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Purdin
The Purdin Mercantile was established in 1895 as the outgrowth of one small store that merged with several others. Branch stores were added in several other towns, including Milan, Linneus, Vandalia, and . . .
Scottsville
Not much is left of the town of Scottsville, but it was once the second largest settlement in Sullivan County, next to Milan. It is the second oldest settlement in Sullivan County. Scottsville was located approximately six miles . . .
Browning History
Gooch Cemetery As late as the 1950's, if you were a Republican, and you planned to be buried in the Gooch Cemetery, you had only one choice: Be buried on the republican side! . . .
Linneus History
Linneus, Missouri has had an interesting history from its first settlement in 1834 to its status as the county seat of Linn County today. Although the population of Linneus was only 481 at the 1990 census, it was once a bustling . . .
Old Schools
by Rick Thurlo in 1998 The first Browning School building in Browning was built in 1883. It had to be replaced in 1884. The first high school was a three-year high school, . . .
Events
The events leading up to the murder of the Meeks family are quite complicated. George and William (Bill) Taylor were prominent citizens of the Milan/Browning area. William was cashier in the bank in Milan. Both men . . .
Pictures and Maps
The killing was done going up the hill to Jenkins Cemetery, which lies about three miles south of Browning, Missouri. The cemetery lies to the west of the gravel road which runs north and south. The prints could be seen on the side of the . . .
Songs and Lore
Over the years, the story of the Meeks murder was recorded in dozens of songs and poems which circulated throughout the state. Many of the songs were collected in the Ozarks, where Nellie lived with her grandmother after the trial. . . .
Trial
Arraignment After their capture in Arkansas, the brothers were held in the Buchanan County jail in St. Joseph until . . .
Meeks Murder
One of Browning, Missouri's, most famous incidents is known as the Meeks Murder case. On May 18, 1894, the entire family of Gus Meeks (except a little girl, Nellie, who escaped) was murdered near Jenkins Cemetery, about three miles . . .