JOPLIN, Mo. —
Linda Childers and Harvey Imbeau, two veteran researchers of Newton County history, have teamed together to compile an extraordinary book titled “The Civil War In Newton County Missouri.”
This is the most thorough, well-researched book I have ever read about the Civil War in southwest Missouri. This book will help descendants understand the conflicts that Ozarks ancestors experienced.
Data was gathered from historical societies in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma; resources at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield; displays and other resources at eight museums in Missouri and Arkansas; and scores of articles gleaned from microfilm copies of newspapers published during the Civil War years in Springfield, Granby, Carthage, Joplin, Ft. Smith and Neosho.
The authors also include information from dozens of books that have been written about the military groups and leaders who fought in the battles, raids and skirmishes.
The authors note that 75 percent of Missourians were of Southern heritage and thus were sympathetic with the Confederacy. Because of family ties to Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, the majority of people in Newton County held similar southern views.
Some of the pioneers had traveled to the county via the old National Road to St. Louis and then followed the Osage Trail from St. Louis through Springfield to Newton County. Others came to the area by floating down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and then rowing and poling up the Arkansas River to Ft. Smith before following the rough trails north to southwest Missouri.
According to the book, “In no other region was there such a racial mix of soldiers or such a concentration of Indians ... Federal officials described Neosho, the Newton County seat, as the center for anti-government guerrilla activities in southwest Missouri.” The authors describe many situations that illustrate the range of conflicts.
Information in the 192-page book is organized by the war years. Numerous photos of Civil War leaders and other well-known people have been included.
A few of them are Nathaniel Lyon, Claiborne Jackson, Henry Halleck, Sterling Price, Matthew Ritchey, Wild Bill Hickok, William Quantrill, Franz Sigel, Belle Starr, Jim Lane, Douglas Cooper, Creek Chief Hopoeithylohola, Stand Waite, John Ross, Earl Van Dorn, Samuel Curtis, David Hunter, James Blunt, Robert Furnas and Jo Shelby. Maps and numerous photos of historic Civil War sites are also included.
The price of the book is $25. Copies can be picked up at the museum, located at 121 North Washington & McCord Street, by calling 417-451-4950 or by e-mailing the society at: mail@newtoncountyhistoricalsociety.org.
Also, mail NCHS, P.O. Box 675, Neosho, Missouri 64850. If the book is to be mailed, add $5. Make checks payable to Harvey Imbeau.
Although the creation of an index for such a detailed book will be an enormous task, such a reference would be a helpful companion for this exceptional book.
Suggestions or queries? Send to Frankie Meyer, 509 N. Center St., Plainfield, IN 46168, or contact: frankiemeyer@yahoo.com.
Lifestyles
Frankie Meyer: New book chronicles Civil War in Newton County
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