Newsletter

Chaffee Historical Society Newsletter November 2001

Around our Town May 18 & 19, 2001
	Friday night the Chaffee Historical Society gave a tea in honor of the Janice Thornton Rice Haas and Ron and Jean Whitaker families for all the support they have given us in providing us with a place to display all the Chaffee history that has been given to us. It was held at the activity center at the Chaffee High School. Our entertainment was Mrs. Monty (Missy) Montgomery. Saturday the society sponsored an "Old Fashion Day" membership drive. It started off rainy and dreary, but that didn't keep the crafters, horse and buggy rides, antique car ride, bake sales, etc. from setting up. Howell Rice was downtown early planting flowers in the boxes at the intersection of Main and Yoakum. The Chamber of Commerce was working on the Cross on the Hill, trying to get it painted. At 1:00 there was a fashion show at Sisters Restaurant, which was enjoyed by a large crowd. At 4:00 the Chaffee High School Baseball team played 15 innings of baseball to beat Sikeston at Harmon Field.
Chaffee Historical Society Web-Site
	The historical is very thankful and proud of our web site that Jerry Stroup has set up for us. There is a lot of Chaffee history on there and more to come. Go to www.nunnroad.com and check out the history and pictures
Renovation of Lankford Building
	We are now really working on this building and hope to be in it by the first of the year
Chief tells of old laws still on the books in Chaffee
	By Chief of Police Don Cobb - Signal Newspaper April 27, 2001:
	In the spirit of "Old Fashion Day" I was thinking about all the city councils and police departments that have come and gone in Chaffee since 1905. As I was looking for pictures I found a stack of old reports in a seldom-used portion of the evidence locker. As I began to read them I had a chuckle and then a full-blown belly laugh. One report quoted an ordinance of which I had never heard. I began to wonder how many other old laws there were that I did not know about. I did a little research and found the following laws that are indeed still on the books but have fallen out of use in years past. Section 200.060-The Chief of Police shall cause to be arrested any bawdy or lewd women in the city limits of Chaffee. Section 210.100-The mayor does not have to take bids on city work if an enemy attack is possible. Section 235.030-It is illegal to use profane language in the presence of women. Section 240.040-You are guilty of Malicious Mischief if you clip or shave the tail of a horse, or if you remove the nut from a buggy axle. Section 245.040-You will receive a not less than $10 fine for selling the flesh of an animal that died of natural causes. Section 250.010-Makes it illegal to play cards on Sunday. Section 250.020-Makes it illegal to dress in a manner not consistent with you sex. Section 250.040-It is considered Lascivious Behavior and is illegal for an unmarried man and woman to live together. Section 270.080-It is illegal to keep a dog that chases horses. Section 275.010-Makes it illegal to allow a goat, pig or cow to run loose. Section 275.030-It is illegal to tether a mule within 10 feet of an ornamental tree. Most towns like Chaffee adopted a standard municipal codebook when we were formed. I believe we adopted ours in 1905. That book was probably used in many towns and contained laws that were grounded in the eighteen, if not the seventeen hundreds. Some of the situations above simply do not present themselves anymore. There was actually a time when kids shaving the tail of horses was such a big issue that somebody felt like they had to make a law preventing it. I finished looking at the codebook and thought how wonderful it would have been to have lived in that time.
Short History of the Walling House on 103 South Third Street
	The house which stands at 103 S. Third, commonly known as the Walling Home, is said by all who remember it, to be quite a showplace. According to records found at Scott County Recorders office at Benton, MO says the land on which the house stands was purchased by Chaffee Real Estate Company from John Witt in 1905. The house was designed by a real estate agent, Frederick Loy and his wife Fannie bought the home from the real estate Company on November 7. 1908. It is said that Loy designed this house to show visitors to town how prosperous the young town was. On January 24, 1920 it is recorded that they sold the property and home to Dr. W. A. Walling and his wife Lozzetta. The purchase price was $7,000. The Wallings used the office once by Mr. Loy as a dental office. Mrs. Walling, a very prim and proper lady, as recorded in local newspapers, gave lavish dinner parties served in the large dining room of the home. She had fishponds around the large yard, and inside the hedge that surrounded the home were beautiful flowers planted throughout. Large white pillars graced the front porch. After Mrs. Walling died, Dr. Walling married a local lady doctor. Dr. Delezene, who along with her son Edward had a prosperous practice there. In 1938 the property was purchased by Paul and Bernice Horstman Montgomery. It served as their family home for 10 years. The house then served as an apartment house for several years. Next time you visit go by and see what Andy Pfefferkorn has done to the old house. It is different but beautiful.
