W.O.W. Unveiling at Mt. Zion June 13, 1912

James B. Rich's W.O.W. marker at the Mt. Zion Cemetery.

Churches and the one room schools are so much a part of our past history. This article appeared in the June 13, 1912 Crittenden Press.

W.O.W. Unveiling at Mt. Zion Sunday was attended by biggest crowd in the history of the place. At Mt. Zion cemetery Sunday were assembled what is admitted by the old residents to be the largest crowd of people within the history of this historic place. People came from all parts of Crittenden County and from other counties as well.

The occasion was the unveiling of the handsome monument erected to the memory of sovereign James B. Rich by the W. O. W. fraternity, of which the late Mr. Rich was a member. The exercises being under the supervision of Rosewood Camp No. 22, which Robert E. Wilborn is Consul Com.; C. R. Newcom, Past Con. Com.; C. V. Oakley, Adv. Lieut.; F. B. Heath, Clerk; T. M. Conyer Watchman; R. I. Nunn, Banker; James Arflack, Escort; W. F. Myers Sentry, and H. D. Pollard, Master of Ceremonies.

The unveiling took place at 2 o'clock p.m. An interesting program had been arranged in connection with the ritualistic ceremonies of the Order, and was carried out to the satisfaction of everyone.

After the march, conducted by Master of Ceremonies H. D. Pollard, the Marion Concert Band played "Nearer My God to Thee." The Choir sang "Rock of Ages" and after an invocation by Rev. J. A. Wheeler, pastor of Mt. Zion Church, the quartet, "Bloom Brightly, Sweet Roses" was rendered by Messrs. Bart Fisher, Chester Fisher, Leonard Fisher and Miss Erline Fisher. The beautiful recitation, "Oh Why Should the Spirit of Mortal Be Proud" was given by Miss Clara Barton Woody, after which an address was made by Rev. Rufus Robinson.

After the unveiling of the monument by officers of Rosewood Camp No. 22 W.O.W., Judge J. G. Rochester introduced Hon. Alben W. Barkley, of Paducah, who gave an interesting speech.

At 11:00 o'clock a sermon was preached at the church by the pastor, Rev. J. A. Wheeler and noon a bountiful dinner was served on the grounds, of which everybody present was invited to partake and the day passed pleasantly away.

After leaving the place the Woodmen and others who were present were loud in their praise of the most hospitable manner in which they wee received and treated by the good people of Mr. Zion and vicinity.

The occasion was a success in every way and reflects credit to Rosewood Camp no. 22. W. O.W.

Green Gables Home in Mexico, KY

In 2004, Nancy and Donald Tabor purchased the Lilly Stephenson's house which had been empty since it's owner had died in the winter of 1977. When Lilly Stephenson died, her daughter, Imogene Winstead locked the doors, removed a few belongings and rarely returned. When Nancy and Donald purchased the house it was still full of Stephenson's clothes, furniture, dished and personal items, as Nancy says, it was locked in time.

Restoring the old house was always a dream for Nancy. In fact, her ties to the house are many. Her uncle and grandfather, Jim and Lige Campbell, built the house in 1921. Her father worked on the farm as a boy. As a child, she visited the house and as an adult cared for her cousin, Lilly Stephenson.

With the restoration program the couple has paid attention to each detail, from the floor to the ceilings. One of the most consuming jobs, Nancy tells us, has been the process of staining all of the home's woodwork. It was all removed and stained and each nail used to re-install it was later covered with puddy and another coat of stain. Beautiful wooden front doors with sidelights welcome guests into a lovely parlor, as if you had indeed stepped back in time.

It's been 4 years since the restoration project began, Nancy has put her heart and soul in the project and in shows in every detail of the beautiful stunning old home. If wall could talk, I'm sure they would be welcoming the Tabor's unto their restored home.

Genealogy Society Takes A Tour of Tabor's Restored 1921 Home

The Crittenden County Genealogy Society recently took a tour of the 1921 home of Nancy and Donald Tabor in the Mexico Community. Standing on the front steps of the home are:
Front row left to right: Anna Rhea Porter, Brenda Underdown, Connie Gould
Second row: Dot Kunnecke, Doyle Polk, Fay Carol Crider
Back row: Nancy Tabor, (the home's owner),Don Foster and Betty Croft.
See Story above for more history on this beautiful old home.

Neighborhood News, May 12, 1898

Brown-Wring Cemetery. This cemetery has also been called the Childress Cemetery and the Millikan Cemetery.

