Witnesses of lightning bolt 'violently shocked'

125 years ago, 1896 Fulton Gazette

A thundergust came up in the midst of the racing contests at the Fair Grounds. A large crowd was in attendance and in the midst of an exciting trotting race a thunderbolt shot straight down from a small overhanging cloud into the grounds striking near the Amphitheatre. Mr. and Mrs. John Boles who were near the sheep pens were violently shocked. Mr. Boles says he was staggered and felt as it he had received a sharp blow across the heard from a cane. Theo Nunnelly who was near by had one of his ears singed so severely as to feel the effects the next day.

Davis and Freeman took the following premiums at the Callaway Fair: Best saddle stallion, any age, 1st premium; all purpose mare, any age, 1st premium; saddle mare, any age, 1st premium; saddle stallion, 4 years and over, 1st premium; all-purpose horse, mare or gelding, 1st premium; harness mare, 1 and 2, 1s premium; saddle gelding any age, 1st premium; all purpose stallion, any age, 2nd premium; saddle mare, one and under 2, 1st premium; saddle horse, mare or gelding, any age, 3rd premium; making in 12 shows, 9 being 1st, 2 second, and one third premiums. This was done with four horses, Geo. Washington, John Henry, Miss May and Black Bessie.

100 years ago, 1921 Missouri Telegraph

A telephone message from Calwood Monday afternoon said that Auxvasse creek was higher than it had been in the past twenty- five years and the overflow was doing a great deal of damage. In some fields the water was reported high enough to cover the standing corn stalks in the fields. Rev. S.G. Wood said that he did not measure the depth but that he caught a peck of water in a half bushel metal bucket. Two storms met here. The first came up from the northwest and later one from the southeast, making it necessary to close windows and doors on all sides, as there was considerable wind with the rain and it was carried for some distance into houses before windows could be closed.

With but two players to play their last round in the golf tournament Curtis Blattner holds the honors of high point winner. He scored 73 points in his four games. Had each of his three opponents broke even with him he would have received 54 points so it may be seen how much above his quota he won. There is but one player that has even a chance to equal his performance. W. B. Whitlow has won 55 points in the first three games gut it is believed his fourth game will not deliver the needed 18 points. He has played his fourth round but two of his opponents have yet to play to make out the score sheet of his round. It seems assured that the teams captained by Carter Norris and Nick T. Cave will be hosts to the other two teams at the supper to be given the golfers.

75 years ago, 1946 Missouri Telegraph

Auxvasse Schools opened with registration Monday, and regular class work began Tuesday. Mrs. Jimmy Bell has been employed to teach in the grades. The four teachers in the grades will have charge of two grades each. The faculty is now composed of Superintendent, Alfred Brown, and Mrs. Harry Leopold, Miss Betty Mae Schmidle, of Marshall, Miss Martha Ann Leek of Troy, Mrs. Frances Craighead, Mrs. Leslie Peters, Mrs. Delbert Zumalt and Mrs. Jimmy Bell.

Missouri license plate # 689-841 was issued here Thursday for a 1905 "Buckboard" automobile and its owner, James W. Gill of route 6, is exhibiting the car, which was originally purchased by his father, the late J. Ray Gill of Readsville, at the Callaway Fair next week.

50 years ago, 1971 Kingdom Daily News

Callaway County Still has a few country stores. One such store is the Hams Prairie general store, built in 1908 by Scott Payne. The store has had five owners in its illustrious history ad is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Elleey, who lives at Hams Prairie. The Ellys claim to be the only store in Callaway County to handle "cotton seed cake" which is a fisherman's delight. The Elleys bought the store in 1970 from V.T. Everett who had owned it for eleven years. The Elleys enjoy their business and think they will be at the present location for quite some time.

This past week the Rev. and Mrs. J.H. Stidham returned to Callaway county to attend a revival at the Richland Christian Church. In. June, the Stidhams moved from Fulton after a lifelong residence in Callaway County to the Lenore Memorial Home in Columbia. The Rev. Stidham served a pastor of the Christian Church of the Disciples of Christ and the Richland Christian Church a total of 61 years. Mrs. Stidham, the former Ima Allene Nichols, is the great-granddaughter of the gentleman that sold the first 50 acres of land to start the town of Fulton. Nichols street is named in honor of him.

25 years ago, 1996 Sun Gazette

Westminster college students assemble a replica of the human digestive system for the Body Walk exhibit Wednesday at the Fulton Family Resource Center. Local students will tour the exhibit to learn about how the human body functions. Woods University students will help give tours. Tours will be open to the public from 4-5:15 p.m. Thursday at the center, located at 906 Westminster Ave.