Short History of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and Parish
Written in the baptismal record of St. Ambrose by Fr. Rohling's own hand
	St. Ambrose parish of Chaffee owes its existence to the St. Louis and Memphis Branch of the great Frisco R.R. System. It was evident that a division point was needed between St. Louis and Memphis. The distance between these two points bring a little more than 300 miles. At first Cape was selected for the division point. The city of Cape donated twenty acres of land to the Frisco to erect the necessary buildings on and for yard purposes. But when the Mississippi River was bridged at Thebes and not at Cape the Frisco R.R. Company saw that Cape Girardeau was not a place suitable for a division point. A place was looked for and located which promised an easier access to the Thebes Bridge. This place was the old Cox Farm recently purchased by a farmer of German descent by the name of Witt, a Catholic. A St. Louis Real Estate Company knowing the intention of the Frisco to move division and shops from Cape, bought the Witt Farm, about 300 acres at a cash price of $100 per acre, donated to the Frisco all the ground needed for yard purposes and buildings and established the town of Chaffee. By moving division and shops from Cape to Chaffee the Frisco violated her contract with Cape. But this city did not fully realize the extent of her rights until too late. Cape compromised with the Frisco in 1911. When the division was moved from Cape to Chaffee, railroad men and their families were compelled to live in Chaffee, and they lived in tents and shacks. But as trade follows the flag so the merchant follows the opportunity of making money. A few substantial business houses were soon erected; a bank established. A new and flourishing town had sprung into existence. Among the religious denominations the Baptist were the first to organize themselves into a congregation. They moved their church from near the Wylie schoolhouse on the Chaffee-Oran road, but they did not flourish. The Methodists soon followed the Baptist. They had services in the schoolhouse for some time and then erected a church. Among the first settlers of Chaffee were also some Catholics. There were some railroad men, some businessmen and some professional men. As early as January 1907 they applied to His Grace of St. Louis for a resident priest. Prime movers for the establishment of a parish were. Mrs. John Elliott, wife to the Division Superintendent, R. S. McCabe, M. D. After 4 ½ years he moved to Oklahoma. John Brennan Jr. A lawyer. After a stay of about four years he left Chaffee., Rev. Frank Ferly C. M. He strongly recommended that a parish be established. When the people of Chaffee asked for a resident priest, the Archbishop, not having a priest available for the place, asked the Vincentian Fathers of Cape to look after the settlement. On the feast of the Holy Family 1907 the first Mass was celebrated in a hall (Bird's Hall) by a Vincentian Father. During the retreat of the year 1907, I, Anthony E. Rholing was appointed first resident pastor of Chaffee. His Grace had instructed me that if I found conditions such as to make the establishment of a new parish a premature or doubtful undertaking, to report to that effect and he would assign me to some other work. I called a meeting and the attendants were William Pfefferkorn, Leo Lyer, John Rothen?, the banker. While we were collecting funds Sunday Mass was celebrated in Bird's Hall. The attendance at times consisted of thirty members. I soon realized that I could not live in Chaffee before church and house were completed. The hospital sisters of Cape had offered me an asylum whilst the building was going on. By serving them during the week in spirituality's, I obtained room and board free of charge. In order to assure for myself a reasonable amount of salary, I took the small mission of Dutchtown in Cape County, which Father Edward Kern of Jackson wished to turn over to me. On November 3rd, 1907 the building of the church began and on January 1, 1908 the first Mass was celebrated in the new church.
Book of Family Histories
	The Historical Society wants to put together a book of family histories along with other Chaffee history. We would like to have your history. This is an example of what we need from you.
