Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1918-03-07

Many Changes Have Been Made in
Country in Late Years and More
Noticeable Changes are Predicted
For Future---Mineral Will Play
Important Part.

In giving sketch or pen picture OF
the beautiful little city of Mansfield
we want to give a slight historical
review of the dim past, before Mans
field was on the map, and when the
early settlers were separated by
miles Of spacious wild country.
A few of the Oldest settlers OF
this country who are yet living, tell
of many interesting stories of this
early settlement and pioneer life. 1t
always gives us great pleasure to
listen to the old time tales and
methods and modes of living and
how subsistence was easily and plen-
tifully secured through very plain
and much different yet perhaps much
hardship was attached to this pioneer
settlement, but in all events it must
have been a much more contented,
and we might say in many respects.
happier life. 1t Is difficult for the
4 piVSVhI " = SAooP anu oSS
the situation and lives that were
carried on in this country half
century ago. 1t is hard for us to
realize that at one time not SO re-
mote that this country was practical
ly prairie country. with here and
there a large tree to mark the land
scape-that the early settlers put up
their hay crop from the wild grass
which grew everywhere, and that
horses and cattle and sheep and
hogs lived practically the year round
with very little or no feed. When
the throngs of people gather on the
streets of our city from time to tim 9,
day after day and year after year.
rrey little think nj the. few .,.iaf'
that have passed since the site wa9s
wild country where only wild ami
mails and herds Of almost wild horses
and cattle roGmed and grazed at
leisure and at will. The bear and
the leopard, the deer and wild tur-
key and wolf are all in the remem-
brance of the oldest settlers of the
country. Few indeed it is of the
boys and girls who trip lightly over
the granatoid sidewalks of the pres
ent Mansfield ever stop to think, or
appreciate, the changes.
1t was not until 1881 that the
dawn of civilization" began to be
telt, and this pioneer life gave way
o the immigration and the influx
If new blood from the northern and
aastern states, following the build
ng of the old Gulf Railroad now the
Frisco.
The townsite of Mansfield, We are
old, was purchased about 1881 by
2. NJ. Mansfield and George Fl. Net
Teton (hence the name Mansfield)
If Johnnie Williams, deceased, Day
d Moore, now living in Mansfield.
and was plated and laid off into
lots by Thomas Montgomery. Tho
purchase also included the Henry
Smith land. G. J. Root was the first
mayor when Mansfield took on the
air of a city. Calvin Spence being
its first mayor as village, We are
Informed.
Geographically, Mansfield is Sc
located that it is destined to be. al
ways. commercial center for this
part of the state, and there is not a
possibility for it to become of less
Importance, or for the property to
depreciate in value. 1t is the trad
ing point and market center for two
very thrifty and substantial county
seats, Hartville, in Wright county
which is located IA miles north, and
Ava in Douglas county. 16 miles
south. The Kansas City, Ozarks and
Southern Railroad connects Ava with
Mansfield.
Mansfield is located on the plateau
of the Ozark mountain country, and
is only few miles east Of the top
of the Ozark mountain range. and Il
surrounded by thousands Of acres
of the most fertile soil.
Mansfield is located in the south
part Of Wright county, on the mair
line Of tho Frisco Railroad between
Kansas City and Memphis. 1t Il
A miles southeast Of Springfield
and 90 miles Of Mountain Grove
Thus 1t is so centrally located thai
it has become trading point o.
marked value, and is destined to bt
come of much greater importance
, commercially and otherwise and Il
one Of the largest stock shipping
points in this part Of the state
Mansfield is noted for he- thrift ant
. industry among her people. Few
cities have a more progressive Wild
! awake class, and few cities have
t more unity Of spirit and congenia
feeling among the citizens and bust
ness men.