Knox County CornFest was this past weekend.  Our Wreaths Across America booth was located in the same spot as it has been in the past (well, maybe a bit to the east--but still easily found).  Judith had brought all the materials needed and set up by 8:00 a.m.  (The "tent" had been set up the night before by Larry Clark--thanks for the use of it!!!)   Marsha joined Judith prior to the parade at 10:00, and they were basically at the booth all day.  We do thank Joyce (location coordinator for this project) and Diana for joining us at various times throughout the day.   Lots of people were around from parade time until after lunchtime. then it began dwindling.  We closed up shop by 4:00.  We got some purchased wreaths, and were glad to have them.  Donations were down from last year.  We were glad that we closed and had not planned on being open on Sunday as it rained in the evening.  

 

                    MONTHLY LUNCHEON--Sep 1, 2022

 On September 1, 2022, the monthly luncheon was held at the Novelty Senior Citizens’ building in downtown Novelty.  For the first time in 23 months, the public health nurse from the KCHD, Rhonda Penfield, came to take blood pressures for all attending, and also stayed to enjoy lunch with us.  Present were Edra, Diana, Judith, Jim and Marsha.  (After eating, Rhonda took two carry-out meals to Betty and Gerald Perry.)  Although a fewer number were present, we still had a good lunch and visiting. 

At 1:10, Diana called our business meeting to order.  Marsha read the minutes from the past two months, and both were accepted as presented.  Judith gave the treasurer’s report, which was also accepted as presented. 

Business items mentioned/conducted were:

1.     Cornfest is Sept 10^th.  We are assuming the site for our WAA booth is the same as it has been in the past; although as of now, we haven’t heard definitely.   A sign-up sheet was passed around for volunteer workers at the booth in 2-hour increments.  As few were here, not all slots were filled, but as in the past, Judith and Marsha generally spend the whole day there.  Judith will get there early enough to set up Saturday morning.  Plans are for the booth to open around 9:00, which is before the parade starts.

2.    Marsha has sent in more wreaths, money from our letters sent out in August. 

3.    We signed a birthday card to Helen Pulse, who will turn 90 September 6.  She had decided she couldn’t make it to the luncheon today. 

4.    Marsha will bake the birthday cake for October.  Coffee makers for this month are 6^th—Marsha; 13^th—Judith; 20^th—Diana; 27^th—Kathryn; Oct 4—Judith.

Judith made the motion to adjourn.

             Monthly luncheon, August, 2022

Only four people were present for the August 4, 2022 luncheon at the Novelty Senior Center.  Edra, Judith, Carolyn, and Kathryn enjoyed their time together  with  plenty of good food.  Strawberry shortcake was the birthday cake to celebrate Kathryn's birthday month.  Due to the absence of the president and secretary, no business meeting was conducted.  

The next luncheon will be Thursday,  September 1, 2022, with Judith making the birthday cake.  Coffee makers were assigned for the month.

Hopefully next month will find people in better health, and no doctor's appointments.  

 Another history of Novelty that was brought to my attention.  This one was for a college class, written in 1975.

                                    A HISTORY OF NOVELTY, MISSOURI

                                                By Kathryn L. Easley,

                                                October 12, 1975 

                                                (for SS 326 History of Missouri)

 

I.                 Founding and the early settlement

A.    Hunter and Pendry

B.    Naming of the village

C.    Entering and plotting

D.    D. Origin of the immigrants

E.     Civil War Raid

II.              Growth of the Economy

A.      Additions to the village

B.    Agriculture based economy

C.    Newspapers

D.    Coming of the railroad

E.     Well-known horse breeders

III.            Decline of the economy

A.     The Depression

B.    Leaving of the railroad

C.    Mobility of the people

IV.            Education

A.     Early schools

B.    Oaklawn College

C.    Education today

V.              Religion and the people 

 

Located in the Missouri county of Knox, Township of Salt River, Range 12, Section 11 is the village of Novelty.  It is situated on Missouri State Highway 156 and two miles west of Missouri State Highway 15.  The following paper is a brief history from its beginning in 1857 to the present.

The 1850’s was a time of great migration of Americans to California.  Settlers from all areas of the United States packed their belongings into wagons and started west to California.  In Kentucky two families decided that they too would leave their homes and make the long trip to the promised land in the west.  These were the Nars W. Hunter family and the Dr. Richard Thomas Pendry family.  As they passed through northern Missouri, they were impressed with the broad and fertile prairie of Knox County and decided to settle in the area of what is now Novelty.