The cemetery is located off View Road, down a logging road and on the side of a bluff. If not familiar with the area, you would need a local person to lead you to the cemetery. This cemetery has many unmarked graves, and many with only sandstones as markers. A one-of-a-kind person, Doyle Polk, cares for this cemetery by weed eating and trying to keep the fallen limbs off the stones.

We are fortunate at times, through reading the old Crittenden Presses, to find information telling about a person that has been buried in one of our old family cemeteries that doesn't have a stone. Such as happened in the column titled New Salem Neighborhood News, May 12, 1898.

Died at his residence near Emmaus Church, April 3, 1898, Washington W. Brown, in the 80th year of his age. In the death of "Uncle Wash" as he was formerly known, Crittenden County and this neighborhood have lost another old land mark. He was among one of the best citizens in this county, a good Christian man, honest in all his dealings with his fellow man, his hospitality was unbounded, his home was his friends home, no one ever left his house empty handed that asked for charity.

He leaves a wife and eight children to mourn for him. His remains were buried at the Millikan grave yard. A large concourse of the good people assembled at the grave to pay the last tribute of respect to this good man.

Uncle Wash has answered the summons of the master, has crossed the river, and is at rest with the loved ones that have gone before. May we all be ready as he was when the summons comes.

Another unmarked burial in this cemetery is that of Nancy Fuller Campbell, who died January 26, 1934. Her obituary reads:

Crittenden Press, January 1934 - Death has again invaded our ranks and claimed for its victium, Mrs.Nancy Campbell, wife of J. T. Campbell, who departed this life as the day drew to a close Friday evening, January 26, 1934. Her remains were interred in the Milikan Cemetery. Mrs. Campbell was born March 5, 1855. She had been marrried 52 years and to the union 7 children were born. Five of the children have been dead for a number of years and only 2 girls, Mrs. Alma Ward and Miss Myra Campbell and the husband survive.

County Court Dec. 15, 1898

Reading the County Court items from our early days gives us a look back in time to the events that was taking place in Crittenden County.

Dec. 15, 1898

• J. F. Harris allowed $25 for right of way for public road near Piney Creek Church, the old road having been ruined by a branch.
• J. S. Newcom, commissioner to open road asked for by E. L. Nunn, reported road open and ready for travel. H. B. Tudor was appointed overseer, with the following hands, J. S. Newcom, E. L. Nunn, W. H. Tudor, Geo. W. Gahagan, and J. N. Truitt.
• The following road overseers were appointed: H. F. McDonald, Charles Nunn, S. W. Simpson.
• The will of the late John A. Hodge was probated. The subscribing witnesses are M. C. O'Hara, Eva Kirk and Eliza Jane Hicks. After providing for funeral expenses, the divisor says; I give, devise and bequeath all the residue of my estate, both real and personal, to my wife, Ebie Hodge, and my two children, Jackson and Donie Hodge. Said wife to hold during her life time and equal interest with my two children, Jackson and Donie, and her interest to revert to the children at her death. The sum of $5.00 is bequeathed to Kurg Hodge.

4th of July at Crittenden Springs Hotel

This sketch of The Crittenden Springs Hotel Resort was featured in The Evansville Press in 1890, advertising the opening of the season at the grand Hotel.

Since the 4th of July will be here soon, let's take a look back in time to the 4th of July in 1905, 103 years ago. The Crittenden Springs Hotel was getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July in grand ole Kentucky style.

Independence day at the Crittenden Springs will be a royal Fourth. It is expected that a large crowd of people, who have cast aside the cares of life for the time being that they may enjoy one whole day of pleasure and good fellow felling, will cover the old hills about the spring.

The band will play, the birds will sing and music will reign supreme, while the stars and stripes, waving in the breeze, will indicate that the birthday of Old Glory's reign in at hand.

Among the events of the day will be a genuine shooting match at 30, 50 and 500 yard range, two or more match games of base ball and many other incidental amusements. Come evening time there will be the big dance, and most important of all, the grand fireworks beginning at eight o'clock. If possible, everyone should come prepared to stay all day and remain over at night long enough to see these fireworks, which will be a rare treat for everyone, and possibly something your children have never seen before.

And not the least important part of the preparation for the entertainment of the crowd will be the cold drinks on the ground and the barbecued meats prepared in the grand old Kentucky style.

The beautiful hills around the Crittenden Springs Hotel must have been a grand site this 4th of July so many years ago, ahh to have been able to attend one of these celebrations.