Exhibits

Black School House

Inside Schoolhouse

Schoolhouse Remodeled

1952-1953

1933-1934

1946-1947

"This chain which was used to lay out Cassville, later fell into the hands of J. W. Boon, born in Virginia on June 17, 1830. Mr. Boon came to Cassville in 1860 just prior to the beginning of the Civil War.

He was in Cassville when Gov. Claiborne Jackson, together with the members of the Missouri General Assembly, were in Cassville from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7, 1861 (Cassville was the Confederate Capitol of Missouri for one week). Mr. Boon attempted to attend the sessions but the doorkeeper would not let him in because of his adherence to the Union. He was elected as a member of the Missouri State House of Representatives from Barry County in 1862 and served two terms. In 1874, He was elected as County Judge to serve with John Carney and D.B. Burlinger. He later served as County Surveyor and Justice of the Peace in the Flat Creek Township until he became very feeble and unable to care for himself. He then sold his farm and journeyed to the home of Addimore Miller, one and a half miles south of town, where he constructed a building for his own use and lived there until he died on Tuesday, January 24, 1912 at the age 81 years, 7 months, 6 days.

He farmed and continued his surveying activities until his death, at which time the surveyor's chain was retained by the Miller family. Mrs. Miller was a sister of the late John Irwin and she gave him the brass chain. He, in turn, gave me the chain more than 50 years ago.

Now I am pleased to pass it on to the Barry County Museum."