads, tips or guidance to get out and interview them all before they and their information, tales and memories are all gone. Lord, what a shame!

That’s why I want so badly to get The Living Museum of The Wilderness Road of the Ozarks up and running some day. So that our local folks can have a place to tell their stories, to leave their treasures, to share their old photos and documents, to have their bit in our history recorded, preserved, appreciated and displayed for others to enjoy. Also, so that there will be people, other than just me, available to get all this done – before it’s all over and done with and no one will ever have the benefit of these historical Ozark treasures.

As I sit here thinking and typing, I wonder: How many of you folks really, seriously care about the history of our area? About taking the time, expending the energy and raising the funds necessary to begin acquiring, recording, preserving and displaying the history of the Central Ozarks, from the time of the Indians to the time of the Entrepreneurs, the railroad, the Civil War, the Baldknobbers, the Bushwhackers, the Iron Clad Oath, the Coming of Table Rock Lake, etc.? Yes, and preserving the stories and fables as well. Those stories, those old tales, those fables and sometimes almost ribald incidents, are as much a part of our history as are the better-known facts and figures. They, too, must be preserved – somehow, somewhere – for our history down the line.

Then I also wonder, as I sit here and type, how many of you dear reader friends have stories that YOU could tell me, if you would, about YOUR part in the history of our part of the Central Ozarks? I suppose you think YOUR part in our history isn’t important? That it isn’t great enough or interesting enough? Let me tell you, dear readers; every tale, every person’s life, every incident is important in its own and vital way! I have never, NEVER EVER, sat down to interview or just chat with anyone without coming up with something well worth recording for history’s sake, much of which I’ve put into print in The Gazette and here in The Message Tree.

What stories do YOU know, what tales could YOU tell me? And WILL you tell me or some other competent Ozarks historian those tales? In the “book of history of our part of the Ozarks” nearly every page is blank, save for the very, very few we are able to fill with the few stories and tales, the few facts and figures which I and a very few other historians are privileged to know, or to learn of. Look at all those blank pages! How sad. You reader friends, native-folk and lake-folk alike, could help me and others of the Road Gang get that book filled, ready to keep for generations to come, if you just would do it. Then, with your help, we could get a museum going where we could put many of these “books,” along with pictures, recordings of interview, films, tapes, artifacts, old clothing, tools and treasures, and on and on and on. We could then all leave a bit of “us” behind for generations to study, ponder, laugh over, cry over and enjoy.

We CAN do it, and we WILL do it, pulling all together to make it happen.