Phelps County Missouri Queries

Does this statement ring a bell? Children were to be seen and not heard when I was a kid growing up in Maries County, so therefore I spent a lot of time just listening. I probably heard a lot of things that weren’t meant for my ears, but I couldn’t tell you what they were to save my soul. Except for this statement: If you ever want to murder someone, and get away with it, do it in Maries County. I remember mulling that one over in my mind each time the words were spoken. After hearing them two or three times, I decided I would have to blow my cover and admit to listening to the adults’ conversation if I ever wanted to understand what that statement meant. As it turned out, I was banished to play outside or at least in another part of the house when the adults were talking and I never got a straight answer. The answer was, simply, it was none of my concern.

My curiosity faded over the years, though the words never completely left my mind. As an adult, I have heard people say: You know what they say, don’t ya? If you ever want to murder someone, and get away with it, do it in Maries County. Nobody really seems to think a thing of it. But I wonder what this would sound like to a stranger passing through? An adult stranger would probably finish business as quickly as possible and get out of town. But the stranger’s child would more likely ask what it meant, why did the person say it, and how come?

My child-like curiosity returned a couple of years ago after starting to work on a family tree. I purchased King’s history of Maries County and began reading. His chapter on the Civil War is very enlightening. Even though Maries County only had one battle in which lives were lost for the entire duration of the war, approximately 100 outright murders were committed. It finally dawned on me the statement of murder in Maries County originated long before my parents or my grandparents time. It must have started during the Civil War years. Over time, most everyone probably forgot how the claim actually started. But on those certain occasions, when the old saying seemed to appropriately fit the conversation, it was revived.

King’s History does name a few of these murders, but for the most part there is no evidence to even show who the unfortunate ones were. Our courthouse was burned in 1868, therefore destroying anything that may have been on paper prior to that time, and the records after 1868 prove that very rarely did a murder case go to trial. My own great-great grandfather was accused of murder in 1871, and was acquitted. Then he mysteriously disappeared in 1875 never to be seen again. I had a great-grandfather who died in 1950 under suspicious circumstances, but since there weren’t any witnesses, nothing ever came of it. There isn’t anything in the records to show his death may have not been from natural causes. I only know because I heard my grandfather speak of it.

Listening to stories passed down from generation to generation about the pioneers of Maries County has become one of my favorite things to do. Recently, I decided to actually compile a history of these people and their lives so there will be a recording for future generations. People don’t seem to have time to sit around and tell stories about the old days anymore, and before long, there will be no one who remembers any of the stories to tell.

If you have a favorite story about Maries County, or if you know someone I should speak to, please contact me by phone, mail, or email using the information listed below. The stories don’t necessarily have to be about murder, they can be about anything of interest that occurred in Maries County from its beginning in 1856 until 1980. I can assure you if the story-teller wishes to remain anonymous, they will remain anonymous.