The Pendry and Hunter families purchased large amounts of land from the government and began to build their homes.  The first building was that of Dr. R.T. Pendry, which was of the conventional horizontal log cabin style:  it served as his home, office, and a store.  The legend of the naming of the village goes back to this first building:  Dr. Pendry’s office was difficult to find in the prairie wilderness so he raised a red flag high above the cabin for all to see.  His wife thought this to be such a novel idea that they named the settlement Novelty.

On October 24, 1838 the Eastern ½ of the Southwestern ¼ of Section 11, of the Salt River Township was entered for a town by Cleng Pierson.  Nothing more is known about Cleng Pierson, where he went, or if he had plans to build a town.  In June of 1857, nineteen years after the land was entered, Nars W Hunter laid out or plotted the village of Novelty, which at that time consisted of only four blocks.  But it is evident that a United States Post Office existed prior to plotting since the U.S. Postal Department files show that the first Postmaster of Novelty was R.T Pendry in the year of 1854.

As was typical of Missouri immigrants, the early immigrants of Novelty came from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia.  Among the early settlers were the following families:  Townsend, Ross, Norris, Doyle, Hickman, McCullough, Botts, and Owens.  Dr. R.T Pendry and Nars W. Hunter both left Novelty some time after the Civil War, the exact date is unknown:  the former moving to Bethel, Missouri and the latter moving to Hurdland, Missouri.  These founding fathers of Novelty were both brought back “home” for burial.

During the Civil War the only activity that occurred at Novelty was a rebel guerrilla raid in 1864.  Thirteen guerrillas from Chariton and Howard Counties led by Jim Jackson, a noted desperado and cutthroat, robbed the stores and homes, and stole a number of horses and mules.  After the raid, they fled into Clark County.  The growth of the village was slow in the three years prior to the Civil War.  But after the war had ended, the village began to grow and prosper:

“The wilderness blossoms like the rose…once a broad prairied                 land is filled with fine homes, fruitful fields and beautiful orchards…situated in the heart of a rich and beautiful country….easily accessible   from the farms on every hand.” **

            In 1860 an addition was added to the village and in June of 1877 the Mary Hunter Addition was added.  These two additions not only increased the size of the village but illustrated the economic growth and population increases brought about by the new prosperity of the community.  The economic base of the community was,   is,   and will probably always be agriculture, and it was during the 1870’s that the farms surrounding the village became well established and prosperous, and when the farmers were prosperous the village was prosperous.  Between 1879-1912 the village slowly and steadily grew to accommodate the needs of the farmers.  It was in April of 1882 that Novelty was incorporated.  The following is a quote of a Novelty resident in April of 1885.     

“When asked why Novelty has succeeded so when all other towns             except railroad towns were going down…only one reason to give…      and that is because our people pull together in all public enterprises              and all work for our home interest.  This must be the secret to success        in all towns large and small.” *  

            Some of the early industries of Novelty were:  a creamery (1878), a mill (1883),  a mammoth grain elevator and feed stable (1891), a corn mill (1892), The Novelty State Bank (1893), and an ax handle factory (1901).  Many times the life of the businesses were short, for example in 1878 a creamery was started in the west part of town (the present site of the Verna Taylor residence), in 1901 it was changed to an ax handle factory and later to a steam powered saw mill which was later abandoned.

            The village supplied its residents and surrounding farmers with many shops and stores from which they could obtain their needed supplies.  The 1911 Industrial Issue of the Edina Sentinel  listed the village of Novelty as having the following stores:  one bank, three general stores, two restaurants, one implement store, two livery and feed barns, two barber shops, two blacksmiths, and two carpenter shops.  Most of the store owners made trips to either St. Louis Missouri or Quincy Illinois to get their merchandise.

            Three different newspaper publications have existed in the village of Novelty.  The first was the Novelty Register,  published from February to May, 1885 by two men—a Mr. Frost and a Mr. Downing.  The second publication was the Novelty News published only a few months in 1914.  The fhird was the Knox County Herald  which was first published on March 24, 1916 and is believed to have ran for six or seven months.  The lack of community support may be the reason for the failure of these publications.  In a village of its size, where everyone knew all that happened and where everyone knew what the stores had for sale, why buy a newspaper?!

