Times Past: Nov. 1, 2017
The fire that destroyed Dick Deupree’s 93-year-old home in Dora reminded us of this photo of the Deupree Store, which was included in an album of photos found several years ago by John L. Harlin in an unused Century Bank of the Ozarks vault. A 1913 story in the Times explained that E. Y. Mitchell was in the county with a photographer named Stark taking photos, probably including this one, to use in promotional materials for Mitchell’s plan to “colonize” land here. According to a history of Dora by the late Bess Cropper, Dick Deupree’s grandparents, Edwin and Mattie Deupree, bought the Dora store and adjoining farm in 1912, a year before this photo was taken; the family operated the store for decades. It close in 1967 after the death of Edwin’s son, Ray.
Ozark County Times
Nov. 2, 1917
Rep. G. W. Collins was here from Brixey Monday on business. He was very sore and barely able to move about, caused from military drilling on Sunday at Brixey under command of Taylor Walker. Mr. Walker was one of the 26 who were sent from this county to Camp Funston but who was exempted from service on account of being a married man with family, after a month in camp.
He has formed a company and is drawing quite a crowd to Brixey every Sunday to watch them drill.
Tecumseh - Most everbody from here has gone to Southeast Missouri to pick cotton, the rest have gone to Camp Funston, Kans.
Austin Isom, one of the soldier boys from here, is reported to be sick at Ft. Riley, Kans.
Theodosia – Tom Barnet, the blacksmith at this place, died Monday night and was buried in the Isabella Cemetery Tuesday.
Hands to pick cotton are scarce. $1.00 per hundred is being paid for cotton pickers.
Oct. 31, 1935
The Kelly Ax Co., makers of the Kelly Perfect Ax, through their representative here, A. D. McDonald, put on a demonstration Tuesday afternoon. A company demonstrator was in charge of the contest. Green black-oak logs 10 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long were used as material to chop. The person chopping a log in the shortest time was awarded a new handled Kelly ax. Another Kelly ax was awarded to the man making second best time.
Following are the entrants and their time:
Claude E. Gaulding 32 3/5 sec., Ernest Lord 40 sec. Everett Driskell 46 sec. Allan MacAllister 40 3/5 sec. J. B. Howard 51 sec, Jack Lyons 68 sec., J. P. Briskell [sic] 66 sec. J. C. Harlin 72 sec., Dal Sweirs 72 sec.
Nov. 5, 1942
Thirty draftees left here by bus Monday night for Jefferson Barracks. Those who pass will return and have 10 days in which to prepare for induction in the army.
Ad – Attention! Tire Buyers: The Amyx Auto Co. has a good supply of 550-18 and 500 – 19 obsolete tires. Bring certificate and get them.
Lilly Ridge – The proceeds of our pie supper amounted to $47. Many thanks to all. Misses Barbara Lee Daughterty and Reba Baxter received the candy for the prettiest girl; Gail Crawford the bottle of milk for the biggest baby, and Doyle Luna the soap for the dirtiest man.
Nov. 2, 1967
The Aromatic Cedar Products plant here was totally destroyed by fire of unknown origin which was discovered around 11 p.m. Thursday night. At times during the night, the fire, fanned by one of the highest winds of the year, could be seen as far away as Midway Ark. ...
When Mr. and Mrs. Snelling, owners and operators of the plant, attracted by a noise. ... went outside their trailer home next to the plant to investigate, flames were leaping through the roof of the two-story factory building.
Apparently the fire was discovered at the same time by several persons who rang the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. Bob Usrey said the home phone, where he was sitting, also rang.
He answered this phone to hear Mrs. Joe Ebrite report the fire. As he went to answer the fire phone, he turned the siren on. It was Mr. Snelling reporting the fire also.
Mr. and Mrs. Snelling said that the factory was as full of orders of cedar closet lining boxed, ready for shipment, as it had ever been. ...
The Gainesville Vol-unteer Fire Department along with employees of the cedar plant were able to contain the fire only in the office. The office was on the first floor. The fire apparently started on the second floor. ...
Nov. 4, 1992
In what was probably Ozark County’s most closely watched political race, incumbent Republican Sheriff Max Vaughan won re-election over Democratic candidate Frank McDaniel. The final count was 2,309 votes for Vaughan and 1,869 votes for McDaniel.