the cooleys and the wilders weren't the only ones
"...Mansfield is a town of about 750 people. It has a very picturesque location on the wooded hills, and is on the main line of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis R.R. As this is the only road in this part of the state, an immense amount of business is transacted here. Nearly all kinds of businesses are represented here. Stock farming, and fruit culture the principle industry. There are good church and school privileges. The new school building, a fine brick structure stands on a mountain side and commands a fine view of the town and surrounding country. Three teachers are now employed and another department will be put in next year.

"The lead and zinc mines a mile from town employ about fifty men.

"Land can be bought near the railroad for from five to twenty dollars per acre, according to improvement and location. Most farms have on them living springs where water flows out of solid rock, and afford water for both stock and house use. There is one spring about six miles from here funning a good sized grist mill.

"There are people here whose "ways are not our ways," but they seem to be courteous and kind, and there are a great many northern people, among them a lot of Dakotans who have come to stay..."

This sounds like it could have been written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, but it wasn't. It was written by Mary Sias, also from Kingsbury County, and also someone who settled in Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894.
- posted by pioneergirl at 12:04 AM