            The population figures prior to 1900 are not available but it is believed that the figure may have reached three hundred and possible as high as four hundred in the 1880’s and 1890’s.  The  population declined from 1900-1970 with one marked sign of prosperity between 1910-1920.  The prosperity was a result of the coming of the railroad. (population in the 1970’s was about 150)

In 1911, Novelty became excited about the prospect of a railroad coming to town.  Representatives from the Shelby Northwestern Railroad met with the community and after a subscription was raised the company decided, in 1912,  to build a railroad to Novelty.  On August 31, 1913, the train nicknamed “Old Smoky Jim” made its first arrival in Novelty and at last the village was connected with Shelbina and the Burlington Railroad.  The railroad brought about an economic boom in the now thriving village.  New industries soon came:  a broom factory, a produce compay, a grain company, and a lumber company.  The farmers used the railroad to ship cattle, sheep, hogs, wheat, corn, and oats.  The businesses received products for sale and a mail contract was issued to the railroad to carry the mail to and from Novelty.  And the railroad served as a welcome means of transportation in and out of Novelty.

            Between 1900 and 1920 the Novelty area became well known for its abundance of fine horse breeders.  Some of these breeders were:  W. Elmer Throckmorton, Martin Arment, S.A.D. Pond, and perhaps the most well-known was C. R. Porter and his Paramont Stock Farms.

            During the late 1920’s and early 1930’s the prosperity of the Novelty community began it’s decline.  There are three major reasons for the decline

1.     The first major reason for the decline was the Great Depression which struck the entire nation after the collapse of the stock market in 1929.  The people had no money to buy the goods for sale in the stores, so one by one the stores began to close.  On October 15, 1931 the Novelty State Bank surrendered its charter and transferred all deposits to the Security Bank at Edina, Missouri, thus adding to the financial problem of the community.

2.    The second reason for the decline in prosperity was that in 1933 the Shelby County Northwestern Railroad discontinued train service to Novelty.  The major reason for this was that the tracks were so bad that the train could no long run safely upon them, but in order to fulfill their mail contract the railroad adapted a truck to the tracks to haul the mail and light freight.  In March of 1938 the Shelby County Northwestern Railroad declared bankruptcy, discontinued truck operation and began to take up the tracks.

3.    The third reason for the decline I prosperity was the increased mobility of the people.  The advent of the automobile and its availability to all people made it possible to go more placeds more easily:  it no longer required an entire day to go to town and people didn’t have to limit their buying to a certain community.  The larger towns like Edina, LaPlata, Kirksville, and Quincy were tough competition for the village general store.  This competition added to the already financially troubled community and may have caused the premature closing of some stores in Novelty.  The number of businesses in Novelty has gradually declined through the 1940’s, 19950’s, and 1960’s, until today (1975) there are only seven businesses in Novelty.

Throughout its history the Novelty community has had a deep interest in the education of its children.  The first school building was a log house built in the east part of town, but as the community grew, the people realized that more room and more teachers were needed.  So after the Civil War a two-story building was erected to accommodate the growing number of students.  However it was soon evident that some type of institution of higher learning was needed and in September of 1 876 a High School was established by Professor W. N. Doyle and occupied the upper floor of the public school building.  After only one year in session Professor Doyle realized the need for much larger facilities.  In June of 1877 he purchased ten acres of land from Samuel Reaugh  on which to erect the required buildings.  In 1881 a three building campus was completed—a main building, a women’s dormitory, and a men’s dormitory.  The name of the school was changed to Oaklawn College for the grounds were dotted with natural forest oaks.  The main college building was very ornate both in the exterior and interior design, with many frescoes, motties, and classical figures adorning the pillars, porches, and cornices.

Oaklawn College was very successful.  It concentrated in Normal training, shorthand, and business.  The college was advertised as “an institution of many advantages, a quiet and healthful location away from the temptations and vices so common in large towns and cities”. And as the best and cheapest school in the west.  Oaklawn College served not only the commun ity of Novelty, but also the entire county of Knox, and many of the surrounding counties.  Students came from all areas of northeast Missouri, from Iowa and Illinois.  Oaklawn discontinued service in 1899 as the Normal School (Kirksville) offered better equipment and the public school increased their efficiency.  In the early 1900’s the main college building was dismantled and taken to Hurdland, Missouri and assembled as a dwelling house.  

In 1907 the community built a new public school building, a two-story building.  In the 1920’s the present (remember this is 1975) building was erected with two additions added in the 1950;s.  This building is now used as the Novelty Elementary Schools, grades one-through-eight.  The high school students attend the Knox County R-I High School located east of Edina, Missouri.  In 1962 Knox Count was the first county in the state of Missouri to reorganize into one district with a central high school for all students in the county.

