150 years ago (1873)
FOOT RACE! Messrs. W. W. Tuttle & Co., our popular, enterprising and unrivalled grocery merchants,
offer a premium of $10 to the man or boy of any age that can make the best time around the ring. Race
to come off on August 22, 1873. Five or more entries required. Judges: Dr. J. H. Howard, Jno. B. Williams
and Dr. W. B. Tucker.
125 years ago (1898)
Petit jurors drawn by county court for this month's term of the Callaway County Circuit Court: Fulton-Joe
Tyler, Frank Berry; Auxvasse- Geo. Blackburn, Thomas McCall; Jackson- John Vandiver, John Shelton;
Calwood- Robert Wright, B. P. Harrison; Summit- James Richey, Ab. Link; St. Aubert- Theo. Beaven, L. C.
Brown; Bourbon- Walter Glenn, John Scruggs; Cleveland-Elias Davis; Liberty- J.J. McPheeters; Round
Prairie- R. O. James; Guthrie- A. W. Criswell; Cedar- S. P. Holt; Shamrock- H. O. Peerie; Nine Mile- Lyman
Rood; Caldwell- Robert Criswell; McCredie- S. G. Thomas; Cote Sans Dessein- Ben F. Chiles.
100 years ago (1923)
625 Miles on 22 Gallons of Gasoline. Not a special demonstration and not even a test run, but just the
amount of gasoline which G. W. Ardrey of Fulton used in traveling 625 miles for an average of 28+ miles
to the gallon on his Overland. Miss Mildred Meelius also experienced good results in one trip which she
took in her Overland, covering 86 miles and using only 3 gallons of gasoline, for an average of 28+ miles
to the gallon. Others are getting the same results. Call W. Scott Fox @ Callaway Motor Company for
further information and a demonstration of this car.
Sixty- Eighters Picnic. The second annual picnic and barbecue of the Sixty- Eighters was held at Bellamy
Springs, where about eighty people enjoyed the day. All Callaway men born in 1868 and their families
were invited to be a part. A regular old fashioned barbecue combined with the basket dinner made the
picnic a most enjoyable one. After the barbecue/ basket dinner, the young enjoyed an afternoon of
swimming while the older men pitched horse shoes and the ladies held an afternoon discussion. The
picnic was a success in every way and plans are being laid for an even greater celebration of the third
anniversary of their organization.
75 years ago (1948)
Yesteryear in Fulton (From the files of the Daily Sun, Evening Gazette, Sun-Gazette). 30 years ago {1918}.
The temperature climbed to 107 degrees today...School in the Red Brush district, near Earl, will open
Monday with Miss Dell Duncan as the teacher. She will receive $65/month..."I have seen lots of corn cut
early, but never until this year have I seen it cut in July," reports Ben M. Yates of McCredie. "Going to
Auxvasse the last day in July, I saw a small patch cut on the farm of I. C. Beckley. It was all shocked up
just as if September had come.". Callaway County nominated Miss Mossie Morris for Circuit Clerk, giving
her a third more votes than her opponents...20 years ago {1928}. Harley H. Bezler, Portland, and
Beatrice Shiverdecker, Readsville, were married at the home of Rev. H. H. Snider...Crawford Harris and
W. C. (Bill) Tucker left town {Fulton} early for a tour of the county in an old-fashioned one-horse buggy.
They started south, stopping at Hams Prairie and Mokane, and at noon were in route to Portland. The
boys expect to visit every town and village in the county, a thing very few Fultonians have done in their
lifetime. They plan to complete the tour in a week's time...
Five Fulton men enlisted in the armed forces this week, according to M-Sgt. Paul Hilt, recruiter. William
E. Lutz and Herbie Miller enlisted in the Air Force. John L. Murphy and Donald C. Mealy went to the
Corps of Engineers, Alaska. Samuel Hutton enlisted in the regular army, unassigned.
50 years ago (1973)
Five members of the Fulton FFA attended Camp Rising Sun, the official state FFA leadership Training
Camp at Lake Ozark. Those attending were Barry Dennison, Tim Guerrant, Arlin Kettle, John Mealy, Steve
Witt and Jefferson Battles. Included in the leadership phase of the camping sessions were daily sessions
on improving chapter participation in community activities, chapter meetings, degrees, awards and how
to improve and carry out annual program of activities. John Mealy was elected as camp Treasurer for the
week, and also competed in the State FFA Championship Rifle Marksmanship Contest. He is also Chapter
Secretary and Sub-district Parliamentarian. Barry Dennison and Jeff Battles received Red Cross
Intermediate Swimmers cards. The Fulton group was a part of the runner-up team for the Volleyball
championship and also competed in softball, badminton, shuffleboard, horseshoes and ping-pong.
Boating and skiing was also available. The entire camp visited the Ozark Opry. Five members of the
Fulton FFA will also participate in an FFA Tractor Rodeo. Those attending will be Don Carter, Tom
Christopher, Lee Horine, John Mealy and Steve Witt. This rodeo includes skill driving with both twowheel and four-wheel trailers and the ability to park in slots and backing around part of the course.
Members will be judged on skill and safety driving of tractors and implements.
25 years ago (1998)
Seventy Years and Still Together {see their wedding announcement mentioned previously in the 1948
article}. Hadley and Beatrice of Fulton celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at the home of their
son, Vernon, and his wife, Jean of Fulton. The occasion was marked with a dinner for family members.
Those present were Hadley and Beatrice Bezler, Vernon and Jean Bezler of Fulton; Carol Bezler of
Palmyra; Kelly and Christina Bezler of Jefferson City; Jacque Bezler of Marwayne Alberta, Canada. Nelda
Cherry of Fulton made a double hearted cake. One side of the cake congratulated the couple and the
other side said, "70 years. Love is for always." Mr. Bezler owned a farm in Reform where he and Mrs.
Bezler lived until the Callaway Nuclear Plant purchased their land. The couple now resides in Fulton.