150 years ago (1873)
Curiosities of Human Life... Length of Human Life (for the world). The average length of life is 28
years. One quarter die before the age of 7 years. One half die before the age of 17 years. The
rich live an average of 42 years. The poor live an average of 30 years. One of 1000 persons
reach 100 years. One of 500 persons reach 80. Six of 100 reach 65.
125 years ago (1898)
(From the Auxvasse Review). Messrs. John Beckley and Robert Bert drove to town to take a few
of their friends to a party at Mr. Walter Beckley's. It was an enjoyable ride and one long to be
remembered. The following rode on the hay: Misses Neva, Gussie and Mattie Beckley, Agnes,
Ida and Ella Altum, Bertha, Susie and Laura Ridgeway, Mamie Britt, Maggie Hassier, Messrs.
John and Craig Beckley, Robert Burt, Frank Ridgeway, Willie Monroe, Hal Howard and Edgar
Brett. We wish them many more happy rides.
100 years ago (1923)
Arrangements are being made for copies of "Callaway," the Kingdom song by Dr. J.B. Reeves
and John H. McDonald, to be placed in the hands of all the children. The song was first
introduced to the public at the Kingdom of Callaway supper. Free copies may be had for any
school in the county.
Officers of the Fulton Automobile Dealers' Association were elected at the monthly meeting of
that organization held at the Palace Hotel. The new officials are: President, B.H. Jameson; VP,
Lynn Maughs; Directors, Austin Crenshaw, Scott Fox and Harry Backer; Secretary/Treasurer,
W.B. Whitlow. A dinner was served, during which a number of talks were made. John Blume, of
St. Louis, a representative of the United States Tire Company, was a guest at the dinner and gave a talk.
The Callaway County Farm Bureau is being represented at the annual meeting of the state
organization in Columbia this week by ten delegates as follows: B.N. Yates, McCredie; Crump
Garett, Portland; Oscar Smith, New Bloomfield; O.M. Wilkerson, Carrington; R.C. Smith,
Mokane; J.L. Atkinson, Holts Summit; M.A. Books, McCredie, Harris Wells, Shamrock; Mrs. Ray
Willett, Fulton. The meeting in Columbia will be one of the events of the annual Farmers' Week
of the College of Agriculture.
75 years ago (1948)
(From an advertisement) Announcing the opening of our new café, Windmill Tourist Court Café
(formerly Muir's Cottages). 2 miles east of Kingdom City on Highway 40. You will enjoy the food
here, as we serve only the best. Make reservations for a real steak or chicken dinner. Phone,
Fulton 45FS. Open 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Shorts. Things like the following are hard to believe but it actually happened. Jake Reed had to
borrow a penny to put in the parking meter for his Cadillac... Free Parking for Some: "Glory be,"
says we- the parking meters are freezing up. Caretaker Woody Lewis is busy with his
screwdriver and whiskbroom, but he just can't catch up.
Two Callaway farmers- Martin Crump and Lloyd Wilkerson- who live in McCredie, are featured
in an article in the February issue of Capper's Farmer entitled, 'Save Soil on Two Farms.' "Two
neighboring farmers in Callaway County," the story in the nationally circulated farm magazine
points out, "are cooperating to stop soil losses by erosion. Martin Crump wanted a thin-section
concrete dam that would handle the water running from 80 acres. He built two waterways that
brought water down to one corner of his 160-acre farm. Lloyd Wilkerson, a neighbor,
volunteered to help build the dam. It would stop three bad gullies that were digging into his
land. The dam was located in the fence line between the two farms. They made it without the
use of form lumber. It is 12 feet wide in the notch, lets water down 6 feet to a table grade
below. Crump is finishing terraces on the 80 acres so this land can be cropped without loss of
soil or water."
50 years ago (1973)
Callaway County's Junior Miss, Nadine Gilmer, will join 14 other Missouri high school seniors as
they compete for the title of Missouri's Junior Miss at the Florissant Civic Center Theater. Miss
Gilmer won her title in the Callaway County competition held at the WWC Campus Center. She
has been active in band, girls' glee club, concert choir, chamber singers, junior classical league,
student council, 'Best Actress' in class play, drama club, Honor Society and Homecoming
Queen. She hopes to teach handicapped children in elementary grades. She is sponsored by the Fulton Jaycees.
Ricky Louis Means, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Means is one of 28 men nominated for
appointment to the service academies for classes entering in 1973 from the 9th district,
according to congressman, Bill Hungate. Means, a senior at Fulton High School, has been
nominated for the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
25 years ago (1998)
The OATS vanline has served Callaway for more than 26 years. Martha Bolton, the first Fulton
bus driver for OATS, remembers when the group originated. "It started in Callaway County in
1971 after a group of citizens gathered in Fulton to discuss the need for reliable transportation
for the residents of rural Missouri," said Molton. "I liked my job and the people that I met. No
matter where we went, they always seemed to have a good time on the bus." 20 years later,
the non-profit joined United Way for increased community support. "The demand for service
was far greater than the funds available, so we had to look for other sources in the community
to provide support," said Jack Heusted, the OATS Mid-Missouri area manager. The vanline
serves 300-400 riders in Callaway per month. OATS has grown from a small line of vans to a
fleet of 400 in Missouri, serving 87 counties. OATS transportation is open to people over the
age of 60, or who are 18-59 with a disability. In rural markets, like Callaway, services are open
to the general public.