Polk County Genealogical Society, Inc.
Headquartered in Bolivar, Missouri, United States of America

Finding Aids

"Polk County Courthouse Time Capsule Collection"

 

Polk County Courthouse Time Capsule
This collection contains the items found in the time capsule upon removal of the cornerstone which was laid May 24, 1906. The capsule was opened July 10, 2007, by Commissioner Stuart Hosiner and witnessed by County officials and Polk County Genealogical Society members. The items were processed by Sandy Hempe, Diane McKinney, and Leslie James from the State Archives.
 

Folder/Item

 Contents

1

 Polk County Bank pouch

This pouch contained the coins found in folder 2.

2

 Coins

Nine coins were in the above mentioned pouch. An identification sheet with appraisal

values and descriptions is included. The identification/appraisal was made after open-

ing the capsule.

3
  1. Invitation to a meeting of the Pythians of the Thirteenth Pythian District of Missouri to be held in Bolivar 24 May 1906 (laying of the cornerstone)
  2. Program Masonic ceremonies of Laying the Cornerstone of Court House (2 copies)

4

 Original Photos
  1. Old Court House—on back "Old Court House Bolivar Mo. Erected A.D. 1841 Razed A.D. 1905 This picture was taken about the close of the Civil War A.D. 1865 or 6" (signed) T.H.B. Dunnegan
  2. North side of Square—people gathering , a band leading the group
  3. North side of Square—people gathered watching some activity—possibly a horse race or parade. Some are standing on the sidewalk facing south while an equal number are on the street facing north.
  4. North side of Square—people milling around photos 2, 3, 4 appear to have all been taken on the same day—no date indicated
  5. Old Court House—on back "court House Bolivar Mo. Erected A.D. 1841 Razed A.D. 1905 This picture taken about 1904
  6. Inside of unidentified store

5

 Officers and meeting times of the following Lodge groups
  1. Bolivar Lodge No. 5 R. A. Masons 1890 Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. 1892 (2 copies)
  2. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1893, 1894, 1895 this is a small folded paper with print on both sides
  3. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1897, 1898, 1899
  4. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1900, 1901
  5. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1903, 1904 (2 copies of 04)
  6. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1905 (2 copies), 1906
  7. Bolivar Lodge No. 195 A. F. & A. M. (page 1) Bolivar Chapter No. 5 R. A. M. (page 2), St. Elmo Commandery No. 43, K. T. (page 3), Mizpah Chapter No. 230 O. E. S. (page 4) 1906
  8. Bolivar Lodge—unreadable

6

 Two copies of By-Laws of Bolivar Lodge No. 195, A. F. and A. M. published in 1902. One copy contains an appendix which lists members (31) with date admitted/raised/demited/or died. Dated 24 May 1096

7
  1. By-Laws of Godfrey Lodge, No. 136, Nights of Pythias of Grand Domain of Missouri located in Bolivar, Missouri adopted January 1, 1901
  2. Members of Godfrey Lodge, No. 136, Knights of Pythias on May 24, 1906 7 pages with 134 names

8

 Rules and Regulations of Saint Elmo Commandery No. 43, Knights Templar 1884

9

 By-Laws Osage Lodge No. 61 I.O.O.F.

10

 Roster of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of St. Louis 1 July 1897 including

St. Louis Lodge of perfection, No. 1

St. Louis Chapter, Knights Rose Croix, No. 1

Missouri Council, Knights Kadosh, No. 1

Missouri Consistory, No. 1

11

 By-Laws of Bolivar Royal Arch Chapter No. 5 adopted 14 April 1883

12
  1. Western Union Telegraph Company blank send form
  2. Western Union Telegraph Company blank receive form
  3. First National Bank, Bolivar, MO letterhead
  4. Townsend & Townsend Law, Abstract and Loan Office letterhead

13

 Business Cards/Name Cards (two cards per sleeve)
  1. S.W.B.C. May 24, ’04 Maupin, Bowman, Roberts, Tillery, Porter, Utley
  2. Opal Tillery W. S. Askren
  3. Mrs. Charles F. Ramsey Mrs. Lester Burchfield
  4. T. H. B. Dunnegan Mrs. Ella C. Dunnegan
  5. T. H. B. Dunnegan two different cards
  6. J. P. Peters Commission Company, Kansas City on the back is handwritten information about E. L. Argabright who moved to area to farm January 1906
  7. The Ben F. Leonard Realty Co. with picture of Mr. Leonard on back
  8. Adams & Mosier—Money to Loan F. W. Adams, Otis Mosier

14

 Polk County Bank Items
  1. Advertisement card
  2. Official statement at close of business 20 March 1906 (2 copies)
  3. Business envelope of PCB featuring pictures of the new courthouse, Southwest Baptist College, High School (North Ward), and Polk County Apple Harvest on front. On the back of the envelope are Bolivar (Polk County) Facts.

15

 "Purely Personal" published by The Ben F. Leonard Realty Co.

16

 "The Homeseeker’s Guide" Land for Sale in the Great Southwest published by McKinney & Leavitt 1906

17

 Catalogue of the Public School of Bolivar, Missouri for 1902

Contains lists of teachers and students as well as curriculum and rules and regulations

18

 Southwest Baptist College 1904-1905 annual catalogue

19

 The Revised Ordinances of the City of Bolivar 1903

20

 The History of the Polk County Baptist Association by J. W. Haines c. 1897 donated by E. F. Hunter 5/24/06

21

 Holy Bible presented by Dr. and Mrs. Dan C. Farrar, of Bolivar, Mo. And deposited in the corner stone of the Court House of Polk County, Missouri, which was laid with Masonic Ceremonies at Bolivar, Missouri, on Thursday, May 24, A.D. 1906, A.L. 5906
 

Newspapers
The following newspapers were in the time capsule and are stored in a separate box in the following folders.

1

 Humansville Star-Leader 30th Year, No. 1 4 pages This is an uncut copy.

May 22, 1906

2

 Bolivar Herald Vol. XXXVI, No. 12 4 pages This is an uncut copy.

May 24, 1906

3

 St. Louis Republic Vol. 98, No. 318 14 pages

May 23, 1906

4

 St. Louis Globe-Democrat vol. 32, No. 26 16 pages

June 14, 1906

5

 Bolivar Free Press Vol. 39, No. 7 4 pages

May 24, 1906

6

 Bolivar Free Press Vol. 39, No. 8 4 pages

May 31, 1906

 

 

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