Wheaton
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Wheaton, Barry County's youngest town, sprang up overnight when the MNA Railroad was built through the area. At first the location was nothing more than a mill where growers stored their wheat, and the result was wheat stored by the tons and soon it was spoken of was Wheat-on (Wheaton). --From Early Barry County |
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Kraft Milk plant located in Wheaton in 1962 |
Wheaton town plat in 1909 |
Cover from Wheaton Echoes: Wheaton Centennial 1907-2007 Compiled by Ralph and Betty Lamberson |
From Wheaton Echoes For many years Wheaton held the title of the "newest" town in Barry County. The town was begun in 1907. Barry County was established in 1835, some 70 years before Wheaton became a reality! It was just by chance that Wheaton became a town at all. The Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad intended to establish a Railroad line from Joplin, MO to Helena, AR, a distance of 365 miles. The thriving towns of Rocky Comfort and Stella lay in the general path the Railroad planned to take. By many accounts the farmers and businessmen of the Rocky and Stella areas were eager to have the Railroad service into their towns. A Land dealer, Mr. Truman Elmore of Seneca was contracted by the railroad to purchase the right of way and land for four town sites along the way. Unfortunately for the towns of Rocky and Stella, the surrounding land prices went up and the MONARK Townsite Company decided they could buy land about 2 miles northeast cheaper and establish a whole new town, which became Wheaton! The first Wheaton Town lots were beginning to be sold in the summer of 1907. In November of 1907, O. M. Duncan and R.L. Reed bought a lot and established a general store. The Cassville Republican newspaper of December 19, 1907 contained a neighborhood column on the new town of Wheaton |
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Wheaton Milling Co. about 1910 |
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Wheaton School Rally and Harvest Show 10-16-1925 |
| Link to Wheaton Page on Barry County Rootsweb |