      During its history, Novelty has had four churches:  the Baptist, the Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Christian Church.  The M.E. Church was organized in 1855 and erected a building in 1866.  The M.E. South Church was organized in 1884 and united with the Masonic Lodge in erecting a building in 1885.  The first building of the Christian Church was a little brick building erected in 1868.  The present church was built in 1897; a basement wasw added in 1921, and an addition in 1964 (another addition added in 2020).  This is the only church in Novelty today. 

The Novelty community has always been small, but this doesn’t mean the town has lacked excitement.  During the 1870’s, 1880’s, and 1890's, Novelty had one of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in northeast Missouri, with as many as three or four thousand people attending the activities.  The day started with a parade led by the Novelty Cornet band, to a grove at the northwest edge of the town.  The people would listen to concerts and lectures, have picnics and during the evening enjoy a dance and fireworks display.

Between 1900 and 1920 the Chautauqua would come to town for 4-6 days of lectures and concerts.  The two main activities of the community today are the horse show and the tractor pulling contest sponsored by the Novelty Community Club.

Novelty, like many small towns and villages in Missouri, may at first glance appear to be nothing but a wide spot in the road, but each is rich in heritage of the past and filled with the hope of tomorrow.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Edina Sentinel  1875-1975

The Edina Sentinel, Industrial and Souvenir Edition.  April 27, 1911

History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties  1887

The Knox County Herald  March 24, 1916

The 22^nd Annual Catalogue of Oaklawn College  1897-98

Interviews with many citizens of the Novelty Community

                      JULY, 2022 MONTHLY LUNCHEON

July 7, 2022 found the Novelty Senior Citizens’ meeting for the monthly luncheon.  Hot temperatures, but with much needed showers at various times throughout the day,.  With no birthdays to celebrate this month, we simply enjoyed getting together and visiting, with three additional guests.  Marsha, Judith, Diana, Kathryn, Edra, Gerald, Karen, and Dillis repeated the Pledge to the US Flag, and Karen gave the blessing for our food.  We enjoyed bbq ribs, homemade bread, several vegetables and salads, watermelon, cucumbers, and desserts of cheesecake, coconut pie, and brownies.  (not a full listing of our food!) 

(Ladies present at the July luncheon)

Diana called the business meeting to order after cleanup.  Marsha read the minutes to last month’s meeting.  They were seconded by Judith and approved.  Judith then gave the treasurer’s report which was seconded by Kathryn and approved. 

1.      Diana had made a donation to St. Jude’s in memory of Sue Ahern from the center; she was reimbursed by the treasurer.

2.      The new eaves have been placed by Memphis Guttering:  The cost was some below their original estimate.  The work was done the last of June:  Judith had come over and paid them when finished.  Jim had taken the old eaves to discard them.  We extend a thank you to him for his help/work in getting this project completed.

3.      The WAA project will send out letters to businesses in August.  Marsha also made a motion that we have a booth at the CornFest September 10^th.  Motion passed and Judith will send in the money to reserve a place for us. 

4.      The “history of Novelty” that the coffee group has been discussing has been added to our blogsite.  Additional information has been added to it, and it has garnered many comments. 

5.      Coffee makers for the month will be July 12—Marsha; 19—Kathryn; 26—Diana; Aug 2—Judith.  Diana will make the birthday cake/pie for August carry-in on August 4.

 After Judith moved to adjourn, the group went up to view Dillis’ new cabin she has built a block south of the senior center.  

 

                                                            A HISTORY OF NOVELTY MISSOURI

                                         Novelty School Project, Sept 13, 1948

                                                4^th Grade:  Margaret Howe, teacher

Students:  Charles Howe; Dale Leckbee (Norma’s brother); Edra McGlothlin-Gaines-Beach; Helen Parrish-Ausmus-Hayes (Alvie Parrish’s sister); Marilyn Snow-Lincoln; Dale Swann (Randy Doss’ uncle); Garland Waibel (Vernie’s son).   (Parts added later are noted in italics.)

 

Long ago  only Indians lived where our town now stands.  There were no houses here then.  The Indians lived in tepees made from skins of animals.  Outside their tepees, they built fires over which they cooked their food.

 

After a while white men came to this spot.  They came in covered wagons drawn by oxen.  They built log cabins to live in.  Each cabin had a fireplace over which they cooked their food.  They burned big logs in their fireplaces.  Each cabin had a chimney to let the smoke out.

