Historical Wayne County, Missouri

Historical Wayne County, Missouri This page is for all of those who love and cherish the history of Wayne County, Mo.

A place to post old photographs of our ancestors, towns, churches, buildings and all the beautiful surroundings of Wayne County.

Plu and Mack Barrow off to the fishin’ hole, 1937.
06/14/2026

Plu and Mack Barrow off to the fishin’ hole, 1937.

Happy United States of America Flag Day, June 14!!Old Glory flying on the Wayne County Courthouse lawn in recent years.
06/14/2026

Happy United States of America Flag Day, June 14!!

Old Glory flying on the Wayne County Courthouse lawn in recent years.

Piedmont residents Dick Toney (left) and son Don, pictured in 1946 after a very successful bird hunt.
06/14/2026

Piedmont residents Dick Toney (left) and son Don, pictured in 1946 after a very successful bird hunt.

Yes, Wayne County folks did know how to entertain themselves before we had electronic devices!! A music get-together was...
06/13/2026

Yes, Wayne County folks did know how to entertain themselves before we had electronic devices!! A music get-together was very popular. This occasion was in 1936 at the William White place on Bounds Creek. From left; Sharon Warrick, Ira White and Mabel Collins.

Lodi School 1957-1958. Grades 1-8; Almon Leach is the teacher (top left hand corner). The back only lists the first na...
06/13/2026

Lodi School 1957-1958. Grades 1-8; Almon Leach is the teacher (top left hand corner). The back only lists the first names of the kids:
Front row (l to r): Gary, Morris, Bobby and Allen
Row 2 (l to r): Jim, James, Lois, Dan, Darlene, Vance and Carol.
Row 3 (l to r): Larry, Brenda, Roney and Georgann.
Row 4 (l to r): Mr. Leach, Jackie, Loyd, Myra Kay, Norman, Shirley and Dick.

The restored Joseph Stokely cabin pictured in 1931, with Col. William Carter (seated) and Col. E.C. Wayland (standing). ...
06/13/2026

The restored Joseph Stokely cabin pictured in 1931, with Col. William Carter (seated) and Col. E.C. Wayland (standing). The cabin, dating back to 1812, was funded by Col. Lon Sanders to be restored and erected in the canyon that now bears his name on McKenzie Creek near Piedmont. The question has arose if Sanders was an honorary Colonel under Gov. Sam A. Baker (Wayland and Carter pictured were)? I have found little information on the man other than he held business interests in St. Louis, Missouri and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More information on the gentleman is solicited. Sadly, this cabin dilapidated many years ago. 

A Piedmont main Street scene. Pictured is the Toney’s Drug Store and the Gulf station. The automobile experts that follo...
06/13/2026

A Piedmont main Street scene. Pictured is the Toney’s Drug Store and the Gulf station. The automobile experts that follow this page are saying this is likely from 1963-1965, about 63-61 years ago.

I was pleased today to receive a photo of popular 20th century Baptist minister, Rev. O.H. Cruce (1877-1942). Rev. Cruce...
06/12/2026

I was pleased today to receive a photo of popular 20th century Baptist minister, Rev. O.H. Cruce (1877-1942).

Rev. Cruce was a native of Marion, Kentucky but made his home at Poplar Bluff for many years.

In Wayne County Rev. Cruce served as Pastor of the two largest Baptist congregations here, Greenville Baptist and the First Baptist Church of Piedmont.

While serving at Greenville (“old” Greenville) he conducted the most successful revival of the decade, with twelve conversions and additions to the church by baptism. Among the converts were Mrs. Helen Hughes and Mrs. Jewell Polk, who both proved to become longtime church leaders.

Rev. Cruce was a member of Poplar Bluff Lodge No. 209 A.F. and A.M. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery at Poplar Bluff.

Pictured about the dawn of the 20th century are longtime residents of near Bounds, between Silva and Lodi— from left, “B...
06/12/2026

Pictured about the dawn of the 20th century are longtime residents of near Bounds, between Silva and Lodi— from left, “Big Will” Twidwell and Dave Lutes. The gentlemen were brothers-in-law. John William “Big Will” Twidwell (1877-1943), was a son of Thomas Madison & Harriett Lavinia (Bollinger) Twidwell. He married Rosa B. Ward. A younger sister of “Big Will” Twidwell was Julia Catherine (Twidwell) Lutes, wife of the pictured David Alexander “Dave” Lutes (1878-1957). Lutes was a son of John David & Melissa (Bruitt) Lutes. At this time period these two young men were active in the long since extinct Cold Water Church of Christ that was located near the old “Y” (67-34) junctions at Silva. The Twidwell and Lutes families both arrived in Wayne County in the 1850’s.

06/12/2026

Thanks to a follower of this page we have a short 1963 video of students leaving Greenville High School for the day, some 63 years ago. Drop a comment if you recognize anyone and please share your memories!

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PO Box 241
Greenville, MO
63944

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