A longtime newspaper publisher, a Civil War veteran and area school leaders are among the 2023 Wayne County Hall of Honor inductees.
The idea of the Wayne County Historical Society Hall of Honor is to be an institution devoted to recognizing and honoring noteworthy individuals for their outstanding contributions to Wayne County, according to a press release from the historical society.
“From its conception in the early 19th century, to the present day, hundreds of individuals have been a part of the molding of Wayne County,” the historical society shared. “The Hall of Honor brings to light over 200 years of local leaders, pioneers and humanitarians and keep their memory alive for future generations with a permanent recognition enshrined at the Luna Museum at Piedmont. “
The 12 members of the 2023 class of inductees are to be celebrated by the Wayne County Historical Society along with the general public, the society shared. A formal induction of the 12 will take place at a future date, planned for the upcoming late summer months.
The 2023 inductees are, in alphabetical order:
Barrows
H.O. Barrow (1896-1973) and Addie Barrow (1892-1983)
Harland O. Barrow was a native of Greenville and his wife Addie B. (Rorabeck) Barrow was a native of Ontario, Canada. Both served during World War I, he with the U.S. Army in France and her as a registered nurse. The couple were both musically talented. Mrs. Barrow was a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and both preformed with the St. Louis Municipal Opera orchestra and Fox Theatre for two seasons. The couple met as traveling professional circus musicians and married in 1920. They operated the H.O. Barrow mercantile in old Greenville for many years. They organized the Greenville Conservatory of Music. Mr. Barrow served as the last mayor of old Greenville and the first mayor of the new town. Addie Barrow served as a music teacher for many years in the Williamsville School district. No photo of the couple currently available.
Costephens
Willis D. Costephens (1914-1997)
Costephens was a native of Hiram. After attending high school at Hiram, he entered the mercantile business in 1937 as a partner with J.P. Barber. He eventually became sole proprietor of the Barber’s Cash Store at Silva and worked in the business a total of 41 years. The local merchant kept many Wayne County families alive during the 1930’s and 1940’s, extending credit to many people who otherwise could not afford much. He was instrumental in bringing the Wayne County Sheltered Workshop out of debt.
Ellinghouse
Harold Ellinghouse of Piedmont -
Ellinghouse, a lifelong Wayne County resident, grew up in the family newspaper business, and spent his entire life, giving voice to programs devoted to the improvement of Wayne County and its people. As a longtime owner and publisher of the Wayne County Journal Banner and the Reynolds County Courier, he navigated them through the technological advances of the computer and internet age. He retired in 2016. He was inducted into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
Haggett
Jimmy Haggett (1928-2000)
Haggett was native of Granite City, Illinois and located to Patterson as a small child. After high school, Haggett became a disc jockey. A meeting with legendary record producer Sam Phillips of Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, led to a recording session on Aug. 23, 1955, in which Haggett and his band, the Ozark Mountain Boys (later the Daydreamers), recorded four songs. That same year he was voted disc jockey of the year by the Country Music Disc Jockey Association. He was again awarded the honor in 1958. During this time he also worked on shows with Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash and acted as their booking agent on many occasions. He eventually retired to Piedmont.
Henson
I.W. Henson (1910-1996)
Henson was a native born to Wayne County in the Peach Tree Fork community. Early in his life, Henson became well known throughout Southeast Missouri as a premier baseball pitcher and switch hitter, playing in several local and civic leagues. He held the semi-pro pitching record by striking out 128 batters in eight consecutive games and was offered contracts by farm teams of the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees. In 1933, Henson became an educator in the Mill Spring School district, serving as teacher and principal, and meeting his future wife while serving. He represented Wayne County to the House of Representatives a record six times. Henson was the last representative to solely represent Wayne County prior to re-districting.
Hollida
Bill George Hollida Sr. (1935-2017)
Hollida was a native of Combes, Texas, and he journeyed to Wayne County with his family at the age of 6, settling at Cascade. From his youth, he established himself as a leader among his peers and within his community, serving as vice president of the Missouri State Future Farmers of America in 1954. He arose to become an entrepreneur in cattle ranching, auctioneering, insurance and gooseneck trailer sales. He represented Wayne County for 18 years as a member of the Board of Trustees of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.