 

Among these early settlers who came to this community were Dr. Tom Pendry and Mr. Nars Hunter.  Dr. Tom Pendry built a log cabin for a home and office and opened a little store.  As this was a wilderness then, the spot was not easy to find.  However, he raised a flag over his office so that it could be more easily seen.  His wife,  Mrs. Jane (Ross) Pendry,  thought this a very novel idea so they called this spot Novelty.  Their son, Peter, was the first baby born in Novelty.  (This flag was raised in the area of Carl & Mae Perry’s house, now the home of Beth Bacon.)

 

Mr. Nars Hunter together with his wife and family, was on his way from Kentucky to California by covered wagon, but as they came through Missouri, they liked this land and purchased a large amount of it and settled here.  It was he who plotted this land into a village in 1857.  (The “Nars Hunter” house was the Walter Mauck house, on highway 156 and has been occupied by various families since the passing of Mr. Mauck.)   Other early families were the Townsends’ who came from Maryland, the Ross’, who came from Kentucky, also Norris, Doyle, Hickman, McCullough, Botts, and Owen families.

 

During the Civil War, the guerrilla fighters came to Novelty.  At that time, Mr. Charles Ross was running a drug store here.  As there was no bank closer than Quincy, Illinois, he had a large sum of money on hand.  He gave it to his wife and she hid it in an old black dress hung up on the back of a door.  The guerrillas could not find it.  One of them said that he didn’t believe they had any money from the looks of their furniture.  However, Mrs. Ross was proud of her furniture if it was only good boxes covered with calico.

 

Among the early businesses in Novelty was the Ross and Pendry Drug Store and the Billy Riley Shoe Shop.  Mr. Owen was a very good hand to make boots and shoes.  A hotel and livery stable was soon added with new dwelling houses the town was becoming active.  The oldest house that is still standing (remember this was written in 1948) is the house that Mr. Herb Browning lives in—it has been built on to since.   (the house was torn/burned down and Vincel Foreman’s home is now on this site.)   Also, the house where Miss Sarah Woodard lives was one of the first farm houses.  (located where the “hunting lodge” is now.)

 

In the early days a little log school house was built out east of town.  Later it was moved to town.  Later new buildings were built as needed.  There have been three public buildings besides the present school building.  This building was built about 1928.  (and used until 1989 when the elementary was closed for the consolidated Knox County R-I Elementary School.  The high schools in the county had been consolidated in 1963.  The building was torn down in the 1990’s.)

 

The Oaklawn College was founded by W. N Doyle in Novelty, MO in 1876.  He taught for five years in the upper story of the public school building.  Then the College building was erected by the scholarship plan in 1881.  (It was closed in ___, and the building was moved to Hurdland Missouri where it still stands today.  Other buildings were nearby for “dormitories?) 

 

As the people of this community felt an early need for worship services, they soon begin to build churches.  The Christian Church was organized in 1868 in a little brick building on the same spot as the church stands today.  This was built to replace the brick building in 1897.   A North Methodist Church was organized at an early date (building on the eastern side of Novelty, near the cemetery),  as well as a Presbyterian Church.  Later a south Methodist church was organized.  (this  was located in the first block south of today’s Highway 156 on Third Street.)

 

Around 1870 a creamery was started in the west part of town.  They bought the farmers’ cream and made it into butter.  However, this did not last long until it was changed into an axe handle factory.  The material for the handles was taken from the native timber.  Within a few year this was changed into a saw mill with a grist mill run in connection with it.  A steam engine was used for power. 

 

Perhaps the next great event that happened at Novelty was the building of a railroad in 1913.  This line connected our town with Shelbina and was of great help to the farmers in sending out their stock as well as receiving products and mail here.  However, by 1930 this line had been done away with.  (The depot for the train was west of Novelty, where the ball park was once located—west of Marilyn Lincoln’s home.) 

 

In later years our town has been served by a hard-surfaced road and mail twice a day by truck.  All of this has made our town the center of a progressive little community.

 

 

 

METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH

Novelty Church:  This was organized in the fall of 1884, with the following members:  John Sharp and wife;  John Lyon, wife and daughter; Ole Richardson, wife and two daughters; Mrs. Abraham Lewis and two daughters, John Lewis and son.  In 1884 the church united with the Masonic Lodge in erecting a frame building; the total cost of which was $1,500.  The lower story of this building is used as a place of worship, and was dedicated as such in the summer of 11885, by Dr. E. B. Hendrix, now Bishop Hendrix.  The pastors of this church, which is included in the Novelty Circuit are Mount Tabor, Newark, Pleasant Run, and perhaps some others. 

