December 3, 2025: TIMES PAST compiled by Sue Ann Jones
This week’s 1912 Times Past item from the Dawt community items saying the cotton gin at Dawt had turned out its 100th bale of cotton reminded us of this photo reporting what happened at the Dawt cotton gin 10 years or so later. In the August 2010 edition of The Old Mill Run, Donna Langston Milstead wrote about her grandparents, Jesse Allan and Mary Small Langston, who bought a small farm near Tecumseh shortly after their marriage in 1902. In her story, Donna reported that one year in the 1920s, her grandfather took 3,000 pounds of cotton to the cotton gin at Dawt to be baled into two 500-pound bales. “Cotton was 7 cents per pounds that year, and there weren’t any buyers,” Donna wrote. “Most people left their baled cotton on the ground around the gin (as shown in this photo from Donna’s collection). Instead, her grandfather took his bales home and stored them in his barn. The next summer, cotton prices had gone up, and he was able to sell his two bales for 15 cents a pound for a total of $150, “a lot of money in those times,” Donna said.
Ozark County News
Dec. 3, 1896
A new enterprise has recently opened up on Pine Creek about eight miles northwest of town. Some parties from Springfield have located a hidden cave at Mayberry farm and are blasting for an opening. The object of the search is to discover a large quantity of gold coin hidden there many years ago. Where they got their information, we do not know, but we are inclined to believe there is more work than gold ahead of the enterprise.
Ozark County Times
Dec. 6, 1912
Zanoni – Curt Pointer is repairing the Pine Creek phone line.
Mattie Baldwin spent last week at Ulysses Morrison’s, sewing for Mrs. Morrison.
Cecil Mayberry spent Monday night with Troy Hunt. They spent the fore part of the night in ’possum land.
Rockbridge – The “blind fold” party at Chas. Edward’s was enjoyed by quite a few of the young folks, and we’re going to have another one soon.
Dawt – Roy Burk hauled two loads of cotton seed from this place this week for the Wood & Reed Merc. Co.
The gin at this place ran out the 100th bale of cotton Nov. 30. Large crowds at Dawt now. Cotton gin running in full blast.
Dec. 2, 1927
L.H. Chaney, formerly of Theodosia, but who has been employed as master mechanic for the Maney-Alley Construction Co. at Holdenville, Okla., was seriously injured Nov. 21 when 85 or 90 percussion caps exploded in his hands. … At the time of the accident they were engaged in laying a paved road between Wewoka and Seminole, Okla., and were preparing to set off a blast. Chaney’s hands were blown to tatters, and it was necessary to amputate both of them just below the elbow. … Mr. Chaney is now recovering nicely.
Dec. 3, 1931
The first game of the season was played in the new gymnasium on Wednesday night of last week between the Norwood basketball team and the Gainesville Bulldogs, the Bulldogs losing by a score of 8 to 17.
Dec. 1, 1932
E. K. Sanders, 72 years old, another of the few remaining pioneer citizens of Ozark County, died at his home in this city Monday afternoon. He has been in poor health for the past few years. A few days ago he suffered an attack of pneumonia from which he could not rally.
Funeral services were conducted by Elder Joe Deatherage at the Christian Church on Tuesday, and burial was made that evening in the Patrick Cemetery by the side of his wife.
Rockbridge – Our school was dismissed Thursday and Friday. The teacher, Mrs. Edith Gaulding, spent the Thanksgiving holidays with home folks at Nottinghill.
Dec. 2, 1965
Mr. and Mrs. Arzie Hambelton of Gainesville have three sons who all graduated from the Molar Barber College in Kansas City.
The last to finish was Gary Wayne Hambelton, who graduated Nov. 1 and then left for the Army Nov. 22. He is now at Ft. Leonard Wood. …
The other brothers are Elmo Hambelton, who graduated in 1963 and is a barber in Gainesville, and Waco Hambelton, who graduated last August and is working in Springfield.
Dec. 9, 1982
The home of Dwight and Earlene Ledbetter off of Hightway 160 near the Ozark County Cattle Company was completely destroyed Monday night by fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Ledbetter and their children, Shane and Susan, were at the cattle company barn when they were notified of the fire by J. R. Evans, who came by the cattle company, and by Sheriff Herman Pierce, who called Ledbetters on the telephone. …
The fire, which apparently broke out on the second floor of the house where there was a fireplace, is of unknown origin. The house was roofed with cedar-shake shingles, which spread the fire rapidly and within about two hours the 11-room home was destroyed.