Michael Gilmore Picture on Facebook

Santa on the Caboose in Rich Hill 12/21/2017

Rich Hill Mining Review April 18 1991

Rich Hill Mining Review April 18 1991  Story on Junior Manchester

Mr. and Mrs. Junior Manchester

The list of stores where Junior and the late Bessie Mae Manchester worked before opening their own grocery store sounds like a 1940's Rich Hill business directory.

For the 33 years between 1954-1987 you could almost always find one or both at the Manchester Grocery ,even well into the evening.

Junior stated his working career at Dunnaway's  back in 1934.He also worked at Marquardt's Grocery,Ashley's Grocery and McCormicks Grocery.During many of those same years Bessie Mae Wheeler was working at Sharp's Grocery, Whittie's Bakery and Canfield Variety.

The couple married in 1950 either lived on their cattle farm east of Rich Hill or at the store throughout their married life.

Junior's father was a carpenter in Rich Hill and Junior attended all 12 years of  schooling in Rich Hill.Bessie Mae's parents were farmers in Sprague area and she went to grade school in Sprague and high school in Rich Hill.Bessie was a long time member of the Christian Church.

 

Foster Church moved to Rich Hill in 1992

Rich Hill  Mining Review in 1992

Headed to new home
For 109 years it was the Foster Methodist Church but a declining attendance finally caused  that congregation to join with the hume Methodist.  This left the Church up for bids. A Church group in Rich Hill Christian home fellowship ,was the high bidder and soon the building will house a new congregation. Tuesday was  moving day for the building and slowly made its way from Foster to Rich Hill.This photo was taken near New Home and it was expected the Church would reach its new location just East of Rich Hills East Park late Tuesday or sometime Wednesday.

History of Bates County, Missouri on Mr. William Harkins

{This Story was found in the History of Bates County, Missouri By William Oscar Atkeson}Historical Publishing Company, 1918 

The recollections of a conversation with Mr. William Harkins on the porch at his home near old Rich Hill in the summer of 1887 leads the writer to think that possibly others may be interested in simple incidents and folk lore of former days. Mr. Harkins had been a soldier of the war of 1812 his home at that time being in the wilds of western New York State.
A typical pioneer he soon found that the environments of that vicinity were changing too fast for him and he gradually drifted with the tide of emigration west until he reached his last abiding place near Rich Hill when Bates County was still in the wilds. He loved to tell of the incidents of the early settlements of the country from New York State west to Bates County, Missouri. He died near Rich Hill about 1886, one of the last survivors of  the War of 1812.
 He was a type of the first settlers, honest because it was natural to be so, he wore his rough side out, and what would have appeared to be refinement of the present day, as bruskness was simply the influence of surroundings that called  for positive actions  and resolutions to meet conditions and under the hardened exterior there glowed a kindly disposition. He was neither rich or poor as we term it today. When the conversation turned to acquiring property he would say "I have always been careful and have succeeded in keeping enough property to be independent." That sentiment prevailed largely with the early settlers. To him "independent" meant having enough to eat and wear and be comfortable in his home and sufficient land and stock to reasonably assure the continuance of that condition. I use him as a type because he was one of the most typical of the type that formed the better element of the first settlers.
Notes from Bart McClaughry: 

I think Mr. Atkeson  is wrong about  Mr. Harkins being from New York the Census shows  he was from Pennsylvania and there is a William Harkins which the War of 1812 Pension Application Files shows from Pennsylvania

Birth:	Oct. 29, 1796
Death:	Oct. 11, 1887
Burial: Green Lawn Cemetery Rich Hill Bates County Missouri, USA Plot: Robinson-Row 5-N

Rich Hill Mining Review Oct. 16,1980

Rich Hill Mining Review Celebrates a 100 years with a  picture from the 50's

A crew from the 50's-Front row left to right:Paul Droz,Janie Droz, Larry Gilkey,Larry Black Jerry Jennings,Charlene McIntire,Roy Black.Back row,Charles McIntire,Edward Kenny,Ida Kenny,Don Droz,Francine Droz,Lerry Headley,Mary Jane Headley and Clyde Hupton.

Rich Hill Mining Review July 20,1978 New Business

Rich Hill Mining Review July 20,1978  New Business 

The Red Star Service Station has new owners as of last week.Mr and Mrs.Rick Lanning,Mr. and Mrs. Terry Lanning and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Hess now own the business in partnership with Tony Lanning as manager. The full service station will be open from 7 a.m.-9 P.M. seven days a week with a 24 hour wrecker service.

Ida Kenney Memories of 1955 Celebration {From the 1975 4th History in Review}

Ida Kenney Memories of 1955 Celebration
Rich Hill Mining Review "History of the Fourth  {June 28,1975}

The 4th of July have always been held on the fourth of July or on a Monday,if the Fourth fell on a Sunday with one exception.
In 1955 it was decided by business people and residents of Rich Hill to have a belated celebration commemorating the birthday of the nation and combine it with the seventy fifth  birthday of  the city. A three day celebration July 29,30,and 31,was planned and what a celebration it was.
The first day,Friday,July 29 was Agricultural day awards were presented at the High School and in the afternoon a parade of people dressed in 1880 costumes and old machinery was held downtown.
In the amateur contest Jeffrey O'neil vocalist won first Second place winner was Willow Branch club and third Foster Busy Bee Club.
Miss Sharon Colwell,daughter of Mr. Tom Colwell won the Queen contest Sponsored by the American Legion and its Auxiliary.
Saturday, July 30 was the big day.In the afternoon a parade of seventy-five entries was held in the afternoon. The first christian church won first Community Garden club second and the V.F.W. Auxiliary third.
The last day Sunday, July 31 was another big day.Union church services were held  in the west Park in the Morning.A basket dinner was held in the East Park and in the afternoon.the new shelter house in the East Park sponsored by the Women's Civic club was dedicated followed by the presentation of play ground equipment for the park.It was presented by a representative of the American Legion Auxiliary, sponsors of the project to the City of Rich Hill.
News commentator of radio and TV Mr. Randall Jesse made the major address of the afternoon.
It is estimated that 30,000 people attend the 3-day event.They came from surrounding towns all over Missouri and Kansas, also Oklahoma,Arizona,Tennessee,Florida,Iowa, Illinois Nebraska and Washington, D.C.