The Early Streets of Crocker, MO
Crocker, Mo is located about 10 miles
north of Waynesville, MO on Missouri Highway 17. Many of my ancestors settled
in and around Crocker, MO. Before Crocker existed there was a small trading
post a few miles north of Crocker's present location called "Humboldt".
It was started in around 1854 and consisted of a store, a couple of log
cabins and a larger house that served as a boarding house and an inn. Some
of the early settlers of the Humboldt was Joseph Fiebelman, J.A. Flippen
and Simon Harris. In 1868, the Frisco railroad coming from Dixon was being
finished just east of Humboldt. After a depot was started about a mile
southeast of Humboldt, the trading post began to die. A center that was
used for shipping was built, that would serve the towns not located on
the railroad such as, Waynesville, Iberia, and Hawkeye. The new town as
it began to grow was called Crocker, after one of the stockholders of the
railroad, Eurilis J. Crocker.
Buying railroad ties
In 1870 Mr. Flippen, who was previously
located at Humboldt, moved to Crocker and opened up a Hotel and saloon.
In 1871 the voting polls were moved to Crocker from Humboldt. A general
store was built in 1871 by Joesph Fiebelman. C.L. Brown and the Denton
Brothers, opened their business buying and selling lumber, grain and railroad
ties. W.D Rowden came to Crocker in 1891 and opened a general store.
Teeple Saloon
The Teeple Saloon contributed its share
to the gay 90's in Crocker. Upstairs W.F Burks, notary, occulist, druggist
and maker of linament had his office. The building belonged to Mr. and
Mrs. Burks. Downstairs was the saloon. Mrs. Burks, the heavy lady standing
in the middle upstairs, was said to have a hole cut in the floor, where
she could lower a half gallon bucket fastened to a rope so she could draw
up her daily supply of beer. The saloon keeper, Sterling Teeple, was in
a business that breeds trouble and in his case tragedy. On July 4, 1898,
after serving two drifters, and finding out they didn't have any money
to pay for their beer, he picked them up bodily and threw them into the
street. Later that evening, just minutes after dark, while Mr. Teeple was
setting outside on the front porch of the saloon facing the railroad tracks
and watching the boys playing marbles, when he was shot from the rear in
the back of the head. Many was sure that the two men that Teeple threw
into the streets came back and got their revenge, however it was never
proven. Many years later a dying man "was said" to have confessed that
he fired the fatal shot.
Joe House and Repaired Railroad Water
Tower
L.L. Mattoon and R.L. Neal cut and delivered
many tons of ice to customers in Waynesville and Crocker. The Neals kept
summer boarders at their spacious home 1/4 mile away. Crocker has since
grown in many ways as has the smaller towns of Dixon and Richland. They
have prospered, but since they are far enough away from the business hub
of the county seat Waynesville, they still remain smaller and retain many
of their country looks and customs. It is certain that as time goes by
Crocker's wonderful way of life will attract a great deal more people and
when they decide to settle there, they will be added to Pulaski Counties,
"Moments in Time"
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Me!
Or Write to:
Mike Weber
209 Westwind Drive
Waynesville, MO. 65583