 

METHODIST CHURCH

Novelty Church:  According to the best information, this church was organized about the year 1855, although no record of early church history can be obtained.  Among the first members since the war (Civil War) are Lewis Wright; William Demoss, C.W. Cockrum, D.F. Hunsicker, James McCall, and their wives.  The church building is frame, and was erected in 1866, at a cost of about $1,500.   The pastors of this church have been Revs. Messner, Scott, Hollingsworth, and Cater.  The present membership is thirty-two.  The Novelty Church Circuit is composed of the church at Novelty and 3 others, viz:  Walnut Grove, 7 miles southeast of Novelty; Locust Hill, 5 miles northwest, and Eucebia, 5 miles southwest.  The present pastor in charge of the churches on this circuit is the Rev. E.B. Cater.

 

NOVELTY LODGE A.M. & F.M. No 181

The first officers and charter members of this lodge were S.D. Hunter, Worthy Master; R. F. Pendry, Senior Warden; M. Wetherbee, Junior Warden; and Samuel Hulen (Huling?); R. G. Cady; David Brown; and Nathan Norris..  The charter bears the date of May 23, 1859, but the dispensation must have been granted a year or two previously, as the first hall was created about 1858.  The hall, a frame building, was afterward sold to the I.O.O.F.  and is still in their possession.  The Masons erected a second hall in 1880, a frame building, which was burned in the spring of 1882; the records and furniture perished in the fire.  In 1884 the lodge, in conjunction with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in Novelty, erected a frame building at a cost of $1500; the upper story of which is used by the Lodge, and the lower as a church.  The present membership of the Lodge is forty-five, and the present officers are N.J. Watson, J.S. Hunsaker, and Benjamin Kimbley, John Herriot, C.A. Ross, and Marshall Poor.

NOVELTY LODGE, I.O.O.F. No 210

This lodge was organized before the Civil War but during that time it went down, and the charter and records were taken possession of by the Grand Lodge.  At present, it is impossible  to arrive at the date of that first charter, or give a history of the lodge under it.  The present charter bears the date May 20, 1869, and the officers are H.S. McClintock;  J.S. Hunsaker; W.H.F. Owen;  and the officers are H.S. McClintock, J.S. Hunsaker, W.H. F. Owen and L.F. Bryan.  The lodge owns the frame hall that was erected by the Mason in 1848, and afterward purchased by the lodge.  Present membership is 20.

 

A.W. LEWIS

A.W. Lewis, a prominent and leading citizen of Knox County, is a native of Maryland, and was born October 5, 1835. He is the son of Aaron and Nancy C (Adams) Lewis, the former of Dorchester Co, MD, where he died in September  1883, and the latter a resident of Knox County where she lives with our subject. 

A.W. remained with his parents in Maryland until 20 years of age, and then came to Knox County where he has since resided.  In 1858  he located on a farm in Bourbon Township, where he lived 3 years, then settled in Salt River Township, where he is now in possession of a farm of 490 acres, all well improved and cultivated.   He is quite extensively engaged in stock raising, and ranks among the leading farmers of the county.  In 1858, he was married to Rachel Richardson, daughter of Ole and Anna Richardson, by whom he has had 10 children.  August 1, 1862, our subject enlisted in the Confederate Army, Ninth Missouri Regiment, and served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Perry Grove, Little Rock, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, and the last named battled received a wound in his shoulder,  the effects of which he has never recovered.  He is a staunch Democrat, but he never sought nor held office.  He is a member of the Masonic order; his wife belongs to the Methodist-Episcopal Church South, which was built at Novelty through the persistent efforts of our subject, who is a public-spirited man, and greatly interested in the growth and welfare of the community in which he lives.

 

WILLIAM H.F. Owen

William H.F. Owen is the son of S. W. and Elizabeth (Edwards) Owen, and was born in New York State in 1826.  The father was a native of Delaware, and born in 1803.  He followed various occupations until he became 25 years of age and then learned the shoemaking trade.  He went to New York State, lived until 1829, then sailed down the Susquehanna River upon a raft, and landed at Plymouth, Penn. Where he located and followed his trade for a number of years.  He Is now a resident of Farrandaville, Penn.   The mother of our subject was a native of New Jersey, and was married to Mr. Owen in 1825.  She died in Pennsylvania in 1885. 