Keele
Delores “Dee” (Finch) Keele of Silva
Keele is a native of Dorsey, Illinois. She moved to Wayne County with her family in 1941 at the Peach Tree community. Keele left Wayne County for a period of time but returned to Lodi in 1980. Delores joined the Wayne County Historical Society in 1989. She immediately became one of the most active members in the history of the organization. Keele worked closely with Mr. and Mrs. Roy Payton to organize the first Wayne County Historical Museum at Patterson. Keele has been present and active in the forefront and conception of every major Wayne County Historical Society project to date. She served as secretary of the Wayne County Historical Society for 26 years.
Mabrey
Rev. H.Y. Mabrey (1836-1915)
Mabrey was a native of Randolph County, Indiana. He migrated to Southeast Missouri with his family at 1 year of age. In 1860, he was elected Wayne County School Commissioner. His profession was interrupted with enlistment with the Union at the breakout of the Civil War. He was commissioned first lieutenant of CO H 31st Missouri Volunteer Infantry. In 1878, he was elected Wayne County superintendent of public schools. On Jan. 1, 1882, he was ordained into the Baptist ministry. He served as pastor of the Oak Grove, Little Flock, Bethel and Greenville congregations. He was elected as Wayne County public administrator and also probate judge.
Street
The Rev. William Street Sr. (1756-1844)
Street was a native of the Isle of Wright County, Virginia. By January 1810, he was in what would become Wayne County, living on the banks of the St. Francis River near modern day Coldwater. In 1814, Street organized the St. Francois Baptist Church, the very first Baptist congregation in what would become Wayne County. He became active in the historic Bethel Baptist Association at its conception in 1816. He was selected as one of the original five commissioners of Wayne County on Dec. 11, 1818, choosing Greenville as the county seat in January 1819. No photo or portrait of Rev. Street has ever been discovered.
Templeton
A.G. Templeton (1868-1951)
Arthur G. Templeton was a native of Fruitland. He found his way to Wayne County in 1895, where he established the Templeton Photography Studio in Greenville and thrived in this profession for over a decade. In 1910, Templeton was elected to his first term as Wayne County probate judge. Templeton served on the board of aldermen for the City of Greenville and the board of education for Greenville Schools. In 1945, he was elected to the office of magistrate judge and served until his death. He served 40 years in public office, making him the longest serving elected Wayne County official to date.
Thompsons
Ed Thompson (1930-2022) and Cecile (Van Buren) Thompson of Piedmont
Ed Thompson was a native of St. Louis, moving to Mill Spring in infancy and his wife Cecile (Van Buren) Thompson is a native of Hardesty, Oklahoma. Both had degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University, and both entered the education field. Ed Thompson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict era. He taught at Mill Spring and Patterson, and was later an educator at Clearwater schools. Cecile Thompson began her teaching career at Ellington and in 1961 entered into a long tenure as a band and choir director within the Clearwater School District, including Patterson and Mill Spring. After her retirement, she spent 10 years with the Southeast Missouri Chamber Players. She was selected 19 times to play French horn during the Feasts of the Tabernacle, in Israel.
White
Henry Alexander White (1905-1976)
White was raised in rural Patterson. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau and a Master of Arts degree from George Peabody Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. White taught locally during the 1920’s and 1930’s at Coldwater, Patterson and Piedmont. In 1938, he became principal of Piedmont Schools and held the position until 1954. He then became Superintendent of Piedmont Schools and held the position until his retirement in 1970. In the community, he was a past president of the Piedmont Alumni Association, a member of the Piedmont Rotary Club and a past vice-president of the Piedmont Golf Club.
For more information on the Hall of Honor, or to join the society and be eligible to nominate someone for the honor in 2024, please contact the Wayne County Historical Society at 573-223-2204. The Luna Museum, located at 108 W Elm in Piedmont, is open on Wednesday and Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.