	Witt Family History: John Witt was born May 29, 1838 at Massillon, Stark Co., Ohio, one of eight children born to Christian Witt and Elizabeth Schott who had come from Schirrhein, Alsace, France landing in New York, October 4, 1831. As a young man John came to Scott County following the trail of his two sisters, Josephine who married Charles Scheeter and Magdalena who married Andrew Kilhafner. On July 23, 1860 John married Mary Pobst at New Hamburg, MO. She was born December 9, 1842 at Massillon, daughter of Joseph Pobst and Magdalena Pfefferkorn, also natives of Schirrhein who had come to the U. S. Landing at Baltimore on March 31, 1832. John and Mary Witt had the following children: Mary married Joseph Willman; Louise died at age 14; Joseph married Alphae Van Connette; Emma married John Johnson; Philomena married Oscar Caldwell; John married Sophia Mier; Clara married Joseph LeGrand; Laura married Nicholas Schott; Michael married Gertrude Blocker; Frank married Jetting Proctor; Elizabeth married George Metz; Edith married George LeGrand; Ben married Bertha Geisner; and Steve died at 22 years of age. After years of farming at Richwoods north of Sikeston, MO on one of Ben F. Hunter's farms John Witt bought the Old Cox Farm in 1890 just south of Rockview and divided his time between the two places. He transformed the largely uncultivated land into a prosperous farm and later moved his family there. On June 20, 1905, he sold this farm to the Chaffee Real Estate Company of St. Louis for which he received $82,000. This was a considerable fortune in those days but unfortunately John Witt didn't live to see the development of Chaffee as a railroad town, site of the Frisco yards and roundhouse. He died October 16, 1905 and was laid to rest at the old Guardian Angel Cemetery at Oran beside his wife who had died February 17, 1904. Submitted by Velda Witt Jack Torrence Burnett CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jack T. Burnett 78, of Sikeston, Mo., and formerly of Chaffee, died Monday Sept. 3, 2001, at John Pershing Veterans Administration Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jack was born March 29,1923 at Chaffee, the son of Harvey and Jessie Marie Litzelfelner Burnett. He married Mildred Rose Schlitt Graviett on May 13, 1978, at Sikeston. Jack joined the Citizen Military Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.,, on Aug. 3, 1939. In December 1940 it was nationalized into the 138 Infantry of St. Louis, and was mobilized at Camp Robinson where he received his basic training. He was sent to Alaska where he served 11 months. He returned to the states to enter OCS at Fort Benning Ga., upon completion he was an instructor in Infantry Training at Fort Fennin, Texas. He then joined the l0th Mountain Division in Colorado, and with this Division he was sent to Italy where he served 10 months. While serving there he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action. He was discharged Nov. 7, 1945, from active duty, remaining in the National Guard. Other citations and decorations received were Combat Infantry Badge, EAME Ribbon with 2 Bronze Service Stars, ATC Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal. He was recalled to active duty Nov. 12, 1950, to serve in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. While serving in Korea he was wounded and received his 2nd Purple Heart. On April 20, 1950, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement. He was discharged from active duty on March 6, 1952, receiving the Distinguished Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge with a star and Korean Service Medal. He remained in the National Guard until June 18, 1958, when he was discharged from the Army of the United States. He graduated from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis in 1946, along with his future business partner Ollie Amick. The two men went to work for Bisplinghoff Funeral Homes in Chaffee and Scott City. In 1955 Jack and Ollie purchased the business. In 1960 they built and expanded the business to Benton, and in 1964 they purchased the Earl J. Smith Funeral Home in Oran. In 1978 the name of the business was changed to Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapels and in 1987 they purchased the Throop Funeral Home in Sikeston. They continued to operate the funeral business until their retirement in 1989, when their sons, Jack Burnett, Mark Amick, and Scott Amick, purchased the business. Jack was very active in local civic affairs; in 1979 he was recognized for 20 years of service in assisting in development of Chaffee youth leagues baseball program. He was a member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association and served as President of the Southeast District. He was a member of Chaffee Masonic Lodge 615, Morley Eastern Star, Moolah Temple of St. Louis, Semo Shrine Club, and Scottish Rite of St. Louis. He was also a member of the Chaffee Rotary club and received its Paul Harris Fellow award, the Chaffee Elks Lodge 1810, Chaffee American Legion Post 389, Chaffee V.F.W. Post 3127 and a life member of D.A.V. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston. Survivors include his wife, of Sikeston; a son, Jack L. Burnett of Chaffee; a daughter Jane Pfefferkorn of Sikeston; two stepsons, Ron Graviett of Bloomfield and Tom Graviett of Lewisville, Texas; six grandchildren, Molly Noe, Corrie, Abby and Maggie Pfefferkorn, Jessie Vollink and Sam Burnett; eight stepgrandchildren Elaine Causevic, Amanda Mullin, DaRonda, Jeremy, Aunna, Lydia, Thomas and Michael Graviett; two great-grandchildren Kylie and Brylie Noe; and three step-great-grandchildren Madyson Barnes, Vivian and Loren Causevic; two brothers, Jim Burnett of Miles City, Mont. and John Burnett of Columbus, Ohio; and three sisters Carolyn Whitfield and Mary Hindman of Chaffee and Betty Kennedy of St. Michaels, Md. His parents and two brothers, Robert L. and Joseph H. Burnett, preceded him in death. Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee after 4 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a parish prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee, Co-celebrants will be the Rev. Mike McDivitt and the Rev. Ralph Duffner. Interment will follow in Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee with military graveside honors. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Chaffee High School Sports Booster Club for weight room equipment.