Our subject learned his trade of his father, and remained with him until he became of age.  In 1850 he went to Illinois, and located at Crystal Lake, McHenry County, where he remained about 2 years and then removed to Monticello, Lewis Co, MO, but made a final move to Novelty, Knox County, about 1858,  where he has resided ever since, following his trade in which he is very proficient, and where he carried a stock of goods that would do credit to a much larger town than Novelty.  While in Pennsylvania, in 1849, he was married to Phoebe A. Roat, daughter of Daniel and Sarah Roat, by whom he had 6 children.  Our subject is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Republican.  He is a public-spirited man, and takes great interest in all educational matters, to which he donates as much as he is able. 

RICHARD THOMAS PENDRY

Richard Thomas Pendry, M.D., a leading physician and resident of Bourbon Township, was born in Munfordville, Barren Co, Kentucky December 26, 1830 and is the son of James and Rebecca Crane Pendry.  The father was a native of Virginia and accompanied his parents to Ohio as a child settling near Cincinnati.  When a young man, he went to Barren Co, KY where he was married.  In 1844 he moved to Marion Co, MO locating in Palmyra.  James afterward moved to Philadelphia, Marion Co.  He was a cabinet-maker by trade, and worked at this business all his life.  Previous to his residence in MO, he lived in Perryville, Boyle Co, KY for several years.  He died of advanced age while visiting our subject.  Rebecca Pendry, the mother, was born in Mercer Co, KY, now Boyle Co, in 1810, and died in Philadelphia, Marion Co, MO in 1846.  She and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject is the eldest of a family of 7 children, as far as known, all being alive at the present time.  He received his education at Marion College and in 1849 began the study of medicine under DR.s Reed and Parsons, of Quincy, Ill.  In 1850 he went to California, and engaged in mining and training, in which he was quite successful.  He returned in 1853 by the Vanderbilt line, by the way of Nicaragua and New Orleans.  He went directly to Knox County, and engaged in the mercantile business at Novelty, which was not much of a town then.  But soon began to grow and is now one of the nicest towns in Northeast Missouri.  Our subject has the credit of being the founder of the town.  At the commencement of the Civil War, he abandoned business life, and moved upon his farm, 2 miles east of Novelty, and has since engaged in agricultural pursuits.  In 1864-65 he resided in Philadelphia MO and again engaged in business, but in the latter part of 1865 returned to Knox Co, and embarked in the dry goods and grocery business, in which he remained until 1884 when he sold out.  During 1869-70, he had attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, receiving his diploma, and since that time has practiced his chosen profession in conncection with his lucrative practice.  In June, 1885, he married Jane K. Ross, daughter of John and Martha Ross, and a native of Brown Co, Ohio, and to this union four sons and four daughters were born.  Dr. Pendry has been in politics; is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is classed among the highly respected and eminent citizens of the county.

GOODLAND

Goodland, located 18 southwest of Edina was formerly a place of some trade, but now merely a local habitation and a name.  (Around Billy Aucutt place—John Joseph Taylor brick house built in 1840.)  (Kenneth Moyer had “Goodland Farms” written on his truck.)

 

 

PLEASANT RUN

The church organized has a membership of only 14.  It was a part of the Edina Circuit until 1884 when the Novelty Circuit was formed.  Preaching is held in the  schoolhouse No 14 three miles north of Novelty.  (Paul McEndree called it “Bloody Run” and out by the Botts place—which is near where Ben Bradley lives?)

 

NOVELTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS  1917-1918      (forward )

In 1914-15, there were nine pupils enrolled in the Novelty High School with eighty-six in the grades.  The work done at that time in the High School was not approved, nor had it been at any time in the past.

In the following two years, the enrollment increased until 1916-17 there were sixty-nine in the High School and 127 in the grades, with all of the work approved by the State Superintendent.

In the years from 1915 to 1917, $1,000 worth of laboratory equipment and library books have been added for the students and various other improvements have been made in and around the building.

The result of all this is that the average daily attendance has reached 99% and the enrollment has more than doubled.  In 1916-17 the Novelty Public School ranked second in the county in attendance.

Our aim is “Nothing but the Best”.  Next year, (1917-18) we expect to have the largest attendance and enrollment of any High School in Knox County, i.e.  one hundred in High School giving 15 units of approved work, which when completed will be sufficient preparation for College entrance without examination. 