	The Society plans on putting together a book of family histories in the near future. We need yours
Illmo Headlight 6/30/1905 (Newspaper)
	Frisco Yards to Locate near Rockview...... 1800 acres Acquired by this Company at that Place..... The Town will be Model One..... Railroad Company will Plat and Sell Town Lots, But will not Sell for Saloon Purposes The knotty problem as to what the Frisco intending toward locating railroad yards in this territory seems to be settled beyond a doubt by the action that company has just taken in buying 1800 acres of land near Rockview. All the newspapers of this section have had sites picked for these yards and shops would remain there. But it's all off now. The best informed railroad men who have heretofore been very reticent on this question, now freely admit that Cape will lose all Frisco interests at that point and that all will go to Rockview. Without outside information, this is the only reasonable conclusion that anyone would form in the face of present developments, as it is certain that this system is not to maintain two separate yards, roundhouses, shops, etc., only 15 miles apart. This road is compelled to have a terminal to handle its bridge business. The Cape is not located good for this, and if it was there is no land there for this purpose which could be gotten at a reasonable price. Already the work of grading for fourteen switch tracks one and one-quarter miles long has commenced at Rockview. One hundred teams and several hundred laborers and mechanics are being asked for. Two steam shovels and a rock crusher are on the ground. It is understood that the Frisco will layout a town there and that a clause prohibiting the dispensation of intoxicating liquors will be attached to each deed of transfer of town lots. The Benton Record says in this connection: "There is no longer any doubt as to the new town to be located with the Frisco car shops in this county on the Witt-Heeb-Owens-Hunt lands near Rockview. The cash was paid over by the Chaffee Real Estate Company of St. Louis Tuesday night in Benton, something over $140,000 changing hands.
Advertisement Appearing in Signal- 10/5/1933
	When you need an undertaker-Phone 28 Lady Attendant and Licensed Embalmer Expense is a matter of your own desire Embalming $15 No charge for ambulance service from here to Cape Hospitals Bisplinghoff and Hubbard
Signs of Wear
	"OLD" is when...your friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you're barefoot.
	"OLD" is when....You don't care where your spouse goes, just as long as you don't have to go along.
	"OLD" is when....When you are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of the police
Items the Historical Society has for Sale
	This & That in the History of Chaffee. Book 1-2-3 $8.00 ea Book #4 $!0.00
	Union Park Cemetery Records $10.00 Obits Book $8.00
	Christmas Ornaments 1998-1999 $5.00
	Christmas Ornaments 2000 (Frisco Office Building) $8.00
	Christmas Ornaments 2001 Ornament (Swimming Pool) $10.00
Dues
	Single Membership $10.00
	Family Membership $14.00
	Single Life Membership $125.00
	Family Life Membership $175.00
Chaffee Historical Society. Box 185. Chaffee MO 63740

Be sure and check out the Chaffee Historical Society web site set up by Jerry Stroup. www.Chaffeehistory.com

"God Bless You and Your Families and God Bless America"