Remember that the success and improvement of our school represent the success and improvement of the entire community.  Therefore, we ask the parents and patrons of the Novelty School to co-operate with us that we may render the highest efficiency to the community and to each individual child.  Our aims are identical and when a mutual understanding is secured the method of procedure and the results obtained will be entirely satisfactory.

To help the parents, patrons, and pupils to a better understanding of the general management, plan and purpose of the school, we publish the catalog.

********

A.F. Elsea, Superintendent of the Novelty Public School at this time.

G. T Bennett, Principal of High School

Mrs. G. T Bennett, 7^th and 8^th grades

Mrs. A. F. Elsea, 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades

Leona C. Homan  1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd grades

 

NOTES ADDED LATER (from 1995-2022) (in addition to those made in the manuscript)

1.     The Townsend’s lived in the house that Mike Kite had until it fell in about 2020.  Prior to that was Mrs. Perrigo’s.

2.     Alma Doyle was near the corner where Leon Perry lived—west edge of town on gravel road going south, that Larry Primm owns now.

3.    Miss Sarah Woodard house was where the Hunting Lodge is now.

4.    In 1957, the Mark Twain Telephone was “on its way”…..phones in homes, but not yet connected.  Prior to the co-operative coming, there was a Telephone Office with the McCloskey family running it.  Later, Maxine Perry was the operator. 

5.    In 1963, the county-wide organization of high school was opened, so the Novelty school only had grades 1-8 there.  That closed in 1989 when the county-wide elementary school was opened at the site of the high school east of Edina.  The Novelty building was torn down in the mid-90’s., with the cement floor and playground equipment still there for use by town children.

6.    In 1966, a community club was organized for the purpose of sponsoring summer baseball/softball.  Fundraising annual events included a horse show, and tractor pull, free fish fry, Fun Day.  The ball park and horse show arenas were fixed with lights for night events.  The location of this was where the old train depot had been—on the west end of Broadway street

 

Businesses in Novelty were:

Feed Store—Richard (Joe) Ray

Grocery Store—Mike Kite

Drug Store—S. E. Peavler

Phillips 66 Station—Rex Franke

MFA Station/Garage—Bill Cheatum

Post Office—Jr. Wilkerson

Fur Buyers—Mike Peavler and Ron Baker.

7.    Businesses in 1995:

Novelty Seed Co—Edra Gaines.  They had built the “seed house” in 1981:  it was sold to Bill Collier in 1996.

Parrish Implement—Alvie Parrish

                        --Terry Spencer

Quincy Soybean—(east of town on highway 15)

Tri-State Hide—Ron Baker

Post Office—Betty Perry

8.    The Post Office Building was formerly a locker, run by Ernie and Helen Snow (Marilyn’s parents).  The family lived in the basement for a time. Lonnie Thompson had run the locker prior to the Snow’s.   Before it became a locker, the building was a bank in the late 1800’s.

9.    Dr. Holmes’ home a block north of where the school stood, was built by the Emerson family—Pearl’s father  (Pearl and Julia Perry Emerson).

1  Store Buildings in downtown Novelty were demolished   mid-2000’s  ???

11. Café.  Was built in mid-70’s by Joe and Jean Ray.  For a time, their daughter, Elaine, ran a beauty shop in the east ½ of the building.  Several others then have run the café with it at present (2022) being occupied as a home/commercial kitchen. 

12.Patrick Gibbons purchased land where the store buildings were located from Ray Griffith and has used them for his farming storage as well as seed cleaning. 

13.When was post office moved?   

14.John Love’s   where Vidah Yates beer joint was?

15.State highway barn was first on Highway 156, right west of the Legion Hall (Bill Cheatum’s garage), with George Howerton being head man.  (George and wife had lived in “Jim Lincoln’s old house” on northwest edge of Novelty.) Later Alva Parish (of Locust Hill) was in charge.  The Highway Barn built a new facility east of the schoolhouse…it was completely closed later when all crews were moved to Edina.

16.Other stores/businesses through the years?  We had a newspaper in 1921! Don’t know for how long though!

A.     A millinery shop was west of the locker, and also in the cluster of buildings on 3^rd Street.  Time—unknown.  It was run by two sisters, last name of Lovenger who made the hats to sell. 

B.    Dr. Holmes practiced medicine from his home in south part of town for many years. 

ANYONE WITH MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING BUSINESSES/ETC IN NOVELTY, PLEASE COMMENT, OR LET US KNOW.  WE'D LOVE TO ADD IT TO OUR LIST!